Meet the Bishop McNamara Counseling Team

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ACADEMIC

EXCELLENCE

Meet the Bishop McNamara Counseling Team

HELLO FROM THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT!

We’ve been busy getting the 2022-2023 school year underway with highlights including free SAT prep courses, presenting at grade-level information nights, and college admissions visits.

We’re happy to share that we’ve already been receiving college acceptance letters from our Mustangs! So far they’ve received over $4 million in merit-based scholarships and financial aid. Our goal for the year is $23 million across the Class of 2023.

Let’s meet and learn a little more about our counselors! If you ever have any questions about the Counseling department, please feel free to email Shamelle Yemofio, our Director of Counseling, at shamelle. yemofio@bmhs.org. n

Name: Cherese Carter Position: 9th & 10th Grade School Counselor, Last Names A-J

1. Where did you go to college/graduate school? What made you choose those colleges/universities?

I received my BBA from Texas Christian University and my M.Ed in Professional Counseling from Texas Christian University. I chose TCU because of the diverse course offerings and student body. I also fell in love with the campus community that offered a small school feel but a big school atmosphere.

2. What are you excited about this school year?

I am excited about getting to know our students more and the opening of the La Reine Science & Innovation Center.

3. What's your favorite thing about McNamara?

My favorite thing about McNamara is that we are the full package. There are not that many places you can go that have a strong campus community, academics, athletics, and fine arts.

4. Three adjectives to describe our Mustangs:

Driven, intelligent, creative

Name: Michael Jones ‘96 Position: 9th and 10th Grade Counselor, Last Names K-Z

1. Where did you go to college/graduate school? What made you choose those colleges/universities?

For undergrad, I attended the University of Delaware, home of the Fighting Blue Hens. My school counselor suggested University of Delaware. She was right!

For graduate school, I went to Bowie State University. It worked well with my schedule while I was working at Bishop McNamara.

2. What are you excited about this school year?

I am excited to work with the freshmen class.

3. What's your favorite thing about McNamara?

I love the family atmosphere.

4. Three adjectives to describe our Mustangs:

Smart, Determined, High Energy

Earlier this school year we welcomed Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) for their first ever visit!

Name: Terry Burroughs, Jr. Position: Assistant Director of Counseling, 11th and 12th Grade Counselor, Last Names A-G

1. Where did you go to college/graduate school? What made you choose those colleges/universities?

I attended Frostburg State University in Maryland for my bachelor's and master's degrees. I did not know where I wanted to go until the end of my senior year. I was in a vocational program in high school and wanted to major in engineering. Frostburg had a partnership with the University of Maryland, College Park, which is why I chose to attend Frostburg.

2. What are you excited about this school year?

I am excited about getting to know the students. I am looking forward to working with both 11th- and 12th-grade students.

3. What's your favorite thing about McNamara?

The community/family atmosphere is my favorite thing about McNamara.

4. Three adjectives to describe our Mustangs:

Caring, Enthusiastic, and Ambitious

Name: Cherese Howard Position: Counselor, 11th12th Grades Last Names H-R

1. Where did you go to college/graduate school? What made you choose those colleges/universities?

I attended Syracuse University for my undergrad degree. I really wanted to spread my wings and go somewhere with amazing student life and Division 1 sports. I also knew they were a top 100 college with study abroad options that I liked! For graduate school I went to Mercer University, a private school in Georgia with a 100% pass rate for the school counseling certification exam.

2. What are you excited about this school year? I am excited to watch juniors begin the exploration process for college as well as watching the seniors embark on the next stage of their lives. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the look of pride on students’ and families’ faces when our students start to realize their dreams!

3. What's your favorite thing about McNamara? I enjoy working with such a solid team! The employees, parents, and students are all locked in and focused on a common goal. It is refreshing having everyone working on the same goal, student success.

4. Three adjectives to describe our Mustangs: Driven, Supportive (of their peers), Aspiring

Name: Shamelle Yemofio Position: Director of Counseling Junior and Senior Class Counselor, last names S-Z

1. Where did you go to college/graduate school? What made you choose those colleges/universities?

I attended THE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I chose this college for a variety of reasons. UNC had the #1 Journalism program in the country and that was my intended major. It was a large and diverse school and I was excited to meet people of different backgrounds. And sports of course! For graduate school, I chose George Washington University because it has an accredited school counseling program in our nation's capital. I wanted to explore a different city-based campus in an area with lucrative connections in the education field.

2. What are you excited about this school year?

I am super excited about the programs and partnerships that elevate our students' experiences to expose them to different opportunities in their areas of interest. I'm also excited to learn something new from our students.

3. What's your favorite thing about McNamara?

My greatest enjoyment is working with our ambitious high school students and assisting their development as young adults. The opportunity to facilitate successful navigation to graduation and college attainment is a highlight of mine every year!

4. Three adjectives to describe our Mustangs:

Our Mustangs are innovative, energetic, creative, and confident! Go Mustangs!