Find Your Counselor
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
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
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
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 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.
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 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!
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 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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.