Meet the College Guidance Team

- The College Guidance Team: Danny Irving, Rachel Petrella and Emily Moscol

Rachel Petrella - Dean of College Guidance

Ms. Petrella joined Pacific Ridge in the summer of 2013 and brings more than a decade of experience in college guidance. She began work in independent schools at La Jolla Country Day, where she eventually returned as a Director of College Guidance, a position she also has held at Brooks School in North Andover, MA, and most recently at The Hewitt School in New York City.

Ms. Petrella’s career also includes work in the literary industry, as both an associate publisher with Laurel Glen Publishing and a literary agent. Additionally, she has worked for the (then) San Diego Tribune and in marketing and contracts for athlete agents, first in Boston then in San Diego. It was her first boss at Country Day who coaxed her back from publishing to independent schools, as Associate Director of College Counseling at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, where she also taught journalism, advised Peer Leaders and newspaper, and coached field hockey. In the past, Ms. Petrella has served on the faculty for the UCSD College Counseling Certificate program and has run summer workshops in college guidance for the town of Andover, MA, her hometown. She earned a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. from New York University.

Danny Irving - Director of College Guidance

Danny Irving brings to Pacific Ridge experience from both sides of the college admissions process. He comes to Pacific Ridge most recently from his role as a college counselor for New Roads School in Santa Monica. Prior to New Roads, Mr. Irving served as Assistant Director of Admission at Pitzer College. In that role, he visited San Diego schools as part of his ‘hometown’ territory, in addition to managing Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and every corner of California. A San Diego native, Mr. Irving earned his B.A. in Economics and Organizational Studies from Pitzer College and is pursuing an M.A. in Higher Education from Claremont Graduate University.

Emily Moscol - Director of College Guidance

Emily Moscol comes to Pacific Ridge from the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA, where she served as Assistant Dean of Admission. At Olin, she also served for several years as an Assistant Director and Coordinator of Campus Services. Ms. Moscol earned both her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts. In addition to 8 years of experience in undergraduate admissions, including work in academic advising, resume coaching and recruitment, Ms. Moscol has tutored home-schooled children and young adults with special needs, created college prep curriculum for students, and served as a mediator and facilitator in work with foster youth and adoptive parents in training.

Marciela Saunders-Bibbins supports students and families from the main desk of the College Office and can be reached for quick questions and clarifications by phone: 760-827-6851 or by email:
msaundersbibbins@pacificridge.org.

Well before students/families are assigned one lead counselor in junior year, we encourage students to stop by the College Office with questions as they arise. All three counselors share coverage of our main line: 760-579-4905 and central email: collegeguidance@pacificridge.org.