Get To Know Us

At CMCA, teamwork, collaboration, and a shared vision drive everything we do. Whether we’re guiding students through high school, helping them discover powerful essay topics, or making the entire process feel less confusing and more manageable, we are a collaborative and well-oiled machine—each bringing our own superpowers to the mix. From the master counselor to the essay whisperers to the business support guru, we’ve got every angle covered!

Cindy McCormick

Principal Advisor

Committed to excellence in education and ethics, Cindy stays current on college admissions trends by visiting universities and networking with professional groups, ensuring her students receive the most up-to-date and informed guidance. With 10+ years of experience in college advising, she has helped hundreds of students navigate the application process with confidence, clarity, and success.

Cindy earned her . . .

  • Bachelor’s, Teaching Credential, and Master’s in Education from UCLA

  • Instructional Writing Certificate from UC Santa Barbara

  • College Counseling Certificate from UC San Diego

  • Memberships in the Independent Educational Consultants Association, National Association of College Admissions Counseling, and Western Association of College Admissions Counseling

Beyond the classroom, Cindy coached competitive STEM teams for a decade, leading them to global championships while fostering innovation and teamwork. As a Gifted and Talented educator, autism specialist, and bilingual instructor, she values diverse backgrounds and learning styles, making every student feel seen, supported, and empowered. 

Vicki Halphide

Business Director

Vicki Halphide—our Business Director, data guru, and go-to problem solver—manages the business and data side of CMCA while also tracking the latest developments in college admissions. With a background in industrial engineering, corporate strategy, and an MBA, she brings just the right mix of structure and strategy to keep things humming. Her College Counseling Certificate from UC San Diego makes her an invaluable resource to Cindy and our families.

Vicki builds the tools that make our systems run, helps shape the strategy behind the advising process, and collaborates on how we connect with families. By turning trends and data into practical insights, she strengthens the support we offer—helping our families navigate the high school journey with perspective and purpose.

CMCA Essay & Application Specialists

Sheray McKeown

  • A California native, Sheray earned her B.A. in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University and her Master’s in Education and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential from the University of San Diego. Sheray has worked for over 20 years as a high school counselor in both private and public educational settings. As a counselor, she thoroughly enjoys helping students achieve their academic, social-emotional, and college and career goals. Sheray’s diverse experience as an educator enables her to assist families with immediate guidance and long-term planning, as she understands the importance of partnership and collaboration on this educational journey.

    When she’s not working, Sheray enjoys her husband and three college-aged children (when they are home), reading, traveling, and friends. She also loves learning and can often be found taking classes for enrichment.

Charlie Kappes

  • Charlie graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Political Science. At UW, he served as Opinion Editor on The Daily and founded the school's first satire magazine, Off Lease, which still runs quarterly. He also edited UW's neurobiology journal Grey Matters and wrote for Seattle-based satire publication The Needling. After college, Charlie earned a Screenwriting Certificate at UCLA Extension, studying story development and script review.

    He has worked with TV writers, novelists, journalists, professors, and comedians. Collaborating across mediums and industries has helped him develop a skill for pulling out a writer's voice and conveying engaging stories efficiently and effectively. When it clicks, it clicks. He believes the writing process should be fun—and that once students discover their own narrative, the rest is easy.

    Charlie is applying to law school in New York City and developing his own personal statements. He looks forward to sharing his experience with students. In Brooklyn, he manages comedy and music production at Littlefield. On his days off, he hosts dinner parties, rock climbs, and explores NYC.

Emily Halphide

  • Emily graduated with honors from the University of San Diego with a B.A. in English. Through college, she tutored students at the campus writing center, guiding them through the writing process, from brainstorming to final revision. She went on to earn a Copyediting Certificate from UC San Diego, further honing her editing skills. She currently works for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

    Emily understands that writing a compelling essay goes beyond metaphors and thesis statements. It's about meeting each student where they are and helping them uncover their own unique voice while providing support in an approachable manner. Everyone has a tale to tell, and she's there to help translate ideas in a way that showcases each student’s personality. 

    In her free time, Emily enjoys reading cheesy books, baking, and hanging out at the beach.

 Partnered Colleague for Student-Athletes

Katie Andersen

Katie Andersen is a private college counselor in Dana Point, CA. She specializes in working with student-athletes to help them identify schools that are the best fit for both the “student” and “athlete” as well as guiding them through the college athletic recruiting and application process. Her unique perspective is based on personal experience as a Division 1 soccer player at Duke University, alumni interviewer, college counselor, and experience working for 15 years in the software and web design industries in the United States and Europe. She received her College Counseling Certificate with distinction from UCLA Extension and is a member of IECA and HECA.