College Counseling Team

List of 9 members.

• 

  Kenley Turville 

  Director of College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 309

  Bio

  Kenley Turville joined St. John’s School in 2019 after spending two years at Kinkaid. Prior to that, she worked for six years in the Office of Undergraduate Admission at the University of Southern California. In that role, she managed the applications for first-year and transfer applicants from parts of California, Utah, and Texas, as well as all of the incoming athletes. Before her time at USC, Ms. Turville worked at The Webb Schools in Claremont, California. She is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College where she studied psychology and international relations, and she went on to obtain a Master's in communication management from USC.
  
  

  Ms. Turville loves hiking, watching baseball (especially the Dodgers), and baking chocolate chip cookies.
• 

  Natalie Garza 

  Senior Associate Director of College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 313

  Bio

  Natalie Garza joined the College Counseling team in 2018, bringing a decade of experience in higher education and college admissions from Syracuse University (NY) and Elon University (NC) as the Director of Diversity Recruitment and Senior Associate Director of Admissions. Ms. Garza is a member of the Communications Committee for the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) and recently served as chair of the Inclusion, Access and Success Committee for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Since 2015, Ms. Garza has found great joy as a member of the selection committee for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation National College Scholarship Programs.

   

  Ms. Garza earned a Bachelor of Journalism in print journalism from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in magazine, newspaper and online journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Her love of higher education guided her toward a career in it, and she loves connecting with students to help them learn more about themselves throughout their college search and application process.
  
  

  Ms. Garza loves exploring Houston, attending concerts, traveling, and spoiling her Havanese puppies, Nola and Kobe.
• 

  Nikea "Tanya" Cummings 

  Associate Director of College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 307

  Bio

  Tanya Cummings joined St. John’s School as Associate Director of College Counseling in 2021. Ms. Cummings earned a B.A. in Sociology and a M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from the College of William & Mary. Ms. Cummings brings 15 years of college admissions experience from “both sides of the desk.” Whether it’s working with students to find the right fit or answering concerns from parents, Ms. Cummings enjoys working with students to make their college planning experience joyful and memorable.

   

  Outside of work, you will find Ms. Cummings reading and pretending to be a knitter and gardener. Having been born and raised in the Caribbean, traveling internationally is a major component in her life. With goals of joining the Travelers’ Century Club, Ms. Cummings is already mapping out her travel destinations for next year.
• 

  Jeremy Johnson 

  Associate Director of Admission & College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 311

  Bio

  • • Jeremy Johnson joined the College Counseling team in 2016, bringing over 18 years of experience working in college admissions and college counseling. Prior to that, he was the Director of College Placement at TMI Episcopal in San Antonio. Mr. Johnson began his career in the Office of Admissions at Trinity University in San Antonio, where he graduated with a BS in engineering science, and a minor in math.
      
      

      An avid sports fan, his teams are the Buffalo Bills, Houston Astros, and San Antonio Spurs. Outside of school, Mr. Johnson spends as much time as possible with his wife, Alicia, and his weimaraner, Bluebell.
• 

  Kristin Robbio 

  Associate Director of College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 278

  Bio

  Kristin Robbio joined St. John's as an Associate Director of College Counseling in 2023. As a San Diego native, Ms. Robbio slowly made her way up the Southern California coast, earning her Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences from Chapman University in Orange County, CA and her Master's degree in Postsecondary Administration & Student Affairs from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She brings over nine years of higher education experience across three institutions to her role on the college counseling team. 

   

  In her free time, Ms. Robbio loves cooking & baking, weight lifting, watching competitive reality TV (especially Big Brother and Survivor), and rooting for her favorite football teams.
• 

  Steven Scales 

  Associate Director of College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 347

  Bio

  Steven Scales joined St. John’s as an associate director of college counseling in fall 2023. He holds a B.A. in mass communication from LSU and a master’s in education from Harvard. He began his two-decade career as a Houston-based admission counselor for LSU, eventually working in the college counseling offices at Episcopal High School in Houston and Worcester Academy. He was director of college counseling at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas and the founding director at St. Francis Episcopal School, where he also served as interim head of admissions and enrollment management. 
• 

  Lesley Watkins 

  Associate Director of College Counseling

  713-850-0222 Ext. 312

  Bio

  - Lesley Watkins joined the College Counseling team in 2024, bringing
  over a decade of experience in higher education and college counseling,
  serving most recently as the Director of College Counseling at St. Agnes
  Academy. Mrs. Watkins is a member of the Membership Committee and incoming
  Co-Chair Elect of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee
  for the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).
  Since 2022, Mrs. Watkins has found immense joy as a member of the selection
  committee for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation National Scholarship Programs.
  
  Mrs. Watkins earned a Bachelor of Science in sport studies from Towson
  University and a Master of Science in Educational Psychology and Research
  from the University of Memphis. She loves helping students navigate their
  college application journey and finding their confidence and inner
  "hype man/woman" along the way.
  
  A native of New Jersey, Mrs. Watkins loves being a mom to her son,
  Cameron, and a wife to her husband, Trey ('00). Together, they enjoy board
  games, traveling, movie nights and spending time with family and friends.
• 

  Pamela "Pam" De Stefano 

  College Counseling Database Manager

  713-850-0222 Ext. 281

  Bio

  Pam De Stefano joined St. John’s School in 2011. She was an Upper School Mathematics teacher for eight years before transitioning over to the College Counseling office.
  
  

  Mrs. De Stefano holds a BS in Mathematics from Creighton University and a M.Ed in Educational Diagnostics from the University of St. Thomas. Beyond St. John’s, Pam enjoys traveling, concerts, games (cards, chess, backgammon or Rummikub, anyone?), and a good Netflix show.  She also loves spending time with her friends and family, in particular her husband James and daughter Maggie.
• 

  Gabryella Castillo 

  College Counseling Receptionist

  713-850-0222 Ext. 308