Steven Mercer

Dr. Steven Mercer is the Founder of Mercer Educational Consulting, a private college counseling practice in Los Angeles, California, established in January 2006. He provides private college counseling for high school and transfer students, as well as gap year planning. He is an experienced educator with an extensive background in selective college admission, counseling, teaching and academic leadership. He consults with universities on issues related to recruitment, fundraising and board development, particularly regarding the recruitment of Jewish students.

Since January 2010, Steven has served as Lead Instructional Designer and Adjunct Faculty for the online College Counseling Certificate Program at UC San Diego Extension, where he teaches students from around the world in basic and advanced concepts in college admission counseling, designs curriculum and oversees new course development. His leadership in the field includes serving as Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) from August 2019 to September 2021, and on the IECA Board of Directors as Vice President for Ethics from May 2015 to May 2018. He was also an Executive Board Member and Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) from June 2012 to July 2014, supporting educational legislation nationally and in California. From September 2018 to September 2021, he served on The Common Application Outreach Advisory Committee.

Steven's prior experience includes serving as Director of College Counseling at Shalhevet High School from December 2007 to June 2013, Adjunct Faculty in the Graduate School of Education at California Lutheran University from 2012 to 2013, Executive Director of USC Hillel Foundation from March 2005 to December 2007, Project Manager for Teachers for a New Era at California State University Northridge from December 2003 to March 2005, Director of the College Campus Initiative at The Jewish Federation from August 2000 to December 2003, and Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission at University of Southern California from August 1997 to August 2000. He also has experience in gap year and experiential education as Project Leader for Youth Challenge International in Costa Rica in 1996. Steven holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCLA, an MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Cruz.

Services Offered

• Private college counseling for high school students
• Transfer student admissions counseling
• Gap year planning and experiential education guidance
• University consulting on recruitment and fundraising
• College counseling curriculum design and instruction
• Training for college counselors through UCSD Extension
• Recruitment strategy for Jewish students
• Ethical standards guidance in college admissions
• Government relations and educational policy advocacy