Meet Our Team
Hello, there. Let's introduce ourselves.
Alex Ellison
Founder and Head Guide
Alex Ellison launched her independent consulting practice in 2013 under the name Dunce, LLC, just to add some levity to what can be a stressful topic: college & career planning. She writes and lectures extensively on the subject of careers and college readiness and has been a featured speaker at SXSW and TedX. She is the author of Go Your Own Way: 7 Student-Centered Paths to the Best College Experience and the creator of the Go Your Own Way Student Archetype Quiz used in schools and by individuals to jump-start their college search.
She is co-author of Your Hidden Genius. Alex holds a BA from Northwestern University, a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a certificate in college counseling from UCLA Extension School. She lives in Santa Cruz, California.
Check out more of her work at alexellison.com
Anna Floyd
Client Experience and Operations Coordinator
Anna Floyd recently joined Throughline Guidance as a Client Experience and Operations Coordinator, where she focuses on supporting seamless client experiences and day-to-day operations. She is currently a senior at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
Through her academic experience, Anna has developed a strong interest in understanding how thoughtful systems and supportive services can help individuals grow and succeed. She is especially excited to see students gain clarity and confidence through the use of Throughline Guidance’s services, and to play a behind-the-scenes role in supporting their journeys.
Anna lives in San Luis Obispo, California. Outside of work and school, she enjoys baking, exploring all kinds of crafts, learning anything she can, staying active, and spending time with friends and family.
Nikki Roderman
Nikki Roderman, College and Career Program Director
Nikki joins us with expertise from Barnard College, where she served as an Accommodations Coordinator, specializing in supporting students with disabilities in transitioning from high school to college and throughout their higher education. Focusing on supporting students through this crucial developmental stage and beyond, having worked in teaching, coaching, and other support roles throughout her career, Nikki uses her experience to guide students and professionals at a crossroads to examine and achieve their goals.
Nikki is our executive functioning specialist, supporting students and professionals in achieving their goals while maximizing their aptitudes and natural gifts, helping individuals move from friction to flow and optimize educational and career opportunities. These skills are applied directly in her role at Throughline, where she guides students to - and through - college.
Nikki earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Special Education, and Elementary Education from Marist College and began her teaching career in West Windsor, NJ. She furthered her expertise by obtaining a master’s degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University.
Her passion and dedication are centered on helping individuals succeed academically and personally, making meaningful contributions within the educational community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring new coffee shops, and baking!
Liz Benson
High School Program Director
As head of Throughline’s high school program, Liz is passionate about serving students navigating the major crossroad of completing high school and discovering their bright futures. Liz works as a counselor supporting students through the college discovery and application journey. She strives to help all students thrive with personal guidance in strengthening academics, exploring extracurriculars, and tackling the often-stressful application essay process.
With a career journey as a high school science teacher and then in a variety of corporate roles in strategic partnerships and business development with major companies in Silicon Valley, Liz brings a breadth of experience to share with students. Before joining Throughline Guidance, she also ran her own college counseling practice in the Bay Area and is an admissions reader for the University of California - Santa Cruz. Liz graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Biology and holds a certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning from UC Berkeley. When not spending time with her students, Liz loves exploring hiking trails and volunteering in the local community.
Teresa Atkinson
Application Specialist
Teresa truly believes that we all serve a purpose in life, both personally and professionally. When people find a purpose in their lives, passion comes from it. Teresa is very passionate about working closely with students and families through the college admissions process. Teresa has over 15 years of school counseling experience in both public and private high schools. She obtained both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from Duquesne University. In addition, Teresa has obtained a certificate in College Admissions Counseling from UCLA. She also has been an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) for 6 years working with various college consultants. As an IEC, she engages with students and families to empower, support, and guide them through the college application process. One of Teresa’s favorite parts of this line of work is traveling to a new city and attending college tours, so she can better serve her students and clients.
Lindsay McIntosh
Performing Arts Specialist
Lindsay McIntosh, a Truckee, California native, is a historical oboist, arts entrepreneur, and mentor to aspiring young artists.
A graduate of the esteemed Juilliard School of Music, McIntosh was on a full scholarship in the Historical Performance program and has appeared under world-renowned conductors such as William Christie, Masaaki Suzuki, Jordi Savall, Richard Egarr, and Monica Huggett.
McIntosh is uniquely qualified to lead and guide students pursuing careers in the arts. Through her program, McIntosh emphasizes the importance of imagination, innovation, and community connection, offering young artists the tools to thrive creatively and professionally.
Now residing in Loyalton, CA, McIntosh dedicates her time to local nonprofit work through Musica Sierra and mentors the next generation of artists while raising her family.
Zoe Heller
Writing Specialist
Zoe applies her decade-long experience as an educator to enhance and clarify the singular spirit of each student’s work and body of essays while maintaining standards of academic excellence. She is a co-founder and educator at Spokes on a Wheel, a virtual tutoring and academic consulting company, where she oversees company writing and onboarding and teaches English and Hebrew. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University with degrees in Psychology and Anthropology.
Zoe lives in Berkeley, CA where she writes novels, cooks soups, and occasionally dabbles in painting and other arts.
Take Your First Step
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