Background and Experience

Jennifer Stephan has spent her entire career in higher education helping young adults achieve their academic and personal goals. 

Jennifer holds a unique vantage point on the college application process, having held a variety of roles across top colleges and universities, including professor, academic dean, and on a board of admissions, in addition to serving as a private college counselor, alumni interviewer for Johns Hopkins University, and parent of three. Her holistic understanding of how a student can thrive at college helps her guide students down the path of fulfillment, success, and joy. 

Jennifer currently serves as the Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies for the School of Engineering at Tufts University. Prior to joining Tufts, she spent over two decades serving as a dean and a professor of Computer Science at Wellesley College, where she collaborated with colleagues at MIT, Olin College of Engineering, and Babson College to support students pursuing engineering. With experience in dual-degree STEM programs, and having pioneered multiple such programs between Wellesley, MIT, and Olin, Jennifer specializes in mentoring young students preparing for careers in STEM program admissions, including those interested in computer science and engineering. Her robust counseling experience equips her to assist students from all backgrounds and academic interests, including transfer students and high schoolers with interruptions on their transcript. 

While at Wellesley, Jennifer served on the College’s Board of Admissions, reading and evaluating approximately one hundred transfer student applications each year. Jennifer’s leadership roles in higher education give her unique appreciation for the way institutional priorities are reflected in admissions decisions. She regularly employs insights from these experiences to help students develop their college lists and shape competitive, authentic applications.

Dedicated to access and equal opportunity, Jennifer has spent her career advocating for women in STEM, students from underprivileged and first-generation backgrounds, and mental health and Title IX initiatives. 

Jennifer holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, as well as an MS and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

She is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Jennifer’s position at Tufts does not and will not involve admission decisions at Tufts University.

Read more about Jennifer’s Academic Journey