College Counseling Staff Bios

Pam Ambler
Director of College Counseling

As Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School’s director of college counseling, Pam Ambler has nearly 20 years of experience in college admissions and college counseling in independent schools. Prior to joining the Holy Innocents’ community in 2024, Pam worked in the undergraduate admissions office at Emory University, where she earned the Enrollment Services Award in 2010. An Atlanta native, Pam is an active member in the local Atlanta college counseling community as well as several national college admissions and counseling professional organizations, including the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). In addition to presenting at conferences, she previously served on the SACAC Board of Directors (2016-2019) and was named the SACAC recipient of the William Starling award for Mentorship in 2021.

Pam holds a B.B.A. in International Business from the University of Georgia, with a focus on Spanish and marketing. In 2014, she earned a Master of Science in School Counseling from Mercer University, where she was honored to be named as the Outstanding Graduate Student in School Counseling in 2014, as well as being a recipient of the Mercer University Outstanding Alumni Award in 2022.

 

Deidra Bauld
Associate Director of College Counseling

Deidra Bauld joined the HIES college counseling team in 2022, following her role as associate director of college counseling at Randolph School in Huntsville, Ala., and as a college counselor at Scheck Hillel Community School in Miami. Before her journey into college counseling, Deidra obtained invaluable experience as associate director of admission at Mercer University where she supervised a team of admission professionals and gained extensive knowledge in undergraduate admissions, scholarships and financial aid. While at Mercer, Deidra led the scholarship appeal committee for students in need of additional funds, and she continues to read applications for outside scholarship organizations.

Deidra has a Bachelor of Arts from Valdosta State University and a Master of Education from Mercer University. She is an active member of professional organizations, including the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). She is a member of the ACCIS membership committee and regularly attends and presents at professional conferences to remain knowledgeable about the latest trends in college admissions.

 

Caroline Catts
Associate Director of College Counseling 

Caroline Catts is an Alpha-Omega graduate of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Class of ‘98. After graduating from Sewanee, The University of the South, Caroline lived in Beijing, where she earned her master’s degree in Business from Rutgers University. She moved back to Atlanta in 2008 and knew that she wanted to work with young adults. After earning her master’s degree in School Counseling from Mercer University, Caroline worked as a school counselor in Cobb County for several years before joining the Holy Innocents’ community, where she has previously taught Mandarin and currently serves as a club advisor to multiple student groups in addition to her work with the college counseling team. 

Caroline is an active member in several professional organizations, including the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). She has presented at multiple conferences on current topics in college admissions and counseling. Caroline is also a HIES parent of a Lower School student.

 

Steve Hairston
Associate Director of College Counseling

With over two decades of experience in education, advocacy and community engagement, Steve Hairston joined the HIES college counseling team in 2024. Having served as the former assistant director of employer engagement at Furman University and the public policy and advocacy director at Public Education Partners, Steve has demonstrated expertise in cultivating relationships and driving impactful initiatives. He also dedicated time as a college counselor at KIPP DC: College Preparatory, assisting the inaugural graduating class in planning for life post-high school. Additionally, Steve brings valuable experience from working in the admission offices of the University of Richmond, the College of William & Mary, Davidson and Hope College, where he recruited domestic and international undergraduate students. Beyond his professional endeavors, Steve has always actively engaged in community organizations and boards. He holds an MBA from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Hope College.

 

Rachel Shunnarah
Associate Director of College Counseling

Rachel Shunnarah is in her 11th year at Holy Innocents’ and has been part of the HIES community for 31 years as an Alpha-Omega graduate from the Class of ‘05. She earned her B.B.A. from the Honors Program at the University of Georgia in risk management and insurance and worked as an account executive with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard prior to working at HIES. She worked as an administrative assistant in both the Middle and Upper School divisions, shadowing the college counseling team before transitioning into the role of assistant director of college counseling. Rachel is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), Southern Association of College Admissions Counseling (SACAC) and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).  Rachel is completing coursework to earn her Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA this year.

 

Lamiece Thomas
College Counseling Assistant

With over 10 years of administrative experience in education, Lamiece brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role of College Counseling Assistant. Her extensive background in school administration has honed her skills in organizational management, event planning and student support, making her an invaluable asset to the college counseling team. Lamiece approaches her work with compassion and a strong commitment to fostering both academic and personal growth in students. Her keen eye for detail and passion for creating effective systems allow her to streamline processes and ensure that students and their families receive the guidance they need throughout the college admissions journey. Lamiece is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that not only helps students realize their potential but also empowers them to make informed and confident decisions about their futures.