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 10th 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 director of enrollment and oversees recruitment, retention, training, and marketing in the summer camp and admission offices. In addition to her role as director of enrollment, she 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
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 8 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 Sofia and her two adorable dogs Myla and Zooey.
Rae Gregory '11
Assistant Director of Admission
Favorite spot on campus:
Aquatic Center
Favorite Catalina tradition:
Father-Daughter Weekend
Bio:
Rae is a California native, but also lived on the East Coast for several years. She had the best of both worlds as a boarder and a day student at Catalina, and she had the privilege of hearing her younger sister pay tribute to her at Class Night when her sister was a freshman and Rae was a senior. She is so happy to be back on campus working in the Admission Office and part of the Resident Faculty. Rae enjoys interacting with prospective day students and their families, and she hopes to show them that Catalina is an amazing educational opportunity that not only prepares you for college, but for the rest of your life.
Kelsey player '11
Assistant Director of Admission
Favorite spot on campus:
Hacienda Courtyard
Favorite Catalina tradition:
Ring Week
Bio:
Growing up in a small mountain town in Idaho, Kelsey joined the Santa Catalina family in 2007 as a boarding student. Kelsey is excited and eager to be back at Catalina working in the Admission Office and living in the freshman dorm as a Resident Faculty member. Assisting with domestic and international boarding candidates, Kelsey hopes to show how special Catalina is to prospective students and their families.
Megan Guidi
Admission Office Manager
Favorite spot on campus:
Convent Rose Garden
Favorite Catalina tradition:
Cake Auction
Bio:
Originating from the Bay Area, Megan is new to the Central Coast and Catalina. She is thrilled to join the Admission Office team, as it aligns closely with her experience working in undergraduate admissions as a tour guide at the University of California, Davis. At Catalina, she works closely with the tours program and helps prospective students navigate the admission process to help leave them with a positive, lasting impression of our beautiful campus.