Ellen Marie McPhillip is an accomplished academic professional, trailblazing careerist, motivational speaker and entrepreneurial visionary who is poised to be the leading voice driving post-collegiate planning, bridging the gap between the last day in the classroom and the pinnacle of success.

The Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Business Education at the University of Miami where she develops curriculum, programming, and strategizes branding and advertising. Ellen is a vital contributor in the Business School faculty. She plays an integral part in leading initiatives to enhance the freshman experience, fundraising for programs, establish partnerships with local non-profit entities to provide leadership opportunities for students and support for women in business, social entrepreneurship and technology advancement for the University. Mrs. McPhillip earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from McGill University and her Master of Arts degree in Journalism from New York University.

She is extremely passionate about integrating student interests into her classroom and projects that incorporate collaboration, real world thinking, and "out of the box" solutions. She has written cross-disciplinary curriculum and has received multiple grants and acknowledgments for her work. She also helps students with SAT and ACT prep work, college essay writing, and the college application process.

Lauren Markon, MS Counseling, has been working as a Career Services Professional since 2000. In 2006 she launched her own business that she established in Livingston, called Career Connections NJ. The establishment provides career counseling, resume writing, and LinkedIn profile development, as well as interview and job search skills.

Previously, she has worked at many prestigious universities and colleges such as (Pace University, Pace World Trade Institute, Fordham University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and County College of Morris). In addition, she has spoken at many venues throughout the state on resume writing, interviewing, returning to work women, networking, and utilizing LinkedIn for your job search. She has worked with 100's of clients from CEO's, to middle management, to entry level college students. Additionally, she is teaching LinkedIn as an Instructor for the Montclair Adult School of Continuing Education, and National Council of Jewish Women.

Sophia Kenny currently serves as a Guidance Counselor at Columbia High School. With over 10 years of experience in the high school setting with both general and special education, her ability to connect with students is invaluable. Mrs. Kenny comes with intercollegiate athletic experience, formerly competing with the track and field program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, as well as 9 years of coaching experience with the Montclair High School running program. She facilitated and helped many varsity athletes connect, visit, and attend schools of their choice, while also continuing their athletic careers. Her journey to becoming a school guidance counselor came from her love of sports as well as a passion for connecting with students on more than just an athletic level. Conversations about grades, experiences, stress management and discovering their true potential in life propelled her to pursue, and ultimately attain a position in her desired field.

Mrs. Kenny is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies with a concentration in Sports Management, and her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Seton Hall University.

He is adept at developing and leading highly successful marketing and advertising campaigns from conception through implementation as well as a skilled creator of integrated plans that significantly expand brand awareness and grow sales. Garth has always had a passion for mentoring and has done so throughout his career. Garth earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University, an MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing from St. Joseph’s University and is currently working to complete a certification program at UCLA to become an Independent College Counselor.

Prior to learning how to drive a car, Domenico taught himself five instruments and developed an expertise in musical engineering. Today, he owns his own record label and has scored gigs at legendary venues such as Webster Hall in NYC and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. Domenico’s vision is for RWA to serve as a vessel for other young people to discover and pursue their passions. For the past three years, Domenico has run a progressive mentorship program in his hometown of Morristown, NJ, teaching students the art of professionalism, time management, and other required skills for succeeding in college and the Real World.

His interests in reforming the education and career-planning systems stemmed from his experiences transitioning from public high school to Cornell University, and he has given a TEDx talk on the subject. In medical school, he founded the Newark Junior Mentoring Society, which has mentored hundreds of students and earned praise from Cory Booker. His interests range from career planning, internship reform, and mentorship reform. He is involved in developing Ivy League prep, non-college pathways, internship programs, mentorship overseeing, after-school programs, community outreach, and funding for underprivileged students.

He credits his high school mentor Jose Acevedo for inspiring him to give back to his community through the program. Being a first generation American, Mateo wanted to pass on his knowledge to students who also had little to no familiarity with the college process. His goal is to graduate from FDU and continue to grow RWA along with his professional career.

A mentor in Real World Morristown, Kobe has a passion for helping others and pushing them to succeed. Having recently completed the Human Rights Education internship offered at Montclair, he has a strong background in creating and conducting lesson plans. With his involvement in Real World, Kobe hopes to offer insight, resources, and inspiration to students moving toward the college and professional level.

He is involved in many academic and leadership enriching programs at Lehigh, along with his involvement in mentorship on campus with the local high school students. Being a first-generation student and realizing the impact his high school mentor counselor had on his high school career, Daniel has developed a lifelong passion for academic equity and is devoted to helping marginalized youth.

Being a first-generation high school graduate, Ramiro has gone through the tribulations of college applications successfully and seeks to help those who may find themselves overwhelmed by the process. He has experience in tutoring many different subjects from English composition to fundamentals of physics. Hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, he is an avid jazz enthusiast and in his free time likes to play guitar. As a group mentor, Ramiro specializes in keeping students engaged with Real World applications of the course content.