Find Your Counselor

Jessica Allen

Jessica Allen

Admissions Counselor

Office: 478.301.2656

Cell: 478.219.8095

Get to know Jessica Allen

Adventurous, Nature Lover, Caring, Traveler, and Understanding

Coolest place you've traveled?
Amboseli Safari in Kenya
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I speak Spanish.
What was your high school superlative?
Most likely to succeed
Macon in 3 adjectives?
Beautiful, Historic, and Fun
Favorite college memory?
Studying abroad in Costa Rica
Payton Jones

Payton Jones

Admissions Counselor

Office: 478.301.2125

Cell: 478.219.8006

Get to know Payton Jones

Outgoing, Caring, Dog mom, Sarcastic, Friendly

What would you bring to a deserted island?
My dog – wouldn’t want to be without her!
What’s a skill you wish you had?
Cooking
Best staple restaurant in Macon?
The Rookery
Favorite place to walk in Macon?
Amerson River Park
Mercer students in one word?
Creative
Taylor Oxyer

Taylor Oxyer

Admissions Counselor

Office: 478.301.2312

Cell: 478.219.8019

Get to know Taylor Oxyer

Energetic, Sporty, Dog Lover, Adventurous, and Reliable

What's your hidden talent?
I have double jointed thumbs that make me the best thumb wrestler ever.
What are you binge watching?
One Tree Hill
Best place to get dessert in Macon?
Milkshakes at The Rookery
Mercer in 3 adjectives?
Welcoming, inclusive, and comforting
Favorite place to eat on campus?
Margarita's Mexican Grill in Mercer Village
Ashley Stephens

Ashley Stephens

Admissions Counselor

Office: 478.301.2314

Cell: 478.219.8009

Get to know Ashley Stephens

Approachable, Traveler, Intuitive, Cat Mom, Entertainer

What would you bring to a deserted island?
Cherry Coke
What was your high school superlative?
Most Musical
Best staple restaurant in Macon?
Biddy's! Everyone needs to try their loaded buffalo fries ASAP.
Favorite Mercer memory?
My Mercer On Mission trip to the Republic of Georgia!
Favorite building on campus?
Newton Chapel
Grace Dickerson

Grace Dickerson

Senior Admissions Counselor

Office: 478.301.5123

Cell: 478.219.8090

Get to know Grace Dickerson

Passionate, Spontaneous, Whimsical, Tree lover, Reader

What's your hidden talent?
I make the best quiche. Ever.
Favorite App?
Spotify
What was your high school superlative?
Most likely to write a New York Times bestseller.
First impression of Macon?
It's the perfect size! It has a fun, small town feel, but there are lots of things to do and places to go!
Why Mercer?
You will get a great education that will prepare you to change the world.
Cecilia Williams

Cecilia Williams

Admissions Counselor

Office: 478.301.2072

Cell: 478.219.8283

Get to know Cecilia Williams

Optimist, Dog Mom, Outdoor Lover, Foodie, Supporter

What's your hidden talent?
Pro-whistler
What's something most people don't know about you?
I have been to 34 out of 50 states.
What is Macon's hidden gem?
The arrangement of local coffee shops.
Something most people don't know about Mercer?
Orange goes with a lot more things than you think
Mercer students in one word?
Accepting
Jordan Fields

Jordan Fields

Assistant Director of Admissions

Office: 478.301.2659

Cell: 478.219.8494

Get to know Jordan Fields

Engaging, Foodie, Golfer, Passionate, Talkative

What would you bring to a deserted island?
A radio for music and sports
Most used emoji?
😂
Advice for the college search process?
Check your email!
Mercer in 3 adjectives
Welcoming, active, busy
Favorite place to eat in Macon?
Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen - best wings in town!
Beth Gonzalez

Beth Gonzalez

Assistant Director, Global Enrollment

Office: 478.301.2332

Cell: 478.538.0013

Get to know Beth Gonzalez

Adventurous, Animal Lover, Compassionate, Foodie, Traveler

What's something most people don't know about you?
I'm an avid scuba diver.
Favorite App?
New York Times Cooking
Best part of your job?
Meeting students from all around the world
First impression of Macon?
Hip town with great food and music
Why Mercer?
Mercer faculty, staff, and students want to change the world. And they do.
Mattie Weldon

Mattie Weldon

Assistant Director of Admissions and Campus Visitation

Office: 478.301.2322

Get to know Mattie Weldon

Celebrator, Amateur Baker, Joyful, Horizontal Stripe Enthusiast, Witty

What’s your hidden talent?
Guess it’s not hidden anymore, but I’m pretty good at bowling.
Coolest place you’ve traveled?
Prague, Czech Republic
What’s your walk-out song?
The Jaws theme song
First impression of Macon?
A vibrant fun place to be with something for everyone.
Mercer in 3 adjectives.
Lively, engaging, enthusiastic
Tracy Martinez

Tracy Martinez

Assistant Director of Admissions and Athletic Recruitment

Office: 478.301.2126

Cell: 478.219.8093

Get to know Tracy Martinez

Outdoor person, Minimalist, Friendly, Dedicated, Open-minded

A skill you wish you had?
Surfing
What’s your nickname?
Trace
Best advice for college freshmen?
Don’t skip class!
If Mercer was an emoji, which one would it be and why?
🎓 Mercer sets you up to be successful in the real world.
Favorite restaurant in Macon?
Mikata
Jordan Ellis

Jordan Ellis

Associate Director of Admissions and Campus Visitation

Office: 478.301.2309

Get to know Jordan Ellis

Energetic, Dog Mom, Watcher of Sports, Determined, Sweet Tea Connoisseur

What was your high school superlative?
Most school spirited
Best advice for college freshman?
Take time to think about what you really want your college experience to be like and look for that when you take visits!
Favorite App?
ESPN
Why Mercer?
It is a place that makes you feel like you are at home.
Best place in Macon to walk your dog?
I love to walk with Oakley around downtown and then go to the Macon Dog Park!
Jackie Atchison

Jackie Atchison

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Scholarships

Office: 478.301.2307

Cell: 478.219.8080

Get to know Jackie Atchison

Book collector, Yarn enthusiast, Singer, Traveler, Chocolate lover

What’s your hidden talent?
I can knit.
What’s your go-to dance move?
The disco point
Favorite college memory?
Studying abroad at the University of Oxford
What made you choose Mercer?
I loved the community feeling and small classes.
Best place in Macon to have a relaxing day?
Tattnall Square Park is a great place to relax. Especially on Saturday mornings – there’s free yoga!
Jena Palmer

Jena Palmer

Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment

Office: 478.301.2316

Cell: 478.219.8210

Get to know Jena Palmer

Barbeque aficionado, Thrill seeker, Avid reader, Quick witted, Extrovert

Something most people don’t know about you?
I’ve seen all the movies on American Film Institute’s Top 100 List.
A skill you wish you had?
Sense of direction! Thank goodness for Google maps.
Advice for the college search process?
Talk with your admissions counselor!
Favorite organization you were involved with as a Mercer student?
BearForce – It was the best on-campus job!
Best place in Macon to buy local produce?
Village Marketplace on Ingleside
Chris Pinto

Chris Pinto

Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Office: 478.301.2650

Get to know Chris Pinto

Analytical, Introspective, Runner, Backpack Traveler, Occasionally Clever

What's your hidden talent?
Minimizing. You can always bring less stuff.
What's your nickname?
Just Pinto. I've been told my last name is reminiscent of an automobile and a legume.
Advice for the college search process?
Visit, even if it's virtual. You will be surprised how quickly your view of a college changes in that 1-2 hours you invest.
Why Mercer?
It's the best possible intersection of the two things all colleges seek to provide: exceptional experiences and meaningful relationships.
First impression of Macon?
It's Southern-hipster with a deep sense of community.
Felix Jelen

Felix Jelen

Assistant Vice President for Global Engagement

Cell: 478.796.9972

Get to know Felix Jelen

Witty, Easygoing, Inquisitive, Innovative, Amiable

What's your walk-out song?
"Midnight Rider" by The Allman Brothers Band
What's your go-to dance move?
The lawn sprinkler
Favorite college memory?
Conducting a six-week biodiversity survey in Baja, California
Best place in Macon to have an adventure?
The Ocmulgee River
Mercer students in one word?
Resilient
Kelly L. Holloway

Kelly L. Holloway

Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management

Office: 478.301.2650

Get to know Kelly L. Holloway

Driven, Compassionate, First-gen college graduate, Mom of two, Disney fan

Favorite college memory?
Studying abroad in Peru—it’s where I met my husband!
What are your hobbies?
Spending time with my son, daughter, and husband. Reading, cooking, and traveling.
Something most people don’t know about Mercer?
How diverse our student population is! We have a more diverse population than most public universities and nearly every private university.
Best advice for college freshmen?
Visit the Academic Resource Center (ARC) from the start—not just when you think you need it. Attend Real Talk, and embrace the opportunities that come from building relationships within the Mercer community.
Best place in Macon to have a date night?
Dinner at Dovetail and a show at the Hargray Capitol Theater

Your admissions counselor is coming soon!

If you have any questions, contact the Office of University Admissions at 478.301.2650 or admissions@mercer.edu.