Meet Our Team
bill-mc-murray
 
William (“Bill”) C. McMurray, M.Ed.
 
President, W.C. McMurray & Associates LLC
Bill@wcmcmurray.com
 
President and Lead Educational Consultant, College Search U
Bill@CollegeSearchU.com


Hometown: Brunswick, Maine
 
Current base of operation:Portland, Maine

Accepting clients from:
 
Maine
Massachusetts 
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont 
California 
Connecticut 
Other: Contact Bill for more information

Education: 
 
Brunswick High School
B.A., Bates College (Psychology/English)
M.Ed., The University of Vermont (Higher Education & Student Affairs)
Certificate, Independent Educational Consultants Association Summer Institute (2007)


Career Highlights (1981-present):

College Admission:
 
Wheaton College (MA): 1987-95; 1998-2005 (Director of Western Regional Admission);
                                               2012-2014 (Regional Director of Admission)
California College of the Arts (San Francisco), Director of Graduate Admission
Sea Education Association (MA), Dean of Admission & Financial Aid

Recruitment travel experience: 
Nationwide, especially Maine, Massachusetts, California, the Northwest and Hawaii

School Counseling/Secondary School Administration:
 
Culver Academies (IN)
St. Sebastian’s School (MA)
Boston University Academy (MA)
Envision Schools (CA)

Professional Affiliations (partial list):
 
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Associate Member
National Association for college Admission Counseling (NACAC), Professional Member
New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), Professional Member
Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC)
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
Regular participant/presenter in high schools nationwide, including admission case studies programs, college night panels, and essay workshops 

Professional Network:
 
Since beginning his career in college counseling and admissions in 1981, Bill has actively cultivated and maintained an enormous network of professional colleagues who work in literally hundreds of different institutions around the country and abroad. Through partnering with Bill and College Search U, students and families benefit from Bill’s expansive knowledge of the professionals who share his passion about higher education. 

In addition to tapping his professional network to help students find their right fit college, Bill uses his first-hand knowledge of college campuses. To date, Bill has visited over 300 colleges during his career, and visiting or revisiting colleges remains among his favorite things to do.


Interests other than all things higher ed: 
 
Cycling, golf, travel, reading, high school and college reunions (no kidding!)

Dream World Series match-up:
 
Boston Red Sox vs. San Francisco Giants 
 
 

 

Kathy Strand, M.S.
 
Vice-President, W.C. McMurray & Associates LLC
kathy@wcmcmurray.com
 
Educational Consultant, College Search U
kathy@CollegeSearchU.com


Hometown: White Plains, NY

Education:
 
White Plains High School
BMus, Boston University
MS, Simmons College


Higher Education Professional Experience:
 
Simmons College (graduate program admissions)
Colby College (parent giving & programs)
Simmons College (undergraduate admissions)
Roger Williams University (short-term consultation –alumni admissions; Florida recruitment planning)
Co-President, Northeast Coordinators of Alumni Admission Programs (2004-2011)
Boston University (academic librarian)

Recruitment travel experience:
 
Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, Chicagoland

Secondary Schools:
 
Sturgis Public Charter School (MA), founding member/trustee

Interests other than all things higher ed:
All things Norway (she’s 50% Norwegian), book club, travel, cycling
 
 

 

 
Important Notice Regarding Transparency: 
 
W.C. McMurray & Associates LLC strictly adheres to its core values and industry best practices and guidelines related to college counseling. As such, we disclose to our College Search U clients the names of any institutions of higher learning with which we currently or recently have had a contractual arrangement. Similarly, our work as independent college counselors through College Search U is made clear to institutional clients. We also communicate with clients the measures taken that remove any conflict of interest should the potential arise.