Meet the Team

Renee joined the College Counseling office in 2010. She was attracted by Hawken’s innovative academic program and schedule. Renee brings thirty years of experience on both sides of the desk to advising and mentoring students and parents through the college application process. Prior to working at Hawken, she worked in college counseling at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California. She has also worked in college admissions at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Lake Forest College and her alma mater, Carleton College where she majored in Political Theory.  She also has an MBA in Operations Management from DePaul University. She is married to Rick, who works in admissions at Case Western Reserve University, and has one son, Kirby, who is a 2020 Hawken graduate.  After taking a gap year, he matriculated at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs New York. Outside of work, Renee enjoys hiking, running, Mah Jong, reading, following Cleveland’s sports teams and exploring new restaurants.

Associate Director of College Counseling
(440) 423-2916
cristan.harris@hawken.edu

Cristan Harris joined Hawken in 2018 after serving as Director of College Counseling at The Williams School in New London, CT.  She spent nine years working in college admissions before switching sides of the desk. Cristan started her college admissions career at Boston University, where she also earned her master’s degree in higher education administration. She later worked at American University, followed by Meredith College, where she served as Director of Admissions. Cristan is active in the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), serving on the Summer Institute Planning Committee and the ACCS 360 Review Committee. She is also a member of Revolution Prep’s Midwest Counselor Advisory Board. Previously, she was involved with the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), where she was awarded Professional of the Year in 2018 and served as an Assembly Delegate and a member of the Professional Development, Current Trends, and Annual Meeting and Conference Planning Committees. A graduate of Colgate University, Cristan is married to Cory, an English teacher, and has one son, Griffin. Outside work, she enjoys running, yoga, puzzles, trivia, travel, and cooking.