Having been an independent schoolteacher and administrator for 30 years, Nina W. Marks left the National Cathedral School ("NCS") in Washington, DC to found Marks Counseling Associates, LLC in 2004 and Collegiate Directions, Inc. in 2005.

After spending many years as an English teacher, Mrs. Marks became NCS's Director of College Guidance in 1992. She wrote the National Cathedral School College Handbook, which was copyrighted and sold. During her tenure, she created and directed a nationally recognized college guidance program. In 2002, she assumed additional responsibilities as Assistant Head.

Mrs. Marks was educated in India, the United Kingdom, and at Harvard, where she graduated magna cum laude in English.

Mrs. Marks has served as co-director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC’s) program on Selective College Admission Counseling, which organizes an annual workshop to facilitate communication between seasoned high school counselors and college deans of admission.

Mrs. Marks has spoken on issues relating to U.S. and international college admissions at national conferences, including NACAC, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the National Association of Independent Schools. Mrs. Marks also has participated in regional and local events sponsored by such organizations as the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, and the Parents Council of Washington.

In addition, she has participated in Brown University’s Alumni College Advising Program. Before becoming Director of College Guidance at NCS, Mrs. Marks served for 10 years as a member of Harvard University’s Schools and Scholarships Committee.

Ms. Atta became CDI’s founding Executive Director in October 2005.  Ms. Atta’s deep, personal commitment to social justice and issues of equal access in higher education derive from her own background.  Ms. Atta’s mother immigrated to the United States from Kenya with only a seventh-grade education, but she was determined that Theresa and her brothers would work hard and benefit from the learning opportunities she never had.  With the assistance of the Washington-based Black Student Fund, Ms. Atta enrolled in the National Cathedral School in seventh grade and graduated as the Senior Class President.

While an undergraduate at Brown University, Ms. Atta worked in the Office of Admissions as a Minority Recruitment Coordinator and earned a bachelor’s degree with a double concentration in Pubic Policy and Afro-American Studies.  She also holds a master’s degree in Organization Development from American University in Washington, DC.

Ms. Atta was a founding board member of College Summit, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase college enrollment of low-income students nationally.  Ms. Atta structured the organization’s training and recruitment methodology, implemented the Alumni Leadership Development Training Program, and served as Acting Executive Director of the Washington, DC and Florida regions.  Prior to joining CDI, Ms. Atta drew upon her organization development expertise as a management consultant for the Unisys Corporation.

Ms. Atta is an alumna and board member of the Higher Achievement Program, an academically rigorous enrichment program for “at-risk” middle school students in Washington, DC and Baltimore.  She is also an alumna of the Black Student Fund, the organization credited for integrating independent schools in Washington, DC.

A skilled speaker and certified youth facilitator, Ms. Atta is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), a member of the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC), and a graduate of The Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions.  She serves as Chair of PCACAC’s Human Relations Committee and has addressed issues relating to college enrollment and retention for first-generation-to-college students at the national NACAC conference, on various college campuses, and on National Public Radio.

Ana I. Hilton, Counselor

Ms. Hilton arrived in the United States at the age of five from the Dominican Republic. Her parents worked very hard to bring her and her four siblings to the United States in hopes of creating a better life for them. With the help of her family and the Lawrence (Massachusetts) Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Ms. Hilton applied to and was accepted at Tilton School, a private boarding school in Tilton, New Hampshire.

After her high school graduation, Ms. Hilton attended the College of Wooster in Ohio, where she worked in the financial aid office and received a B.A. in Cultural Area Studies. She also holds an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in College Student Personnel Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ms. Hilton returned to the College of Wooster to work in the Dean of Students’ office. While at Wooster, Ms. Hilton served as a Resident Director for first-year housing. She coordinated New Student Orientation and established Summer Connect, a new student transition program. Ms. Hilton also worked with a peer mentor program, which primarily focused on the support and retention of multi-ethnic students.

The work that CDI does is especially meaningful to Ms. Hilton because CDI offers the same care and attention to its students that she received when applying to boarding school and college. Without the help of caring counselors similar to those at CDI, Ms. Hilton would not have been aware of the educational resources and opportunities available to her.

She is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, and a graduate of The Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions.