HGSE Admissions Blog

As our admissions staff begin to read through applications for the incoming HGSE cohorts, we asked them to share a bit about themselves and their time in Cambridge.

Meg Anderson (she/her), Associate Director of Admissions

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
I had previously worked in undergraduate admissions and enjoyed the variety of the admissions cycle. After a few years working in professional education, I was looking for a change that would get me back into direct admissions work.

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
Le’s Vietnamese Restaurant is my go-to spot for lunch when I’m in the office. It’s nothing fancy but their pho hits the spot!

If you were to take a HGSE class, which one would you take?
I haven’t taken any classes at HGSE, but I would love to take any of the OEL Higher Ed classes. Creating the Future of American Postsecondary Education with Fran Purcell or Strategic Finance for Nonprofit Leaders with Jim Honan are particularly interesting to me in the context of my job.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
I’ve always loved the cozy and casual vibe of Grendel’s Den!

Frank Arce (el/he/him), Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
The chance to join a dedicated team and community making a meaningful impact on the future of our country and the world. It’s not an exaggeration—the work here truly matters.

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
The Maharaja & Painted Burro.

If you were to take a HGSE class, which one would you take?
The Art and Practice of BRAVE Communication – Professor Tim McCarthy.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
Not so hidden, but the A.R.T. and MFA are absolute gems—don’t miss out!

Jourdan Hafen (she/her), Admissions Administrator

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
I worked at a consulting firm before and it was not for me. I had fond memories of working in a few offices in college and thought I’d give higher ed a shot!

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
So many good spots! Flour, Felipe’s, and Shake Shack are a few of my go-tos.

Is there a class that you’ve taken at HGSE that you really enjoyed?
Ethnic Studies and Adult Development were great.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
The spicy pickle pizza at Hot Box in Union Square. It might sound weird, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

Lauren McDermott (she/her), Assistant Director of Admissions

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
I am an alum (PSP ’16 and CAS ’17) and I have been working as a Teaching Fellow for a couple of classes here at HGSE since the spring of 2022. I have loved and appreciated the HGSE community since being a student here and I was very excited to take on the role of Assistant Director of Admissions when I joined in the fall of 2023. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing HGSE alums through our admissions work and to engage with wonderful prospective applicants either in-person or virtually.

Is there a class that you’ve taken at HGSE that you really enjoyed?
I am biased since I work with both Dr. Jacqueline Zeller and Dr. Josephine Kim as a Teaching Fellow but any of the classes that they teach are amazing. Their knowledge around the field of counseling and the realm of mental health is incredible and the information I learned in their classes has had a profound impact on who I am as a person and a professional.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
This is not really a hidden gem, but in the last two years I have been going to the Trader Joe’s in Allston near the Harvard Business School, and it is a great place to grab groceries or lunch.

Alan Morales (he/him), Business and Research Analyst

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
I had an interest in working with educational data sets.

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
Gutman Cafe chicken tenders and CVS Poppi Wild Berry soda.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
The Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Stan Rivkin (he/him), Associate Director of Admissions

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
I wanted to advance HGSE’s mission of identifying, training, and supporting the next generation of education leaders. 

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
The Hourly Oyster House.

Is there a class that you’ve taken at HGSE that you really enjoyed?
I enjoyed taking the class called “Organizing: People, Power, Change.”

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
Sofra Bakery and Cafe has incredible baked goods, inspired by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors. Slightly further into Watertown, there is fantastic to-go Armenian food at Sevan Bakery and Arax Market. Alive & Kicking Lobsters might have the best lobster rolls in town. 

Amanda Weydt (she/her), Assistant Director of Financial Aid

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
I came to HGSE from my undergraduate institution, where I worked in the financial aid office all four years and after my graduation.  Now at HGSE, our Admissions and Financial Aid Offices have merged into one office (which is technically what brought me to Admissions), and I’ve been loving the partnership!

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
One of my favorite food spots around Harvard is Joe’s Pizza!

If you were to take a HGSE class, which one would you take?
I’m interested in taking all sorts of classes, but currently I’m interested in “Why Can’t Higher Education Change?” as I think it’s a very important conversation given the times and our position as Harvard.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
Honestly, I LOVE Radcliffe Yard in the spring/summer. It’s so peaceful and beautiful and even though it’s mere steps from the rest of campus, it feels like you can take a break when you’re there.

Rakim Williams (he/him), Assistant Director of Admissions

What brought you to HGSE admissions?
Prior to joining HGSE, I worked in undergraduate admissions at Northeastern University. While I enjoyed the undergraduate environment, I was drawn to HGSE because of my passion for impacting the education field. I also wanted to be a part of the student life cycle, and work with individuals who are passionate about advancing their education beyond the undergraduate level and who were dedicated to making a meaningful impact when it came to educational spaces.

What is your favorite food spot around Harvard?
My favorite food spot is Pinocchio’s Pizza & Subs—a staple in the Harvard community. Also known as “Nocchs,” it has been a go-to spot for me since I moved here in 2016. Fun fact: it was even featured as a trivia question on the TV show Suits!

If you were to take a HGSE class, which one would you take?
I recently graduated from HGSE in 2024, and while I certainly enjoyed all of my courses, there’s one class I wish I could have taken: H205: College Student Development, taught by Alexis Redding. From my understanding, the course focuses on student growth and engagement within higher education spaces. I think taking this course could have definitely provided me with valuable tools or at least content relevant to my current role at HGSE.

Favorite hidden gem around Harvard/Cambridge?
A favorite gem of mine—though not exactly hidden—is the Charles River. I especially enjoy walking the loop on weekends to hit my daily step goal on Fitbit (lol). The loop takes you from Cambridge to Boston and back, while offering amazing views of Harvard, BU, and MIT along the way. If you want to take a break from the city noise, it’s definitely a peaceful way to explore the area.