Meet the College Counseling Team

Cicily Shaw serves as Director of College Counseling, bringing over 25 years of experience in both post-secondary and secondary education. She joined Thayer in 2022 after establishing and leading the College Counseling program at Boston Trinity Academy. Her career includes valuable experience in college admissions at Boston College, Bryant University, and Lesley University, which has strengthened her commitment to college access and educational advancement.

A leader in her field, Cicily currently serves as Past-President of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC) and is an active member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Her dedication to educational access extends to her role as former Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for College Visions, a Providence-based nonprofit supporting first-generation college students. She has also contributed to the Massachusetts Association of School Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) as Co-Chair of the Access, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee and has served on various college advisory boards.

Cicily has earned a Doctorate in Education and a Master of Science in Counseling from Northeastern University, a Master of Divinity from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration from Stonehill College. A Massachusetts native from the South Shore, she resides in Randolph with her husband Lamont. Together, they serve as ordained clergy in their local church community.

Nellie Brennan Hall is Associate Director of College Counseling. Before coming to Thayer in 2014, she spent eight years in admission at Brown University.  Nellie began her career as a high school teacher in Memphis, TN. She has also been an Educational Advisor at The Educational Resources Institute (TERI) in Boston. Nellie received her master's degree in Higher Education from Harvard University and her master's degree in Secondary Education from the University of Notre Dame. She also has a bachelor's degree in History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University. A Chicago area native, Nellie is married and has a young daughter and son. She enjoys running, traveling, and going on "adventures" with her children.

Christine grew up on Cape Cod, but left the sheltered life of the dunes to attend college in the big city.  She attended Boston University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Music. Upon graduating, she remained at BU for five years, working in the admissions office while earning a master’s degree in Higher Education. From there she served as the college counselor at The Steppingstone Foundation and went on to become Director of College Counseling at Chapel Hill - Chauncy Hall School in Waltham.  In 2005 she relocated to the South Shore to join the team at Thayer. Aside from her college counseling duties, she also teaches Algebra I and serves as an academic advisor.  Outside of Thayer, she has a husband and three girls that keep her pretty busy, but she makes sure to find time to run and pursue her musical interests.

Selene Carlo-Eymer serves as Thayer's Upper School Registrar and College Counseling Coordinator. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, she successfully co-founded and ultimately sold Eymer Design, Inc., an award-winning, Boston-based design/marketing communications firm. Selene has sincere gratitude for the Academy as both of her sons are alumni. The older son attended the Upper School, and the younger son attended the Middle School. “After seeing what Thayer did for our eldest, we knew both our boys would thrive in the Academy’s rich learning environment," she says. "It is, in fact, my gratitude which led me to pursue becoming a member of the community.”