ACCIS announces first full-time Executive Director

May 16, 2016

The Board of Trustees of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Emmi Harward to be its first, full-time Executive Director. Founded in 2007, ACCIS is one of the most valuable professional organizations for independent school college counselors. Members work with a broad range of college-bound students in day and boarding schools across the country to assist them and their families in the college search process. ACCIS currently serves close to 1500 members at more than 500 schools.

This is a significant moment in the history of the association as we seek to build and broaden the community we have created among members, expand high quality professional development opportunities and further develop our national presence in the vital conversations surrounding the school to college transition.

Ms. Harward holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and psychology from Emory University and a Masters of Education in education leadership from the College of William and Mary. Her broad experience includes serving as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Vanderbilt University, Director of College Counseling at Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News, Virginia and Director of College Counseling at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, California. She has presented at National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) national conferences and worked extensively in three regional ACAC organizations. In addition to her formal responsibilities at Bishop’s, since 2010 Ms. Harward has held numerous volunteer leadership roles within ACCIS including Internal Review Committee Chair and for the past three years, Executive Director. “Emmi has displayed enormous dedication, confident leadership and a tireless work ethic.” said Larry Momo, ACCIS Board Chair. “She emerged from a pool of more than 100 candidates, eight semi-finalists and four finalists to win the overwhelming approval of the search committee. We believe firmly that we have found in Emmi the energy, experience and steady wisdom to lead us forward, to marshal the willingness of our many volunteers and to extend our voice in ways that are powerful and impactful.”

In her own words, Ms. Harward shared, "I am honored, thrilled and eager to take on this new role on behalf of ACCIS with the time and ability to work more closely with college counselors in independent schools. Over the past six years as a committee chair and Executive Director, I have seen our work through the eyes of colleagues across the country who share their wisdom and experience with all of us. I am excited to bring my skills and energy to this new position and build upon the successes of ACCIS's past, while growing new professional development opportunities for the future."

Ms. Harward will continue to work on behalf of ACCIS in her current volunteer role through December. She will assume her official responsibilities with ACCIS on January 2, 2017.