Michelle is a founding member of HTH’s beautiful Chula Vista campus, which opened in 2007. She served on the University of Utah’s Advisory Board for two years and  spent the last three years serving as an application reader for UCLA and another three prior to that for UCSD. This experience has enhanced her ability to help HTHCV students as they apply to the University of California, and other institutions that employ a holistic process approach to college admissions. Before working at High Tech High, she spent several years working as a Human Resources generalist for two Fortune 500 companies. 

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends. Most of the time, you’ll find her on her son’s soccer field or tennis court, but also holding her adorable first grandchild named Attie!

Michelle earned a B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University, M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of San Diego, and Certificate in College Counseling through UCLA Extension. 

Before joining High Tech High International in 2012, Erik served as the Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions at the University of San Diego supporting diverse populations including first-time freshmen, military veterans, and seminarians through the admissions process. Erik began his admissions career in the Office of Undergraduate Admission at San Diego State University during his undergrad where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. Erik's passion for serving students to pursue higher education led to earning his Master of Arts in School Counseling at the University of San Diego. 

Erik's professional college admissions experience extends beyond High Tech High International having served on the external reading committees for the University of California, San Diego,  and the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a member of the Counselor Advisory Board for Ithaca College. 

Erik is the son of loving parents who immigrated from the Philippines for a better life instilling values of hard work, family, and community. Erik is a proud husband and father of three amazing children. Erik enjoys learning about cultures through food and travel, exploring the outdoors camping with his family, and mountain biking.

Rah-Ben Coates joined High Tech High Chula Vista in 2011 and currently serves as the Director of College Counseling, only the second individual to hold this important role since the school's founding. With over a decade of experience in college admissions and counseling, Rah-Ben has become a key figure in guiding students through the complex college application process.

Prior to joining HTH Chula Vista, Rah-Ben developed a deep understanding of the college admissions landscape by serving as an Assistant Director of Admissions at two distinguished liberal arts institutions: Dominican University and Willamette University. In these roles, he specialized in multicultural outreach, working to increase access and opportunities for underrepresented students. More recently, his role as an external admissions reader for UC Berkeley gives him valuable insights into the UC admissions process that allows him to be a tremendous resource for HTHCV students and families. His experience in both admissions and counseling has given him a unique perspective on how to support students from diverse backgrounds best.

Beyond his professional expertise, Rah-Ben is an avid traveler with a passion for cultural exploration. He has shared this enthusiasm with HTHCV students by organizing week-long trips to popular domestic destinations as well as to exotic international locations, including Thailand. These immersive travel experiences have allowed students to broaden their horizons and engage with the world in meaningful ways.

Originally from Los Angeles, Rah-Ben values family above all else. He is a devoted husband to his beautiful wife and a proud father to three amazing daughters. His personal and professional journeys have been guided by a commitment to community, education, and equity.

Rah-Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Willamette University, where he first cultivated his passion for education and advocacy. His leadership and dedication continue to make a lasting impact on the High Tech High Chula Vista community.

Brandon has been a dedicated member of the High Tech High (HTH) community since 2008 and has served at High Tech High Media Arts (HTHMA) for the past 17 years. Over the last seven years, he has contributed to advancing HTH’s College and Career initiatives, supporting students in their journey to meaningful post-secondary pathways.

For five years, Brandon was a key member of HTHMA’s CARPE College Access Team, where he employed proven strategies to help students apply to, enroll in, and attend colleges where they were most likely to thrive and graduate. He also spent five years as the Internship Coordinator, guiding students as they explored career ideas and connected their experiences to their future college and career goals.

Brandon earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Williams College in Massachusetts. Born and raised in the Boston area, he brings a well-rounded perspective to his work with students.

Outside of his professional life, Brandon enjoys spending quality time with his family, camping, hiking, reading, and watching his two sons grow and explore the world around them.

Hello everyone! My name is Dereice Dawson. Born and raised right here in San Diego, I am a proud first-generation student. I earned my BA in Public Administration from San Diego State University, followed by an MS in Educational Leadership from CSU East Bay. Currently, I am pursuing my EdD in Educational Leadership at UCSD/CSU San Marcos. With over 8 years of experience in academic support for students, including serving in college admissions at San Francisco State University, I am dedicated to creating conditions that matter for students to succeed. In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends and being active through playing sports and hiking. I also really enjoy meditation and mindfulness, which help me stay balanced and focused.

Wendy McDonald is a trailblazing founding member of the High Tech High (HTH) organization, playing a pivotal role in shaping the institution since its inception in 2001. As both Lead Registrar and Student Information Systems (SIS) Manager, Wendy's impact spans all six HTH campuses. Her expertise ensures that every year, approximately 650 seniors seamlessly send over 4,500 transcripts and essential documents to colleges and universities nationwide.

A significant part of Wendy's role as a liaison with colleges is to spearhead the University of California (UC) course approval process, ensuring that each campus's curriculum aligns with UC requirements and reflects HTH’s innovative educational approach. Her work directly supports students' academic journeys by maintaining rigorous course standards and fostering strong partnerships with higher education institutions.

Wendy holds a Bachelor of Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO). Her unwavering dedication to student success and commitment to building college pathways continue to shape the futures of hundreds of HTH graduates every year.

Chris began his journey with High Tech High in 2002 as a founding member of the college counseling program, laying the foundation for its impactful initiatives. Before this role, he served as Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of San Diego, where he gained valuable insights into higher education admissions.

Since 2004, Chris has been an application reader for the University of California system, reviewing applications for UC San Diego until 2018 and continuing with UCLA from 2018 onward.

Chris’ influence extends nationally, having shaped admissions policies and platforms as a member of advisory boards for The Common Application, College Board, and Scoir. His contributions have advanced equitable and effective practices in college admissions. His expertise has been featured in prominent publications like Forbes Magazine and highlighted in The College Conversation, a comprehensive resource guide for students and families authored by New York Times Bestseller Jacques Steinberg. Chris earned his Bachelor's in Business Administration and Master of Arts in School Counseling, both from the University of San Diego.

Nicholle Wyatt has worked in the college counseling field for over 30 years.  Prior to coming to HTH in 2019, she worked in the college admissions offices of Pacific University and the University of San Diego and was the Head College Counselor for 19 years at Academy Our Lady of Peace (OLP).  Nicholle stays on top of the ever-changing college admissions landscape by working as an External Admissions Reader for the UC system the past 25 years (formerly at UCSD and UCLA, and currently for UCSB).  She also served on the Board of Directors for the National Catholic College Admissions Association and the San Diego National College Fair Committee for over 18 years.

For 5 summers, Nicholle was the Lead Admissions Coach for USC’s Bovard Scholars Program — a 3-week residential program that works with high achieving, rising seniors from under-resourced schools and matches them with top-tier universities while walking them through the college application process. 

In her free time, Nicholle and her husband enjoy coaching and watching their 12 year old daughter Natalie play golf, softball and basketball.