Meet the Team
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 twenty five 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. She is married to Rick, who works in admissions at Case Western Reserve University, and has one son, Kirby, who is an upper school student at Hawken. Outside of work, she enjoys running, yoga, 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 as well as 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 PTA and served as a Girl Scout leader for four years. As she prepares for her youngest of two children to graduate from high school in 2019, she is delighted to fill her emptying nest with Hawken students searching for their college fit.
(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 as well as 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 PTA and served as a Girl Scout leader for four years. As she prepares for her youngest of two children to graduate from high school in 2019, she is delighted to fill her emptying nest with Hawken students searching for their college fit.
Cristan Harris
Cristan Harris joined the College Counseling Office in 2018 after serving as Director of College Counseling at The Williams School in New London, CT. She first entered the independent school world in 2010, when she was named Director of Admissions at The Williams School.
Cristan spent nine years working in college admissions before switching sides of the desk. She started her college admissions career at Boston University, where she also earned her master’s degree in higher education administration and went on to American University, followed by Meredith College, where she served as Director of Admissions.
Cristan was active in the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), earning their Professional of the Year Award in 2018 and serving 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, where she majored in English, Cristan is married to Cory, an English teacher, and has one son, Griffin. Outside of work, she enjoys running, trivia, travel and cooking.
John Hawkins, Jr.
Associate Director of College Counseling
(440) 423-2034
john.hawkins@hawken.edu
John comes to us from Lausanne Collegiate School-an International Baccalaureate World 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 working in 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. In 2020, John received SACAC's Bill Starling Award for Mentorship during their annual conference. Being new to Cleveland, John is looking forward to spending time getting to know all the reasons why “Cleveland Rocks!!”
(440) 423-2034
john.hawkins@hawken.edu
John comes to us from Lausanne Collegiate School-an International Baccalaureate World 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 working in 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. In 2020, John received SACAC's Bill Starling Award for Mentorship during their annual conference. Being new to Cleveland, John is looking forward to spending time getting to know all the reasons why “Cleveland Rocks!!”
Karrie Chounet
College Counseling Office Coordinator
Testing Coordinator
Registrar
Testing Coordinator
Registrar
440-423-2916
Karrie joined the Hawken community and the college counseling team in July 2011. She was previously at Notre Dame College as office manager of the Academic Support Center and at Regina High School as the college counseling office coordinator. Karrie spends her free time with her family eating good food, playing board games, and visiting the wineries in Lake and Ashtabula counties.
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
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
Directions | Log in | 440-423-4446