Our Team

Sean Ma

Founder & CEO | Columbia University

Sean earned a BA/MA from Columbia University. He is the Founding Director and President of Shanghai Leighton School and is a proctor of Brigham Young University's independent study program. He is an Amazon best-selling author of The 7-Minute Admission Decision.

Initially, Sean worked for a financial institution. He holds the prestigious Massachusetts Educators' license and a private pilot license as proof of his commitment to education and personal growth.

Sean brings his more than 10 years of experience in admissions counseling, test prep and academic support to fruition in all that is MA ACADEMY. Over the years, Sean and his team have helped hundreds of students get admitted to Ivy League schools and other elite universities including Stanford, Caltech, Oxford and Cambridge, etc. He has also worked with many student-athletes, helping a growing number of students get recruited by top NCAA programs across all sports.

Chloe

Partner
B.S. in Economics, Northwestern University
M.S. in Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
Chloe is a Partner with a robust academic background and extensive counseling credentials. Chloe is a Certified International Psychological Counselor and a Family Education Psychological Counselor. Her diverse qualifications and experience make her a valuable resource for students and families seeking comprehensive educational and psychological support on their academic journeys.
Mengqi

Partner, Senior Admissions Consultant
B.S. in Psychology & Biology, UC San Diego
M.A. in Education, Columbia University
Through years of studying education and developmental psychology, Mengqi has solidified a unique and tested approach to helping students reach their full potential. She is an Admissions Consultant, dedicated to helping students get into their dream colleges and has been teaching Mathematics, Computer Science, and the SAT for 5 years. Most of Mengqis students gain acceptance into the top 30 universities in the United States, G5 in the United Kingdom, and top 3 in Canada.
Raf

Partner, Senior Admissions Consultant
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Princeton University
JD, Sungkyunkwan University
With 20 years of teaching and counseling expertise, Raf has a proven track record of helping students achieve their academic dreams. Most notably, his students frequently gain acceptance into Ivy League institutions and other top 30 universities worldwide. Raf’s dedication and success make him a standout guide for aspiring college students.
Ann

Partner, Admissions Consultant
M.A. in Education, Vanderbilt University
Through her 7 years conducting research in education, Ann has accumulated rich teaching experience in both China and the US. During her graduate years in Vanderbilt University, she specialized in Secondary Education, focusing on Social Studies, and holds both a National Teaching Certificate and a Tennessee Teaching Certificate. Ann holds great passion for education and pursues a unique teaching philosophy rooted in creating a safe space for students. She has helped most of her students gain acceptance into the top 50 universities in the United States, G5 in the United Kingdom, top 3 in Canada, top 3 in Australia, and other prestigious universities worldwide.
Wendy

Partner, Admissions Consultant
B.S. in Biology & Psychology, UC San Diego
Wendy has a strong academic and professional background and has achieved national recognition by winning 1st Prize in the American Math League Contest. Wendy possesses a National Teaching Certificate and brings ten years of study and work experience in the U.S. to her role. Her dedication to her students is evident, with most gaining acceptance into the top 30 universities in the U.S. and other top institutions worldwide.
Tiya

Partner, Admissions Consultant
B.A. in English, Shandong University,
M.A. in Translation & Interpreting, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Tiya has earned the CATTI L2 qualification and is a national scholarship winner. Her dedication and expertise are evident, as most of her students gain acceptance into the top 30 universities worldwide. Her commitment to excellence ensures that students receive the highest level of guidance in their academic pursuits.

Our Counselors

Sean

Founder & CEO of MA ACADEMY
President of Shanghai Leighton School
Founder/CEO of MA ACADEMY
Columbia University
Featured on FOX, ABC, and the Los Angeles Times
Amazon best-seller author: The 7-Minute Admission Decision
Extensive experience and success in the college recruiting process
Raf

Senior Admissions Consultant
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Princeton University
JD in Sungkyunkwan University
20 years of teaching and counseling experience
Most of Raf’s students gain acceptance into Ivy League universities and other top 30 universities in the world.
Charlie

Senior Admissions Consultant
B.A. in English from UCLA
Selector for the 2024 UCLA Alumni Scholarship recipients
Formerly at the Los Angeles Times, has also worked in the sports, art, and business industries
Charlie students gain acceptance into the Top 30 US colleges and is well-versed in the college recruiting process as a former coach and trainer
Lucy

Admissions Consultant
Former admissions officer at Stanford University, in charge of reviewing application materials of Chinese students
Most of Lucy’s students gain acceptance into Ivy League universities and other Top 30 universities in the world
Mengqi

Senior Admissions Consultant
B.S. in Psychology/Biology, University of California, San Diego
M.A. in Education, Columbia University
College Counseling Certificate
National Teaching Certificate
Most of Mengqi’s students gain acceptance into the Top 30 universities in the United States, G5 in the United Kingdom, Top 3 in Canada
Ann

Admissions Consultant
M.A. in Education, Vanderbilt University
National Teaching Certificate/Tennessee Teaching Certificate
Most of Ann’s students gain acceptance into the Top 50 universities in the United States, G5 in the United Kingdom, Top 3 in Canada, Top 3 in Australia, and other top 50 universities in the world
Wendy

Admissions Consultant
B.S. in Biology and Psychology, University of California, San Diego
American Math League Contest National 1st Prize
National Teaching Certificate
10 years of study/work experience in the U.S.
Most of Wendy’s students gain acceptance into the Top 30 universities in the U.S., and other top 30 universities in the world
George

Admissions Consultant
B.A. in Geography from Pennsylvania State University
M.S. in Environmental Science, University of Sydney
Most of George's students gain acceptance into the Top 30 universities in the world
Eylina

Admissions Consultant
B.A. in International Hospitality Management, Robert Gorden University
M.A. in International Marketing Management, University of the West of Scotland
Six years of study and work experience in the UK
International English Teaching Certificate Holder
Most of Eylina’s students gain acceptance into the Top 30 universities in the world
Tiya

Admissions Consultant
B.A. in English, Shandong University
M.A. in Translation and Interpreting, Beijing Foreign Studies University
CATTI L2 qualification
National scholarship winner
Most of Tiya’s students gain acceptance into the Top 30 universities in the world
Desiree

University of Hawaii, Capella University
David

MIT-Fudan University, Columbia University
Michael

Berklee College of Music
Luis

Brown University
Megan

Former Admission Officer of Carnegie Mellon University & NYU