Meet The Team

  • A bald man in a dark suit jacket and light dress shirt standing outdoors next to a brick wall, smiling at the camera.

    Eric Simonelli

    CO-FOUNDER

    Eric Simonelli is the Co-Founder and expert College Admissions Consultant at Academic Admissions Advisors (AAA), guiding students through the highly competitive college admissions process. With over 25 years of experience in secondary and higher education, Eric combines strategic admissions insight with a deep understanding of high-achieving academic pathways and competitive college preparation.

    A member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), Eric served for thirteen years as an Admissions Advisor and Athletic Liaison at the University of Rhode Island and most recently spent eight years as Director of College Counseling and Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach at La Salle Academy. He has built strong relationships with college admissions representatives, giving students valuable insight into what selective colleges seek.

    A former Division III collegiate basketball player, Hall of Fame inductee, and 1,000-point scorer, Eric brings specialized expertise in athletic recruitment and the collegiate club sports process. Raised in Duxbury, Massachusetts, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Endicott College and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Rhode Island.

    Eric has built strong relationships with college admissions representatives, providing students with an insider’s perspective on what top-tier colleges seek. A former Division III collegiate basketball player, Hall of Fame inductee, and 1,000-point scorer, he also brings extensive expertise in athletic recruitment and the collegiate club sports process.

  • A woman with long dark hair, wearing a light-colored blazer, smiling in front of a blurred background with warm lights.

    Gabriella Caprio

    CO-FOUNDER

    Gabriella Caprio is the Co-Founder and experienced college admissions consultant at AAA, where she guides students and families through the college application, admissions, and financial aid process. With a hands-on approach, Gabriella helps make the journey both manageable and enjoyable. In addition to her work at Academic Admissions Advisors, she serves as a lead World Languages teacher in the City of Providence, Rhode Island, bringing over two decades of experience in secondary and higher education.

    Fluent in three languages, Gabriella holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s degree in Education from Rhode Island College. She also serves as Chair of the Education Committee at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Her students have gained admission to highly selective colleges and universities, including Boston College, Brown University, Columbia, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Tufts University, Villanova, Williams College, and Yale.

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, wearing a blue blazer and a white top, against a blurred neutral background.

    Susan Santucci

    LEAD CONSULTANT OF AAA IVY TEST PREP & TUTORING

    Susan Santucci is a nationally recognized SAT/ACT expert and author with over 30 years of experience guiding students through standardized testing and the college admissions process. She holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University and is the founder of Ivy League Tutoring, which has helped thousands of students gain admission to top-tier colleges, including Princeton, Stanford, Yale, and Boston College. Susan specializes in helping students strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and achieve top scores that lead to admission at highly selective universities. She is passionate about personalized instruction and mentoring students to reach their full potential.

  • ADJUNCT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

    Steve has dedicated more than 25 years to education and independent school leadership. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from George Mason University. He currently serves as Head of School at St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School in Tampa, Florida.

    Throughout his career, Steve has partnered closely with students and families on educational planning and school transitions. His extensive experience in admissions, educational leadership, and student advising enables him to provide thoughtful, personalized guidance as students navigate the college admissions process.

  • EXPERT TUTOR

    Angela is a writer and editor from Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Brown University with honors in English (Nonfiction Writing). She is now based in New York City, where she spends her spare time reading, playing mahjong, and learning languages. As a private tutor and former teaching assistant at Brown, she has over four years of teaching and tutoring experience in subjects ranging from writing to statistics.

  • EXPERT TUTOR

    Clyde graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. Since 2019, he has provided one-on-one tutoring to students in grades K–12 across all levels of math, science, and English. With a 1560 SAT score and a perfect 36 ACT score, Clyde combines subject-matter expertise with proven test-taking strategies to help students maximize their performance. He is passionate about building students' confidence, fostering critical thinking, and making even the most challenging concepts approachable.

  • COLLEGE ESSAY COACH & MASTER TUTOR

    Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from Boston College, and is currently a PhD Candidate in Chemistry at Brown University. She is an SAT prep expert and provides tutoring in Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus I–III, AP Physics, and AP Chemistry.

  • COLLEGE ESSAY COACH

    Darcy is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in higher education. She began her career at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI, as an Admissions Advisor until 2013, before transitioning to the University of New England in Biddeford, ME, where she served as the Director of First-Year Admissions for 8 years. With a Bachelor's degree and a Master's Degree in College Student Personnel, Darcy brings knowledge and expertise to her consulting practice. Passionate about empowering high school students to reach their full potential, Darcy is dedicated to providing strategic guidance and college solutions in higher education.

  • COLLEGE ESSAY COACH

    Gregory has been an educator for over 20 years. With a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont and a Master’s in Education from the University of California at Santa Cruz, Gregory is currently a member of the English Department at North Kingstown High School.  He is a certified Rhode Island educator and is a fully trained and practicing Advanced Placement (AP) instructor.  

    In addition to his classroom teaching experience in North Kingstown and California, Gregory has an extensive background in the outdoor education field, serving a broad range of students from a variety of different backgrounds and ability levels.  This experience shaped his educational philosophy and taught him how to foster a safe and supportive, yet rigorous and challenging learning environment. 

  • EXPERT TUTOR

    Maria holds a dual Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Biology and Public Policy from Brown University, and is a current medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School. She has over 8 years of tutoring experience. She is an SAT prep expert who also tutors Algebra, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Statistics, and college-level anatomy and physiology. Maria also earned the distinction of National Merit Scholar Finalist, having scored in the top 1% on the PSAT.

  • EXPERT TUTOR

    Natalie holds a Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in chemistry and physics from The College of William & Mary, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Physical Chemistry at Brown University. She is an expert in SAT preparation and provides tutoring in AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, and Algebra. She holds multiple teaching certificates in STEM education from Brown University and has been awarded for outstanding performance as a teaching assistant.

  • COLLEGE ESSAY COACH & MASTER TUTOR

    Nicole earned her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics, summa cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma and brings over 20 years of experience tutoring high school and college-level math and physics. A National Merit Scholar Finalist who scored in the top 1% on the PSAT, she is an SAT and ACT prep specialist and an experienced tutor in Algebra, Precalculus, and Calculus I, II, and III.