OUR TEAM

• PAMELA DECKER
• NICK VANDERPOL
• LORI HIXON
• HEATHER COOK

Pamela Decker is passionate about the school counseling profession and is an advocate for school counselors throughout the nation. Throughout her career, her major focus has been on improving school counseling for all students. As a former school counselor and Director of Counseling for over 25 years in high schools, middle schools and virtual schools, Pamela’s expertise includes facilitating systemic change to develop and/or improve comprehensive, proactive counseling programs to meet the needs of every student in all three counseling domains – academic, college/ career and social/emotional.

Pamela is currently on the Professional Development Committee for CCHS/CR and past Co-Director of the KOO Institute for new and experienced counselors. She has been honored as Colorado Counselor of the Year, Colorado Online Counselor of the Year, Outstanding Service Award and recently the Hall of Fame Award.

Pam lives in Boulder, CO and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

PAMELA DECKER

Lori Hixon joined College Counseling Service in 2011 coming from the software industry and working in financial aid and admissions on the college side. After owning her own software sales business for many years she found it was time to come back to her college admission roots and work with high school students guiding them through the college selection and admission process. Assisting students with identifying colleges 

LORI HIXON

In addition, College admissions, the best fit college search, the college application process, career counseling, interview preparation, and essay writing skills development for college bound high school students has been a major focus for her. Her experience includes several years as an educator with students who have learning differences; perceptual/communicative disorders and emotional and behavioral issues and helping these students with their post-secondary plans.

NICK VANDERPOL

Nick Vanderpol joined College Counseling Service in 2006 and has been involved with consulting with schools and working with all types of clients to find post-secondary paths that align with their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Nick provides consultation to administrators, counselors and faculty on the Administrator/Counselor Relationship, Advisories in the schools, Collaboration and Communication, Middle School Support Curriculum, Virtual education and many other topics.

Before he became a consultant and college counselor at College Counseling Service, Nick owned his own business in Michigan and then made a decision to follow his passion of working with students and schools and entered the profession as a high school counselor, then Assistant Director for virtual education and is currently an Assistant Principal.

He has worked with numerous students on getting to know themselves, exploring their interests, values and skills and translating this information into a ‘best fit’ college list through the college search. Nick works closely with his clients on every detail of their college application including the data that is entered, transcripts, their essays, letters of recommendations, interviews, resumes and where needed portfolios and auditions.

Originally, from Northwest Washington, he is now a proud Coloradan, husband and father of three girls.

that match their values, skills, career interests and academic preferences to meet their full potential. She will build a college list that matches their criteria and walk through the college application process working side by side with the student assisting them through each detail necessary to put their best foot forward. Assisting the students with deadlines, developing essays and resumes, requesting letters of recommendation, transcripts and test scores submission, creating portfolios, testing schedule, interview and audition prep.

Lori provides consultation to schools in the college and career readiness area including College-Going Culture, Creating your Post-Graduate Career/College Center, and curriculum for post-secondary planning.

In addition to working with College Counseling Service she is also the Director of College Counseling at a college prep high school. Advising students on post-secondary options and working through the college going process. She is a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling, Higher Education Consultants Association and Professional Development Chair for Colorado Council on High School/College Relations. Lori is, also, one of the Co-Directors of the KOO Institute where she assists new counselors and experienced counselors with learning all aspects of the college selection and application process. Lori was awarded by CCHS/CR the Outstanding Service Award in 2016.

Lori resides in Eagle, CO and has a daughter in college and son in high school.

HEATHER COOK

Heather Cook is the most recent team member to join College Counseling Service and brings and integrated experience in psychology, statistics, and public health. Seven years ago, after a decade of being a research scientist and program coordinator in New York City, she decided to pursue a career as a psychotherapist. As the owner of Healing Among Chaos, Heather provides support with children from pre-school through high school struggling with emotional overwhelm, trauma and other challenges. Additionally, she works with groups and organizations using Lego Serious Play.

Combining her understanding in science, statistics and the human experience, Heather's approach to statistics is that the data should be practical and people centered leading to meaningful action. Her expertise includes developing customized Needs Assessment, analyzing and disaggregating data and reporting results for schools and districts.

Her education includes a BS, Major in Genetic Engineering, minor in Mathematics, summa cum laude from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. She continued her education and earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Columbia University in New York, NY and earned a Master of Arts in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, CO.