ABOUT
The mission of IGNITE College and Career Consulting is to help students navigate the college admissions process with positivity and purpose so that they can matriculate to their best-fit college where they will continue to grow and thrive. Our services also extend to maintaining relationships with students throughout their time in college and serving as a trusted advisor for elements of transition,
career development, and student success.
About Lauren
Hello! I'm Lauren Klentak, founder of IGNITE. My professional background in college administration, career coaching, organizational development consulting, and marketing provides me with a unique set of skills to leverage in the college admissions and career development consulting processes. I have lived all over the United States and have coached students at a variety of different universities, ranging from the highly selective Ivy League, to large state schools, to regional private schools, and to large research universities. Through these experiences, I have learned that there truly are places for everyone to grow and thrive and that a student's college experience will be defined by what they bring to it and what they make of it.
I love college life and the opportunities that it provides students to discover and refine their strengths, interests, and dreams. I am energized by being on college campuses and I am a lifelong student who loves learning from the people around me. I enjoy working with families and helping them through this exciting phase of life. I lend organization and structure to the process in an effort to help alleviate stress and to make the journey more enjoyable and productive. My personal interest in positive psychology leads to a strengths-based approach that is designed to promote well-being, resilience, and optimism.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College (where I also served as an Alumni Admissions Interviewer for 15 years), a Master’s degree in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, and a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. My higher education administration experience includes student-facing roles at Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, California State University - Fullerton, Chapman University, and The University of Pennsylvania. I have also worked with college-bound high school students through the College Placement & Guidance department at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken, NJ.
Since founding Ignite in 2018, I have assisted dozens of students each year in their journey to college, including an annual commitment to the Matchlighters Scholars Program which supports high-potential, low-income students. Finally, I am a proud Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and subscribe to their principles of Standards and Ethics in college admissions consulting.
About Maureen
Hello! I'm Maureen Lynn Eyles. I'm starting my second year on the Ignite Team! I have a background in project management and event production, and I'm known for my organizational and writing skills. I live in Haddonfield, NJ with my husband of 24 years, Jim. We have two sons who were former Ignite Students: Matthew, Vanderbilt University Class of 2024, and Jack, The College of William & Mary Class of 2026.
I am an active member of the community who is currently serving as the President of the Haddonfield Educational Trust, and I'm a former member of the Haddonfield Board of Education (2013-2019). I am a graduate of Villanova University, where I was an English major.
I have always been passionate about education. While on the school board, I served on the Policy, Curriculum, Finance and Long-Range Planning Committees, where I was known as extremely ethical, a good listener, a reliable historian, and an advocate for every child.
Now, as an empty-nester missing my own teenagers, I enjoy working with high school students who are deciding what they want to do next. I know first-hand that the Ignite process offers tremendous resources for students. I especially enjoy helping students to identify their interests, abilities and values, and helping them to find the vocabulary to articulate those passions in a college application. I am a Certified Essay Coach, and completed my training with the College Essay Experience (CEE). CEE is an immersive program that brings professionals inside the essay-writing process as they compose and revise their own college essays. CEE-trained pros become stronger coaches, more confident in their skills, and better prepared to guide students of all skills and abilities.
I look forward to working with you!