Augusta Prep hires McCollum as Director of Admission

Ms. McCollum currently serves as the Associate Director of Admission at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. St. Margaret’s is a co-ed day school that runs from preschool through 12th grade and has an enrollment of 1,234 students.

“Karen has a wonderful background in admissions, and Prep is excited for her to join the team,” Augusta Prep Head of School Eric Hedinger said. “We look forward to her arrival in July to our community.”

Ms. McCollum has worked in her current role at St. Margaret’s since 2015. She has served as chair of the preschool and Lower School admission committees for the past nine years. She has directed the admission process for Early School and Lower School from initial inquiry through enrollment, while also planning, implementing, and overseeing welcoming Admission events, assessment opportunities, campus visits, amongst a smorgasbord of other Admissions-related responsibilities.

Ms. McCollum, who worked as a teacher in second and fifth grade for 15 years at Our Savior’s Lutheran School in San Clemente, Calif., before joining St. Margaret’s, said her visit to Augusta Prep sold her on making the move.

“It was evident to me from the start that Augusta Prep is a very special place,” Ms. McCollum said. “I am thrilled to be joining such a vibrant and welcoming community.”

Augusta Prep is ranked as one of Niche.com’s “2025 "Best Schools" and as Augusta's best private school with an A+ rating. Augusta Prep is ranked No. 1 as the Best Private K-12 School in the Augusta area.