Our Team

As college counselors, we have a unique opportunity to help students on their journey of self-discovery and pride ourselves on our welcoming and inclusive approach to college counseling. Being able to help demystify the college admission process and to form close relationships with students and parents is what keeps us so enthusiastic about the work that we do.

In This Section

Stacy Richardson, Director of College Counseling

Stacy joined the Potomac School in 2022 as the director of college counseling. Previously, she worked at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School (DC) for seven years and Gonzaga College High School (DC) for three years. Stacy has held numerous positions within higher education, including Associate Dean and Director of Multicultural Recruitment at The College of William & Mary (VA), Assistant Director of the College Park Scholars-Life Sciences Program at the University of Maryland, and Director of the Future Focus Program at Trinity University (DC). Additionally, she has taught part time at the community college level.

As a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC), Stacy has served as the Faculty Director for the annual Pre Conference workshop, Leading a Dynamic College Counseling Program. Stacy is also a member of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) where she helped to create and served as the co-chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee working to develop programming to educate the membership. She currently serves on the ACCIS Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the Potomac & Chesapeake Association of College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) and the Washington Area Independent School Counselors group.

Stacy graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor's degree in English and she earned an M.Ed. in higher education administration from The College of William & Mary. Stacy is married and has a grown son.

Christopher A. Zissi, Associate Director of College Counseling

Christopher A. Zissi attended and graduated from The University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor's degree in History in 2005. Upon completion of his undergraduate program, Christopher worked in college admissions in the Boston area, first at Boston University and then at Emerson College. In 2011, Christopher received his Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. After one too many New England winters, Christopher decided to move to Washington, DC, and began working in the undergraduate admission office at American University, where he worked for nearly four years, recruiting and guiding parents and students from around the world through the admission process.

Christopher joined The Potomac School in the fall of 2015. He handles all aspects of college counseling while also serving as an academic advisor. Christopher currently serves on the Ithaca College Advisory Board and is a member of NACAC, PCACAC, and ACCIS.

James Hightower III, Director of Community Engagement, Associate Director of College Counseling

James joined the Potomac community in July of 2022 marking his 21st year in Independent Schools. Previous to entering independent school life, he attended the University of Virginia and Penn State University and graduated with a B.A. degree in African and African-American History. His professional career in education began in undergraduate admissions primarily at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to coming to Potomac, his independent school experience had been immersed in college counseling. From the Associate Director of College Counseling at Phillips Academy Andover and the Lovett School in Atlanta, GA, to Dean of College Counseling and Student Life at Greensboro Day School, to most recently the Director of College Counseling at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, PA.

When you think about the fact that James’ entire career has been grounded in relationship building across all facets of higher and secondary learning - students, parents, faculty and staff, admissions, advancement, alumni, trustees, DEI, and student life, his transferable experience and skills are the perfect fit in serving as Potomac’s inaugural Director of Community Engagement.

James maintains a holistic approach and focus on community well-being. In his new role, he will lead our efforts to strengthen connections at Potomac. He will work to increase inclusion, promote engagement, and foster a deeper sense of belonging for all members of our community. In addition to supporting student and parent groups, he will collaborate with offices across campus to strengthen existing community initiatives and develop new ones. James is a great listener, and is very visible on campus, to serve as a common point of contact for everyone who has suggestions or concerns related to fostering a strong and connected community at Potomac. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, he also serves on the college counseling staff and works with a small cohort of juniors and seniors in support of their college search and application process.

Sanil Patel, Associate Director of College Counseling

Sanil Patel comes to the Potomac School in the summer of 2023 where he will join the college counseling team as an Associate Director and advisor. He comes from Hopkins School in New Haven, CT where he served as an Associate Director of College Counseling for four years. Before Hopkins, Sanil attended Columbia University where he obtained a Masters degree in Higher & Postsecondary Education in 2018. Prior to that, Sanil served as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. In the past few years, Sanil served on ACCIS' Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee. Sanil graduated with a B.A. from Ursinus College in 2015.

Karen Lawrence Djorup, College Counseling and Testing Coordinator

Karen has been working in the College Counseling office at The Potomac School since 2005. Prior to Potomac, she worked for a global Fortune 500 company in the organizational development field and managed its executive leadership and development training programs. Karen earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Randolph-Macon Woman's College and spent her junior year in England where she took courses at the University of Reading and Oxford University. She played college level field hockey (Captain of team) and lacrosse. Karen obtained her Master’s of Science Degree in applied behavioral science from The Johns Hopkins University.

During her time at Potomac, she has coached field hockey and lacrosse; raised five children (three potomac graduates); and, among other things, scheduled hundreds of college representative visits, administered thousands of AP exams, and provided invaluable support and assistance to the entire College Counseling Office. Karen gets a lot of satisfaction exploring, learning, and engaging in all the nuances of college counseling work. She enjoys helping students and parents navigate the myriad details and ever changing college admission requirements.