Find Your Counselor
Get to know Abby Hodges
Approachable, Performer, Homebody, Encouraging, Thoughtful
- Favorite college memory?
- Singing in Mercer Singers for our Lessons and Carols concert in St. Joseph’s cathedral downtown!
- What’s your walk-out song?
- “Golden Years” – David Bowie
- Best place to get dessert in Macon?
- Sweet Eleanor’s
- What is Macon’s hidden gem?
- Coleman Hill
- If Mercer was an emoji, which one would it be? Why?
- 🤩 Mercerians are always striving for success, to be shining stars throughout the World!
Get to know Seth Moreira
Determined, Compassionate, Confident, Hard-working, Optimistic
- What’s your go-to dance move?
- Pretending to do a backflip.
- Coolest place you’ve traveled?
- Zion National Park, my favorite hikes I’ve ever done!
- Favorite college memory?
- Late-night cookout runs.
- Advice for the college search process?
- Visit both the campus and the surrounding city. You’re committing to both for the next four years!
- Mercer in 3 adjectives?
- Driven, Diverse, and Fun.
Get to know Austin Naab
Adventurous, Sporty, Determined, Animal Lover, Witty
- What is the coolest place you’ve traveled?
- Niagara Falls from the Canadian side is amazing.
- What is your favorite app?
- The Smoothie King app!
- Best advice for college freshman?
- Get involved! College is what you make of it so don’t be afraid to join that club you saw at Bear Fair or go to that Quadworks event you heard about.
- What is Macon’s hidden gem?
- Tommy’s Bakery and Café – easily the best donuts in town.
- Why Mercer?
- I came to Mercer as a high school student and immediately felt at home. The people you meet are here because they want to succeed, and they genuinely want to help you be successful as well.
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
Get to know José Gonzalez Matos
Friendly, Team-oriented, Funny, Sporty, Gamer
- Coolest place you've traveled?
- Puerto Rico
- Favorite app?
- YouTube
- What's your walk-out song?
- Stadium Rave - Spongebob Squarepants
- Best staple restaurant in Macon?
- Bear's Den
- Favorite building on campus?
- Plunkett Hall
Get to know Kiya Ezell
Adventurous, Determined, Music Enthusiast, Open Minded, Thoughtful
- What's your hidden talent?
- I can get lost even with directions.
- Coolest place you've traveled?
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Best advice for college students?
- Don't be afraid to ask questions!
- Best staple restaurant in Macon?
- The Rookery
- Mercer students in one word?
- Persistent
Get to know Paige Bounds
Determined, Compassionate, Confident, Hard-working, Optimistic
- What’s your hidden talent?
- Solving puzzles - jigsaw, sudoku, you name it, I like it
- What would you bring to a deserted island?
- Survival book
- Coolest place you’ve traveled?
- Budapest. I loved the history and culture that you can see everywhere you go in the city.
- Best part of your job?
- Getting to meet lots of new people! I love the diversity and everything I get to learn from each new interaction I have.
- Macon in 3 adjectives?
- Beautiful, diverse, and clean
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
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.
Get to know Laura Vermillion
Enthusiastic, Extroverted Introvert, Dog and Cat Mom, Reader, Good-humored
- What would you bring to a deserted island?
- Shampoo and conditioner
- What's your walk-out song?
- Forever by Chris Brown
- What's your go-to dance move?
- The sprinkler
- Best staple restaurant in Macon?
- Macon Bagels
- Best walking route on campus?
- Cruz Plaza
Jordan Fields
Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Scholarships
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!
Tracy Martinez
Senior 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?
- TMAR
- Best advice for college freshmen?
- Make the best of your college experience and join clubs and organizations!
- 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?
- La Bella Morelia
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?
- Kudzu Seafood Company
- Favorite place to walk in Macon?
- Amerson River Park
- Mercer students in one word?
- Creative
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
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
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.