Meet the Author: Kelsey Kvandal

As a native of Buffalo, New York, and a recent Philly transplant, I know a few things about moving around and making a fresh start. During high school, my parents had the idea to move the family down South, so North Carolina quickly became my new home. I adapted easily to this change and enjoyed the three years of high school I spent in Asheville, but college approached faster than expected. I am the youngest of three girls, so the college search process looked a little different for me. I tagged along on many visits with my older sisters, and once the time came, I had my mind made up about where I would spend my four years. I didn't listen when instructed to apply to a few schools as backup and was admitted early to the only school I had my heart set on (this is not recommended; you should give yourself some options in case plan A doesn't work out). I quickly made the most of my time in college by getting involved in as much as I could and really soaking it all in. I loved it so much, I decided to go into admissions because I had the idea that if I could love a place this much, surely I could help others in their journey to finding a fit as well. Fast forward a few years, and a couple more moves later, I've recently made Philly my home.

Because of my many transitions, I feel as though college admissions is a field I am well suited for. I enjoy helping people find their path, their fit, and hopefully the place they can call home. I know what a college experience has the potential to be, as I like to think I had the most idyllic, and I dove into admissions to help students find the place they belong. I see college as the land of opportunity. The promise of growth, discomfort, and unknown is intriguing and scary all at the same time and helping students navigate this uncharted territory is my passion. Education equals access to me and working in higher education allows me to support students in their goals and growth opportunities.

When I'm not in the office, I enjoy exploring new places, reading, baking, and playing with any dog that will let me. Philadelphia has no shortage of fun things to do, and there's many quick day trips I have enjoyed as well. We're lucky enough to be so close to the shore, so my perfect weekend is spent on the beach with my nose in a book…or rather, my Kindle. On a rainy day, I enjoy trying new recipes and forcing those in the office to critique my food. Mostly, I just enjoy pretending I'm on an episode of the Great British Baking Show — Mary Berry would absolutely be the one famous person I'd invite to dinner.

My hope for you all is that getting to know the members of the admissions staff makes you feel a little more comfortable and makes us seem a little more human. We want you to feel free to email us if you have questions about the admissions process, how to make Drexel your home, or if you would like to talk about the latest winner of GBBS. We're here to help, and happy to do so!