Robert Franz brings nearly three decades of experience in independent schools, where he has served in virtually every major academic leadership role, including classroom teacher, History Department Chair, Head of Middle School, Assistant Head of School, and Head of Upper School. This breadth of experience gives him exceptional insight into curriculum design, student development, leadership education, and the qualities that prepare students for success in college and beyond.

A hallmark of Robert’s career has been his commitment to curriculum innovation and interdisciplinary learning. As History Department Chair at both Highland School and Hampton Roads Academy, he expanded Global Studies programming, developed Leadership Studies curriculum, and created interdisciplinary pathways emphasizing communication, collaboration, ethical leadership, and the 21st-century skills valued by colleges and employers.

He later served as Head of Upper School in Florida, where he oversaw the academic program and daily life of more than 500 students and 60 faculty members. His leadership focused on instructional excellence, student-centered programming, faculty growth, equitable assessment practices, AP placement, generative AI in teaching and learning, and signature experiential learning opportunities.

Robert has since returned to the classroom and now teaches history at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware. His diverse experiences as a teacher, department chair, and school leader continue to inform his work with students and families, helping them think carefully about academic fit, intellectual growth, and long-term preparation for college and beyond.

Susi Murphy brings more than three decades of experience as an English educator, writing mentor, and student advocate, helping students develop the communication skills, confidence, and self-awareness needed for success in college and beyond. Her work has centered on helping students become stronger writers, deeper thinkers, and more authentic communicators.

During her tenure at Princeton High School, Susi has been instrumental in creating and strengthening a college writing curriculum that helps students approach the college essay process as more than an admissions requirement. Through intentional instruction, guided reflection, and a rigorous writing process, she helps students develop essential skills in storytelling, critical thinking, organization, revision, and authentic self-expression.

Susi’s approach focuses on helping students understand their own experiences, identify what makes them unique, and communicate their ideas with clarity and purpose. She believes the strongest college essays emerge when students learn to reflect deeply, make thoughtful choices, and tell their stories in their own authentic voices.

With more than 30 years of experience teaching literature, analytical writing, and personal narrative, Susi brings a rare combination of classroom expertise and college preparation experience. At Gateway2College, she helps students move beyond formulaic essays and develop meaningful narratives that demonstrate reflection, maturity, and a clear sense of self, while also building writing skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.

Dan brings a unique combination of corporate leadership, higher education experience, legal and business training, and parent-side perspective to the college admissions process. Having first navigated U.S. higher education as an international student, later as a domestic graduate student, and now as a parent guiding his daughter through the college application journey, Dan understands the process from multiple angles.

With an MBA, an MS in Accounting, and current graduate student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Dan brings both practical business judgment and an understanding of how institutions, policies, and complex decision-making systems work. His academic and professional background helps him support families with clarity, structure, and a thoughtful approach to planning.

Dan also brings more than 15 years of corporate leadership experience with major global organizations, including senior operational roles at John Deere and Caterpillar. Across his career, he has led cross-functional teams, managed complex projects, improved business processes, supported financial and operational decision-making, and built systems that help organizations move from uncertainty to execution.

Dan leads operations, family coordination, business systems, and client experience. His role is to ensure that families have a clear, organized, and responsive process for scheduling, communication, documents, payments, timelines, and follow-through. His parent perspective adds an important layer: he understands the stress and uncertainty families feel during admissions, and his goal is to make the journey more transparent, manageable, and supportive.

Inaaya is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Journalism and Data Science. She brings a strong mix of writing, research, policy, and technology experience to Gateway2College.

At Northwestern, she works in the National Security and AI Lab, where she analyzes deepfakes under the GODDS system, and serves as a fellow with the Buffett Institute, researching political protest movements in Southeast Asia. During the school year, she also works with Northwestern Student Affairs Marketing and is involved with the Northwestern Undergraduate Law Journal, Northwestern Business Review, and Model UN.

Inaaya earned a perfect score on the PSAT Math section and has tutored students in SAT/ACT prep and AP coursework, alongside general tutoring from elementary through high school, for several years.

At Gateway2College, Inaaya supports student engagement, tutoring coordination, and peer-level insight into college academics, writing, and campus life.