PROFESSIONAL ESSAY SUPPORT

Lauren Dana is an instructional designer and adjunct faculty member with over 10 years of teaching experience. She holds degrees from Bucknell, Georgetown, and UMBC, including an MA in Learning and Performance Technology. She taught English for 11 years at The Catholic High School of Baltimore and Notre Dame Prep. Lauren now works at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and teaches at the Johns Hopkins School of Education. She has helped over 100 students craft successful college essays through workshops at Notre Dame Prep, Adelante Latina, and Calvert Hall.

​Thomas Bender is a high school English teacher with ten years of experience, currently teaching at Notre Dame Prep in Towson, MD, and Harford Community College. He holds a BA in English from Gettysburg College, an MFA in Creative Writing from Temple University, and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Chestnut Hill College. Active in the writing community, he has completed workshops with the Kenyon Review and One Story. Thomas also guides rising seniors through the college essay writing process.

Lee Conderacci recently joined the English faculty at Loyola Blakefield after earning her Ph.D. in English from the University of Delaware, where she also taught writing and literature. She previously worked as a corporate trainer in media and online education and holds an M.S. in Communications from Towson and a B.A. in English and Theatre from Princeton. Passionate about writing and the arts, Lee is active in Baltimore’s theatre scene and founded Playwrights’ Brew, an open-mic series showcasing local talent and new works.

Lauren La Canfora is an experienced English teacher with over 25 years in middle and high school education, primarily at Notre Dame Prep and now at Loyola Blakefield. She specializes in AP Literature and senior electives, with a strong focus on guiding students through the college essay process. Known for her personalized, one-on-one approach, she helps students craft authentic, compelling essays. Lauren holds a BA in English from Elon University and an M.Ed. from Johns Hopkins. A mother of three, she’s deeply committed to helping students build confidence and write with purpose.