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Recently named one of the Counselors That Change Lives, Rebecca Rutsky has been regionally and nationally recognized for her work with thousands of students and their families in both public and private settings.  Students and families have come to trust her positive, yet realistic and strategic approach to college admissions, as well as her direct, yet approachable communication style.  Respecting and honoring the student’s innate strengths, talents, and personality--and helping them to discover, cultivate, and pursue their academic, career, and personal goals--guide her practice.

Currently ASFA's College & Career Advisor, she has worked in the field for nearly two decades. Previously, she held faculty and administrative positions in the University of California at Los Angeles College Counseling Certification Program, Hoover City Schools, University of Alabama School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Virginia, Kenyon College, and consulted for many other institutions.

A versatile author, Rebecca has published in media ranging from Southern Living to professional journals. She edited the book Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling (first edition), for which she received the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Margaret Addis Service Award.  She served on NACAC’s Current Trends & Future Issues Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Coursework. Passionate about college access for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, she has been a longtime Southern Association for College Admission Counseling volunteer, Board of Directors member, and presenter at national and regional conferences. Having visited over 400 colleges, universities, conservatories, and art schools across the U.S. and abroad, and welcoming 50 or more admissions officers on private visits here in Birmingham annually, she keeps current with admissions trends, educational offerings, facilities, social and other opportunities.

Rebecca earned her B.A. summa cum laude with Highest Honors in English from Kenyon College, M.A. in English from the University of Virginia, and an M.A. in Counseling from University of Alabama at Birmingham (where she was named the Dean’s Most Outstanding Education Graduate Student). Her academic accolades include being named a National Merit Scholar, Rhodes Scholarship Finalist (First Alternate, Midwest Region), National Endowment for the Humanities Younger Scholar, Jacob K. Javits Fellow, and a Mellon Fellow in Humanistic Studies. She's completed International Baccalaureate training for counselors.

Rebecca and her husband, Joshua, a retired teacher and business owner, live in Homewood, where they used to enjoy hobbies like gardening and reading until their children Isaac and Lilah Kate put an end to leisure time. ;)

Memberships:

National Association for College Admission Counseling
Southern Association for College Admission Counseling