Call The Ivy Dean Today at (845) 826-5310

Our Credentials

Drusilla Blackman, President

Experience

  • Columbia University – Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
  • Harvard University – Dean of Graduate Admissions
  • New Jersey State University – Dean of Admissions
  • Institutional Consultant
    • Assisted colleges in strengthening the quality of their freshman classes.
  • Independent College Consultant
    • Successfully assists students in gaining admission to the top colleges in this country.
    • Has been invited to provide expert opinions on television and in legal proceedings.

Education

  • Brown University, B.S. in Psychology
  • Yale University, M.A. in Clinical Psychology
  • Wharton School of Business (Penn), M.B.A. in Marketing

Drusilla (Dee) Blackman has had a long and successful career with over 40 years in the field of college admissions. She herself was an Ivy League student, achieving a B.S. from Brown University and a M.A. in psychology from Yale. After spending some time as a therapist, she returned to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to earn an M.B.A. in marketing.

Dee has worked in every facet of the college admissions process, starting as an admissions counselor and working her way up to a director, dean, and a vice-president of enrollment management. She has a firm grasp of college financial aid, athletic recruitment, and legacy admissions, having supervised the departments responsible for admissions decisions in all of these areas.

When Dee served as Dean of Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid at Columbia, she estimates that she read in excess of 15 thousand applications every year. As Dean, she ultimately was responsible for who was admitted, and she understands just what an individual student application must contain for serious consideration by selective colleges.

The breadth of her long experience makes her a highly desirable resource for high school students and their families who have the determination to have a good college fit at the best possible college. With her insider’s understanding, she is able to make what may seem mysterious more predictable and bring what may seem impossible to within reach.

Learn more about her college planning services or get in touch today.


Christian Rabin, Associate Vice President

Christian is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy ’98 and Brown University ‘03. In addition, he studied abroad at McGill University and holds a M.A. in English Literature, where he was selected as an Outstanding Graduate in his class (2011). The son of a long-time English Master at the Lawrenceville School, he has extensive experience as a classroom teacher and educator (Chadwick School, The Morristown-Beard School, NJ SEEDS). Beyond the classroom, he has also been involved in pedagogical research, in crafting Humanities seminars for companies in the private sector, and in creating/facilitating workshops for schools and educational organizations.

As a college consultant, he strives to help students harness that potential by guiding them towards forging their own narratives and finding an optimal fit in terms of school choice.

For more information, call (845) 826-5310 or click here to contact The Ivy Dean today!

Testimonials

On paper, I am by no means a perfect student. However, thanks to my Application Positioning, I was able to maximize the strengths that I bring to a college to compensate for other factors. Thanks to The Ivy Dean Team, I will be attending Princeton University, my dream school, in the fall.

Douglas R. – Princeton University

Dee provided excellent advice and guidance throughout the application process. Her overall expertise in admissions, professionalism and warmth made the experience a great one. I was thrilled that I was accepted to several of the most selective colleges in the country and will be attending Stanford in the fall.”

Laurel P. – Stanford University
It's my pleasure to inform you that I've been admitted to my first choice college: the University of Southern California. My dream is becoming reality! I am thrilled to get the chance to belong to the USC and to start a new adventure there. It is also thanks to your great help that I've been accepted, I'm very grateful! Thank you so much for everything.
Sonia G. – From Switzerland
Our son and daughter wanted to go to colleges in the same city but they had different interests and different strengths. She matched them each with their ideal college, one Columbia University and the other NYU, and worked to get them admitted. We couldn't have been more pleased.
Niki and Roger S.
I was a serious student but also wanted a university where I could continue competitive cycling. There weren't many schools that met my needs and fit my personality. From her experience, she was able to hone right in on what became my first choice school. I graduated last year and the entire college experience was awesome.
Colin J.
My parents and I didn't know how helpful it could be to have someone who understood things from the inside working with us. Ms. Blackman was able to identify just what would make me the most attractive candidate to colleges.
Bob M. – Harvard University