Meet the Admission Team
Jamie Buffington
Browne '85
Director of Admission
Favorite spot on campus: Yellow Parlor
Favorite Catalina tradition: Father-Daughter Weekend
Bio:
Jamie began her "Catalina journey" in grade 5 and attended Catalina as a day student until her junior year when she became a boarder. 25 years later she returned as Director of Admission and has lived on campus and served in this role for seven years. Jamie has a husband, Chris, and two adult children. Her daughter also graduated from the Lower and Middle School and Upper School. Jamie understands, firsthand, how Catalina is more than a superb education—it is a life-affirming and life-changing experience. It is a privilege to be in a position to offer such an opportunity to young women who will go out into the world and change the lives of others in significant ways.
Julie Yurkovich Forrest '78
Director of Enrollment,
Director of Summer
at Santa Catalina
Favorite spot on campus:
Rosary Chapel
Favorite Catalina tradition:
Candlelight Mass
Bio:
Julie is currently in her 14th year at Santa Catalina School and has held numerous positions in the Lower and Middle School, the Upper School, and Summer at Santa Catalina. Julie is currently the director of enrollment in the Upper School and is also the Director of Summer at Santa Catalina. Julie enjoys being part of the Catalina culture, which believes every student has a gift and is an agent of change in the world. Julie’s daughter, a ”lifer” at Catalina, is an alumna from the Class of '13.
Ala Milani '87
Associate Director of Admission
Favorite spot on campus:
St. Francis of Assisi garden
Favorite Catalina tradition:
Ring Week
Regions covered:
Local/day and international markets
Bio:
Splitting her childhood between Paris, Rome, and chilly Michigan, Ala and her family settled in Monterey and discovered Santa Catalina. Ala is a graduate of the Lower and Middle School and the Upper School and is proud to share her passion for the school with young women and their families. Ala has worked in Admissions for 10 years and her favorite part of the job is welcoming young girls as they begin their Catalina journey and watching them grow into the amazing, talented, happy, fulfilled, confident, young women ready to face the world. When she’s not working, you will often find Ala spending time at Carmel Beach with her daughter and her two adorable dogs.
Kelsey Player '11
Associate Director of Admission
Favorite spot on campus:
Hacienda Courtyard
Favorite Catalina tradition:
Ring Week
Regions covered:
Northern and Southern California, the Western states, Southwest, and Texas
Bio:
Growing up in a mountain town in Idaho, Kelsey joined the Santa Catalina family in 2007 as a boarding student. Kelsey attended Texas Christian University, and upon graduation returned to Santa Catalina to join the admission team. As the associate director of admission, Kelsey works with domestic boarding candidates. Her enthusiasm for Santa Catalina School is boundless and it shines through in her work with prospective students and their families.
Kelsey lived on campus in the freshman dorm as a resident faculty member for two years. She is a passionate swimmer. You can often find her at the side of the pool cheering on our Catalina girls.