Renee Bischoff

Director of College Counseling
(440) 423-2089

Renee joined the College Counseling office in 2010. She was attracted by Hawken’s innovative academic program and schedule. Renee brings thirty years of experience on both sides of the desk to advising and mentoring students and parents through the college application process. Prior to working at Hawken, she worked in college counseling at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California. She has also worked in college admissions at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Lake Forest College and her alma mater, Carleton College where she majored in Political Theory.  She also has an MBA in Operations Management from DePaul University. She is married to Rick, who works in admissions at Case Western Reserve University, and has one son, Kirby, who is a 2020 Hawken graduate.  After taking a gap year, he matriculated at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs New York. Outside of work, Renee enjoys hiking, running, Mah Jong, reading, following Cleveland’s sports teams and exploring new restaurants.
 

Maria Steiner

Associate Director of College Counseling
(440) 423-2126
mstei@hawken.edu

Maria came to Hawken in 2013 with twelve years of admission experience at Case Western Reserve University, where she served as an admission counselor and an assistant director of undergraduate admission. During her tenure, she coordinated the Alumni Admission Program, the Student Ambassador Program, on-campus visitation programs, and two scholarship competitions. She recruited in seventeen states as well as several regions in Ohio. She also served several tours of duty as a part-time outside application reader. A stay-at-home mother for sixteen years, she held multiple leadership positions on the Orange Schools PTA and served as a Girl Scout leader for four years. Maria is currently an associate director of college counseling and coordinator of the Cum Laude Society selection process. She enjoys gardening, live music, and cooking. Maria is in awe of her adult children’s adventures and is delighted to fill her empty nest with Hawken students searching for their college fit.

Cristan Harris

Associate Director of College Counseling
(440) 423-2916
cristan.harris@hawken.edu

Cristan Harris joined Hawken in 2018 after serving as Director of College Counseling at The Williams School in New London, CT.  She spent nine years working in college admissions before switching sides of the desk. Cristan started her college admissions career at Boston University, where she also earned her master’s degree in higher education administration. She later worked at American University, followed by Meredith College, where she served as Director of Admissions. Cristan is active in the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), serving on the Summer Institute Planning Committee and the ACCS 360 Review Committee. She is also a member of Revolution Prep’s Midwest Counselor Advisory Board. Previously, she was involved with the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), where she was awarded Professional of the Year in 2018 and served as an Assembly Delegate and a member of the Professional Development, Current Trends, and Annual Meeting and Conference Planning Committees. A graduate of Colgate University, Cristan is married to Cory, an English teacher, and has one son, Griffin. Outside work, she enjoys running, yoga, puzzles, trivia, travel, and cooking.

John Hawkins, Jr.

Associate Director of College Counseling
(440) 423-2034
john.hawkins@hawken.edu

John joined the Hawken community in 2021 from Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he served as the Director of College Advising. During his seven years at Lausanne, John worked to create a comprehensive college counseling plan for the Upper School while building a stronger connection and community among the Memphis area college counselors. His professional career began in college admissions at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama, where he served in various roles for over a decade before moving to the world of independent schools. As an active member of both the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), John’s years of knowledge and experience are constantly being utilized for the service of others - from presenting at conferences and planning college workshops for underrepresented students to mentoring new professionals.
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135 

Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

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