Meet Our Team

SARAH POTTHARST GIROLAMI, Managing Partner, Visual Arts

Sarah began her work as an educational consultant by honing her expertise in the international arena while living in Italy. As Sarah speaks multiple languages, she was able to help students from various international locations. She has traveled extensively in Europe and the U.S. to visit university campuses, offering students first-hand knowledge of and guidance to their best school fit. Simultaneously, her U.S. list of clients grew, prompting her to now focus on domestic admissions. 

For years, Sarah was called upon as “the essay expert,” and this remains one of her fortes, as she boasts a strong background in copywriting and language studies with dual bachelor's degrees in Journalism and Spanish from Southern Methodist University (SMU).

Sarah continued her education at Parsons School of Design, a division under The New School, and earned a degree in Fashion Design with supplementary coursework in Graphic Design and Brand Strategy. During this period, Sarah also began working in New York's prestigious world of fashion, namely for the iconic powerhouse Oscar de la Renta and its sub-labels. In enhancing her portfolio, she moved to Paris, France to earn certification in Haute Couture Embroidery from the House of Lesage, a subsidiary of Chanel.

With this experience, Sarah decided to move to Italy where she produced and launched her own capsule collection of womenswear, which boasted great success in immediate sales across the southeast of the U.S. and international accolades from Italy's most reputable news outlets. After garnering this firsthand knowledge of effective branding methods, multiple local companies in Sarah's then-hometown of Venice, Italy contacted her for expert guidance on modernizing their brand image and digital platforms. This prompted Sarah to launch a boutique international branding firm with an impressive client list that spanned 7 countries and various industries including education, fashion, interior design, and hospitality. Drawing on this expansive background in Visual Arts, Sarah enjoys sharing key advice when assisting students in building innovative and creative portfolios that compliment their applications.

She is a professional member of: Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). Sarah also currently spearheads the Peer-to-Peer Resources for IECA’s College Committee, which is a 2-year position she will hold.

Sarah now lives in her hometown of New Orleans with her family, where she works one-on-one with students in the Gulf South while continuing her online rapport with clients located around the country and the world. She also earned her College Counseling Certificate with distinction from University of California – Irvine in September 2022.