Michelle Koo

Biography

With a communications background, I’ve always embraced being a people-person, finding joy in building meaningful relationships and fostering spaces where everyone feels welcome. My goal as a college counselor is to empower students to navigate their educational journey together by creating collaborative learning environments. As a former AJ student and Saratoga High grad, I understand the challenges of balancing student life and lead with a supportive teaching approach. Drawing from my marketing background, I’ve found that a key part of the college application process is helping students learn to “market themselves” in a way that feels authentic, while strengthening the confidence they need to pursue their goals.

Originally from the Bay Area, I earned my B.A. in Business Communications from Purdue University, where I served as a Dean’s Ambassador for the College of Liberal Arts. I remain active with alumni initiatives, currently as a Purdue Alumni Board Member. After completing my M.A. in Digital Communications from Johns Hopkins University, I worked as a Brand Strategist at SoFi, crafting campaigns to build financial confidence, and then as a Social Media Manager at KiwiCo, promoting hands-on learning for kids. My heart has always been in education and I’m thrilled to bring my mentorship and marketing experience to the AJ team!

When I’m not at AJ, you’ll find me​ enjoying live music, filming vlogs, practicing yoga, or spending time with my friends and family. I’m always on the hunt to try new spots around the Bay Area, sometimes capturing my experience in a mini food reviews series I call “Koo’s Food Revioos.”