OPTIMAL - Key Persons
As an outreach specialist, Adrian enjoys getting the word out about our content and resources. His background in content writing and customer support have helped him understand the best ways to connect with relevant audiences, whether that be students, schools, or journalists. Adrian is passionate about the education industry because he gets to support people who are working towards a better version of themselves. Adrian previously served in the U.S. Navy, and in his free time, he's either reading and learning how to write books, or enjoying the outdoors through hiking and biking.
In his fifteen years at Optimal, Alan has developed strong relationships with Optimal's partners and employees alike. As the Account Lead, he works to support our partner colleges and bootcamps through campaign management and optimization. Alan is a graduate of Montana Tech of the University of Montana, with a BS in Liberal Studies. He was attracted to work in the education industry based on his belief in the virtue of free thought and personal improvement through discussion, dissent, and analysis. In his free time, Alan enjoys philosophical discussions - in his words, an honest and respectful conversation is about the best thing in the world. The meaning of the name Alan, swift and cheerful, is a true fit for Alan's character.
Job Titles:
- Doctoral Fellow and Adjunct Professor / Mount Washington, KY
- Expert Contributor
Alyssa Middleton earned her MSW from Washington University in St. Louis and is currently a PhD candidate in the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work. Alyssa's work spans from community health clinics to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work BSW and MSSW programs.
Alyssa Middleton earned her MSW from Washington University in St. Louis and is currently a PhD candidate in the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work. Alyssa's work spans from community health clinics to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work BSW and MSSW programs.
Job Titles:
- Internal Writer
- Journalist
Ana Staples is a journalist specializing in personal finance and advice for young people. She's shared her expertise on Buy Side from WSJ, NextAdvisor, Bankrate, Bloomberg, Business Insider, and more. Recently, she's expanded her portfolio to include higher education trends and insights.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Writer from Cleveland
Anna Baluch is a freelance writer from Cleveland, Ohio. She enjoys writing higher education content to help students and their families make the most informed decisions. Her work can be seen on Forbes, OnlineColleges.com, Credit Karma, LendingTree, and many other publications.
Bailey came to Optimal with experience as an academic editor, where she was helping authors around the world publish their manuscripts in prestigious journals. In her current role, Bailey edits our content for grammar, flow, and tone and manages our comprehensive style guide. She has always been passionate about the pursuit of higher education, especially for the sake of knowledge. Bailey graduated from University of Oregon with a degree in Folklore, which she studied due to her fascination with what is meaningful to people. Outside of work, Bailey enjoys studying Spanish and Italian, photographing wildlife, writing historical fiction, and singing/songwriting.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Expert Contributor
- Special Advisor to the President for African American Affairs
In his 11 years in marketing, Brian has worked in several different industries with the common thread of helping connect people to their passions, whether that be through a music license or a college degree. At Optimal, he manages the outreach team, sharing our resources with the relevant audiences including news outlets, students, and organizations. He also supports our data collection efforts to ensure we have the most accurate and timely data for our sites. Brian holds a drama degree from Kenyon College, and in his free time spends countless hours exploring the music world through live shows, music blogs, and wandering through record stores. He also enjoys the Seattle culinary scene, paddleboarding, and playing squash.
A specialist in visual design with 15 years of experience, Brian is inspired by creating visuals that are both engaging and creative. Brian is responsible for making Optimal's content and design as visually appealing and intuitive as possible. Brian holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Emporia State University, and has gained design experience working with many companies in the digital space, such as Microsoft and T-Mobile. When not sitting in front of his computer, Brian can be found cruising around Seattle on his Honda Ruckus, listening to music, working out, or spending time in the sun.
Clinton works at Northwest Education Access (formerly Seattle Education Access) as an Education Advocate supporting low-income students and reengaging at-risk youth to achieve their higher education goals. Before joining NWEA, Clinton was an AmeriCorps Member with College Access Now as an 11th and 12th Grade College Coach.
Job Titles:
- Expert Contributor
- Vice Provost for Student Success / Knoxville, TN
Dr. Amber Williams is the inaugural vice provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Through the development, implementation, and evaluation of student success initiatives, Dr. Williams works to retain and graduate a talented and diverse student group.
She received her master's degree in leadership education and doctorate in education and leadership studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Job Titles:
- Expert Contributor
- Professor of Communication
- Professor of Communication / Tacoma, WA
Dr. Amy Young earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently a Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication at Pacific Lutheran University. Her research interests are in the ways experts use rhetorical style to connect with non-expert public audiences to solve social, cultural, and political problems.
Dr. Amy Young earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently a Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication at Pacific Lutheran University. Her research interests are in the ways experts use rhetorical style to connect with non-expert public audiences to solve social, cultural, and political problems. When she's not working Amy likes to cook, bake, drink wine, and work out to account for all of the rest.
Emily is a new addition to the Optimal team, joining as a Senior Managing Editor. She is passionate about creating content that helps users answer questions and truly enriches their lives. Prior to joining Optimal, Emily focused on credit cards and personal finance, and she can still be found scouring the web for travel deals to maximize her hoard of points and miles. Emily has a bachelor's degree in English Writing and Rhetoric from St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, where she still lives with her partner and two kitties.
Job Titles:
- Director of Software Engineering
As the engineering lead, Gustav ensures Optimal's products deliver value to users as quickly and seamlessly as possible. He was drawn to Optimal's small team and mission of helping others obtain a strong educational foundation. Gustav holds two bachelor's degrees from University of Washington, one in Computing and Software Systems and another in Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences. In his free time, he enjoys working with his hands and taking care of his family. Some of his favorite projects include constructing an elevator for his workshop, renovating a barn, and building a covered playground for his sons.
Holly Johnson is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt." She attended Ball State University and was given the Best Contributor/Freelancer for Personal Finance at the 6th annual Plutus Awards Ceremony. Johnson has written for Forbes, CNN Underscored, U.S. News, and Bankrate.
James Holbrook is a writer with five years of experience in fiction writing, academia, and copywriting. They have a master's in theatre history and work as a dramaturg for several theater companies in the DC area.
Job Titles:
- Social Worker
- Licensed Social Worker
Jenni Jacobsen is a licensed social worker, university faculty member, and health and fitness professional with an interest in the relationship between physical health and mental wellness. She has experience as a writer and researcher on numerous topics within psychology and the social sciences, and she is in the dissertation process for a doctorate in psychology.
Jennifer King Logan specializes in covering business, marketing, and finance topics within higher education. Before joining Optimal, Jennifer worked in content development and creation for two of the largest college textbook publishers in the U.S. Her recent experience earning an online Master of Arts in Marketing has inspired her enthusiasm for distance learning.
A seasoned veteran of the publishing industry, Jennifer enjoys exploring education-related topics and writing informative content about higher education for our program and resource pages. Before joining Optimal, Jennifer worked in content development and creation for two of the largest higher educational textbook publishers in the U.S. Her recent experience pursuing an online Master of Arts in Marketing through Southern New Hampshire University only furthered her enthusiasm for distance learning. Jennifer also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from California State University Fullerton. In her free time, she enjoys fiction writing, painting, upcycling furniture, and traveling.
Jordan Beliles is a fact-based reporter and writer with over 10 years of experience compiling research in a wide variety of industries. His words have appeared in print magazines, digital media, marketing campaigns, and hundreds of pieces of online content.
As a Marketing Manager, Kellen focuses on finding and connecting with the audiences that could benefit from our rankings, resources, and articles. Growing up, Kellen was surrounded by a family of educators, which sparked his interest in the industry. However when looking for colleges, he struggled to find accurate information. Now, he's passionate about helping Optimal create the resources he would have appreciated when making a college decision, and making sure other students can find our sites. Kellen holds a bachelor's in Business Administration from Seattle Pacific University. Outside of work, he enjoys reading fantasy books, crafting with his hands, and watching sports. Kellen brings the spirit to Optimal through his Music Friday DJ role and his Christmas costumes.
Job Titles:
- Internal Writer
- Writer
- Writer With a
Liz Heintz is a content writer with a BA in communications, advocacy, and relational communications from Marylhurst University in Oregon. Prior to coming to Optimal, Liz worked for several years as the lead health and wellness writer for a healthcare advocacy nonprofit in Portland, Oregon.
With 10 years of writing experience, Liz is passionate about creating the best content to help students achieve their goals. She earned her bachelor's in Communications, Advocacy, and Relational Communications from Marylhurst University. During her time there, Liz did some student advocacy work when the school administration unexpectedly announced a school closure. She enjoyed helping students by researching solutions and connecting them to resources to help them navigate their futures. Liz describes herself as a kid at heart, naming Beverly Cleary as her inspiration in the fifth grade to pursue a writing career. In her free time, she enjoys learning about British history, customs, and country life.
Job Titles:
- Product Manager
- Rankings Strategist
As a Rankings Strategist, Madeline is constantly working to enhance our ranking offerings by researching new data sources and focusing on student needs. She is a strong believer that providing students with the right data can be incredibly helpful for the college decision making process. After graduating from Dartmouth with a Bachelor's in Cognitive Science, Madeline gained experience working in an academic library in the scholarly communication and digital library departments. In her free time, Madeline enjoys hiking, Nordic skiing, and playing flute.
Margaret Wack is a freelance writer with an interdisciplinary master's degree from St. John's College. She has written for brands that include U.S. News, Investopedia, Bankrate, Angi, and ArtfulTea. She has also worked as a tutor helping students become college-ready.
As a publishing developer for Optimal, Mario makes sure all of the content we produce goes live on our site for prospective students to access. He also handles any styling changes and content edits on our sites. Mario enjoys being able to work on the front facing side of our sites and derives passion from helping connect students to higher education opportunities and information. He strongly believes that everyone should have the ability to pursue a form of higher education, regardless of economic status or societal biases. Mario holds a Computer Science degree from Western Washington University and in his free time he enjoys ultimate frisbee, playing his ukulele, and cruising through town on his moped.
Michael McCarthy is a writer for Optimal, where he creates long-form content for all of the company's websites. He's previously fact-checked textbooks, edited lessons for online college courses, and written content to help 260,000 employees understand their insurance and other benefits.
Drawing upon his 11 years of experience in writing and editing, Michael creates content for multiple facets of our site. His ambition as a writer is to present prospective students with the information they need to make good choices when selecting a college. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from DePaul University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Washington University, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Chicago. Outside of work, Michael can be found teaching and training in krav maga or volunteering with Seal Sitters, an organization in West Seattle that seeks to protect marine mammals resting on shore.
As a Content Manager, Paige is dedicated to creating content that truly addresses prospective students' needs. She surveys users, researches industry and content trends, and manages a team of writers. After volunteering in her kids' school with special needs and low-income students, Paige became passionate about the power of accessible, online education. These experiences have helped mold her desire to continue improving the content. Paige has a Bachelor's in Business Administration - Marketing from Western Washington University and is an avid marathon runner, completing marathons everywhere from Boston to France.
In her 10 years at the company, Rachel has been a key driver of content growth and business strategy for our products. After graduating from Westmont College, Rachel worked directly with students as an SAT coach and writing tutor. As someone well-versed with the college search process, she is proud to expand the reach of websites like ours, which equip students to make well-informed decisions about their educational options. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading books and spending quality time with her family, including her two young boys.
In his six years with the company, Samuel has supported several teams including accounts, business growth, and marketing. Currently, he works to develop and maintain our internal reports, administrative tools, and email management system. Before Optimal, Sam spent four years as an English teacher in Japan, allowing him to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the education space. He holds a B.A. in political science from Transylvania University and an M.A. in East Asian Studies from Stanford University. Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with his spouse and son, tabletop board games, and pen-and-paper role playing games.
Job Titles:
- Academic Researcher
- Researcher and Technical Writer With an M.Ed
Sara Austin is an academic researcher and technical writer with an M.Ed in Instructional Technology and an Ed.D in Educational Leadership. Her most recent research focuses on classroom equity and strategies for unlocking the limitless potential of all students through positive representation and culturally relevant instruction.
As a former teacher and youth worker with 12 years of experience, Sarah understands the urgent need to expand access to higher education. Through her research and data collection work, she helps create resources that enable students to make informed decisions about their educational future. Sarah also assists students directly by serving as our communications and outreach liaison. A graduate of the University of Washington, Sarah holds a Bachelor of Social Welfare and a Master of Social Work. When not working with prospective college students, she can be found mentoring children through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, traveling, and studying other languages.
Seph Anderson has 15 years of higher education experience in student academic and career advising as well as over a decade in higher education content marketing. His bachelor's was in business marketing and his master's in higher education from The University of Mississippi.
Job Titles:
- Data Reporter
- Internal Writer
Shadi Bushra covers the labor market and other economic factors that impact college students and recent graduates. He specializes in Gen Z and Millennial experiences of higher education, as well as trends in student mental health.
In his ten years as a professional journalist, Shadi has developed strong reporting skills and a drive to always be searching for news stories and developments. His experience spans from producing breaking news at CNN to reporting for Reuters in London, Egypt, and Sudan. As an immigrant and first-generation student, Shadi felt incredibly adrift in the college application and financial aid processes. Looking back, he wishes that his current job, accurately gathering and clearly presenting data-driven college graduate information, was one that had existed back when he was researching college and graduate schools. For Optimal, Shadi researches and reports on data studies and trends relating to college outcomes. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University and an M.S. in Investigative Journalism and Digital Media from Columbia University.
Stephanie Sasseen writes about personal finance, travel, music, and parenting. Her work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, The Penny Hoarder, LendEDU, Podreacher, and Money Under 30.
Understanding the difficulties of obtaining a quality, affordable education is what inspired founder and CEO Sung Rhee to found Optimal in 2004. He saw a need to create sites dedicated to providing transparent, data-driven information to empower people to make better decisions for their education and careers. He knows prestige doesn't always translate to quality, and Sung doesn't want to see students get a raw deal.
Outside of work, Sung enjoys playing basketball and adding to his collection of Gundam figurines. A fun fact about Sung is that he was a cartoonist for The Harvard Crimson during his college years.
Sung has been featured in several publications, including GeekWire and 425 Business Magazine. Additionally, the CEO Perspective he authored provides a more in-depth look into his background and how Optimal came to be.
As an account manager, Susan works to support our partner colleges and bootcamps. Susan came to Optimal with a variety of previous experiences working as an editor, project manager and account manager. As an English Literature and Writing graduate from Marylhurst University, she knows the importance of clear, accurate information and attention to detail. Susan has been passionate about the education industry for as long as she can remember, and understands that selecting the right path is essential to reaching your goals and finding your passions. She enjoys being part of an organization that helps students reach their full potential and loves being a resource for our partners. In her free time, Susan enjoys playing tennis, birding, pickleball, and searching for Seattle's best cup of coffee.
Job Titles:
- Public Health Professional and Freelance Writer
Taneia Surles is a public health professional and freelance writer specializing in health and education content. She has a bachelor's and master's degree in public health from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Job Titles:
- Data Reporter
- Internal Writer
- Journalist
Taylor Nichols is a journalist covering community colleges and four-year universities with a focus on student outcomes, career pathways, and alternative credentials. Prior to her work at OnlineU, she spent six years in newsrooms at Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University, where she earned her bachelor's in journalism. She is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Education Writers Association, and a college mentor with Seattle-based nonprofit The Mentoring Project. When Taylor isn't writing, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, reading, and traveling anywhere with palm trees.
Prior to joining Optimal, Taylor spent six years writing for higher education newspapers and magazines. Through this experience she gained a unique perspective on college students' needs and challenges. She now uses this background to generate creative article ideas and produce insightful content for our site. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with a News/Editorial focus from Western Washington University. When Taylor isn't writing, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, listening to 90s hip hop, and visiting any place that has palm trees.
Usmaan Farooqui is a writer with over 10 years of combined experience in journalism, academia, and online content. In the past, he spent time working directly with students and in the NGO sector. Usmaan holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
With over nine years of experience writing for newspapers and academic journals, Usmaan is well positioned to develop strong content for prospective students. The education industry combines two of his interests: working with students and doing research. Having spent years teaching, Usmaan is excited to be in a position where he gets to do research that helps students make decisions about higher education. He holds a BA from the University of Edinburgh, an MA from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Outside of work, Usmaan is a huge mythology fan and enjoys playing guitar.
At Optimal, Valeria works to build out our content efforts across our websites for a seamless end-to-end user experience. She is passionate about contributing to Optimal's mission by displaying data for better decision making and ensuring students can access the resources they need for pursuing higher education. Prior to joining Optimal, Valeria worked at an insurance company in Peru as their webmaster. Valeria holds a Computer Science degree from Manhattan College. In her free time she enjoys learning Peruvian sign language and crocheting -- she has made seven different styles of bucket hats!
Walter M. Kimbrough has more than twenty years of senior leadership at HBCUs, including presidencies at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arizona, and Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He presently serves as the interim executive director of the Black Men's Research Institute at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.