Header Top

New counselors bring experience and energy to academic and college counseling

New counselors bring experience and energy to academic and college counseling

Pictured above (L-R): Kate Flanagan '02 and Brianne O'Hare get to work in the college counseling office.

by Shannon Dufresne
 

The Ursuline School begins the year with added strength in its Academic and College Counseling Department, welcoming Kate Flanagan '02 and Brianne O'Hare to the team led by Interim Chair Kathy B. Reilly. With their expertise, compassion, and commitment, Ursuline families can be assured their daughters are supported as they navigate high school and prepare for college.

Flanagan, a New Rochelle native and Ursuline graduate, returns to her alma mater as an Academic and College Counselor for grades 9–12. After more than 15 years of professional experience, she transitioned to school counseling to help students plan their futures with confidence. 

Flanagan's background in psychology and marketing reflects her love of analysis and creativity. She now applies those skills to guiding students through both academics and the college process and is familiar with Ursuline's student-centered approach to college counseling. Flanagan's ties to the school community run deep, as her mother, Moira Prunty, was the Director of Academic & College Counseling at Ursuline for more than twenty years.

"It's a homecoming for me in many ways," says Flanagan. In her new role, she looks forward to getting to know each student personally and learning what excites them about their futures. A busy mom of three, Flanagan also enjoys hiking, reading, and time in her vegetable garden.

It's a homecoming for me in many ways."
- Kate Flanagan '02, academic and college counselor

O'Hare, who grew up in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, has long been drawn to education and mentoring. Her father, Dan O'Hare, taught at Ursuline for more than 30 years, and the school was a formative part of her childhood. She spent 'Take Your Daughter to Work Day' on campus each year and later worked with her father at Ursuline's basketball camp, experiences that sparked her interest in education.

"Ursuline is a place I've known all my life," O'Hare reflects. “When I was deciding to go back to school for a Master's in School Counseling, I shadowed in the Academic and College Counseling office, and then I completed my 600-hour internship here. Officially being hired in this role truly feels like coming full circle."

Ursuline is a place I've known all my life."
- Brianne O'Hare, academic and college counselor

O'Hare is eager to step fully into her new role, guiding young women in setting their own course, and she brings enthusiasm and energy matched by her lifelong passion for Liverpool Football Club.

The addition of Flanagan and O'Hare strengthens the Academic and College Counseling team, ready to support students and reassure parents throughout the academic journey and college process. Together, they add depth and perspective to a department that plays a pivotal role in each student's Ursuline journey. Families will have the chance to meet them in person at a special event for all Ursuline school families featuring best-selling author Jeff Selingo. Parents, mark your calendars for 'An Inside Look at College Admissions' on Monday, September 29, at 7 P.M.

 

  • academics

More Connections

Play and Pause Buttons for Slideshow