Our Story
One day I was meeting with a student in my office on campus at a large university where I was an academic advisor. We were going over her transcripts and the classes she was transferring in with, discussing her goals and creating a plan for her to finish her degree. Nothing really out of the ordinary for an academic advising appointment really.
At the end of our meeting the student was incredibly excited about transferring and her plan we had mapped out and she said something offhand that would change the course of my career. “Wow this was so helpful, thank you so much! I wish I’d had someone like you when I was just starting out; I wouldn’t have wasted so much time and money.”
Right then and there the idea for MyAdvisorSays was born. What if I could help more students get on the right track for them earlier? Students who, like me, maybe didn’t have parents to guide them through the process? I could help them get into college sure, but I could also work with them each year keeping them on track to meet their goals, or helping them with options when they were ready for a change.
Seven years and thousands of students later, I am still an academic advisor but on a much more personal scale. I get to work with my students no matter what school they attend. I have a network of expert colleagues available to my students who specialize in populations (such as Veterans) and disciplines (such as Law School and Med School admissions). Experts who – like myself – believe in the power of education and that every child should have the opportunity to attend college if they want to.
Dr. Kasandrea Sereno
Our Founder
Doctorate of Education
- Vanderbilt University
- Higher Education Organizational Leadership & Policy
MBA
- University of South Florida
- Concentrations in Management, Marketing & Sustainability
Master of Education
- University of South Florida
- College Student Affairs
- Graduate Certificate in Career Counseling
Bachelor of Science
- University of South Florida
- Major: Business Management
- Minor: Industrial Psychology
Compassionate
Our entire team is dedicated to helping students navigate the college process. We are passionate about education in all forms and enjoy working with students.
Knowledgeable
Over 50 years of combined experience in a variety of functional areas including; Dean of Student’s Office, Admissions, Orientation, Academic Advising, Housing & Greek Life.
Connected
Our connections across industries and as a member of the entrepreneurial & tech business community make us uniquely qualified to help students prepare for life after college.
Innovative
We love technology and new media! One of our favorite things is teaching others how to use these tools to build their personal brand and land jobs & internships.
Our Team
Star Aparicio M.Ed
Veteran's, Military & Transfer Student Specialist
Star Aparicio
She graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelors in Elementary Education and Early Childhood studies. She holds a masters degree from the University of Tampa in Educational Administration. Star spent the early years of her career in the classroom as an elementary school teacher for 12 years before becoming a high school college success coach assisting students applying to college.
Most recently she has served as a community college advisor with a specialty in working with veteran students and their GI benefits. She enjoys helping students realize their potential and figure out their career path. When she is not at work you can find her spending time with her two sons or at the beach with her dog.
Lisa Pia Zonni Spinazola Ph.D
Essay & Interview Specialist
Dr Lisa Pia Zonni Spinazola is a recent graduate from the Department of Communication at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Her research interests include interpersonal communication, storytelling, narrative reframing, autoethnography, compassionate interviewing, emotions, trauma, addiction, and families. She has taught at both the community college and university levels and understands each student has widely-different experiences and expectations as they embark on their college career. Before her return to academia, she spent fifteen years as general manager and H/R manager for a high-end, multi-million dollar, 25+ employee company, running four departments, working with management, employees, vendors
Our Preferred Partners
Horton Test Prep
SAT & ACT Tutoring & Test Prep
Leia LeMaster Horton is a Test Prep Professional and has been an educator for over nineteen years. Her favorite subjects to teach are Latin and Math. In the last seven years, she has focused her attention on college entrance exams and is the owner of Horton Test Prep. She’s helped countless students win the Bright Futures scholarship, raise their scores hundreds of points and turn dream schools into reality with significant financial aid packages. She is a founding member of the National Test Prep Association which offers ongoing training for test prep professionals.
Find her online at HortonTestPrep.com or contact her directly via email at info@HortonTestPrep.com.
