Meet A-List’s Leadership Team
Alexis White- Founder & CEO
After graduating with honors from UCLA in 2001, Alexis White founded A-List Admissions and Tutoring, a comprehensive educational services company providing academic tutoring, test prep, K-12 admissions, and college admissions consulting. As an independent college admissions consultant, Alexis has gotten hundreds of clients into their top choice universities and last year, she started alexiscollegexpert.com – inspired by her social media presence. Alexis and her team now provide clients all over the world with the same fabulous attention Alexis has always given her in-person clients – from essay editing to one-on-one coaching. Alexis has appeared as a college admissions expert on CBS and ABC News and has been interviewed in The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post and Unacceptable (a nonfiction book about the college admissions scandal). Alexis loves guiding students through these next steps of their educational journey – from selecting and visiting colleges to assisting students with building their resumes and uncovering their true passions, to crafting a beautiful application that “pops” – Alexis sees every step of the process as a critical growth experience for young adults.
Carolyn White- Senior admissions Consultant
Over the past thirty years, Carolyn has experienced the admissions process from almost every angle: as a classroom teacher, as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Crossroads School for sixteen years, as a K-12 and college admissions consultant and as a mother who navigated the process for her own daughter (Alexis!), a graduate of Marlborough School and UCLA. At Alexis Collegexpert, she lends her expertise as a writer and writing teacher (she taught middle and high school English for 10 years), guiding students, along with Alexis, through every facet of the admissions process — from school selection, to their personal statements and supplements. Some of Carolyn’s most recent students have gained admission to everywhere from Harvard Law School to Barnard, Georgetown and UCLA!
TUTORS
A-List tutors have at least a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years teaching and/or tutoring experience. Our tutors are full of energy and a zest for learning. They truly LOVE teaching, especially tutoring, because working with students one-on-one is an incredibly rewarding experience. Teachers can see results up close, and often those results happen more quickly than expected.
Let’s hear what a few of our tutors have to say about themselves and The A-List:
Alice
English, Reading, Writing, And Elementary Tutor
Alice Cutler is a passionate educator who graduated from Vassar College and has been tutoring students throughout Los Angeles for more than 18 years. She has worked with students across a wide range of grade levels and academic abilities, helping each one build confidence, strengthen foundational skills, and discover strategies for long-term academic success.
In addition to providing one-on-one tutoring, Alice has led small-group learning pods and facilitated book clubs for elementary school students, creating engaging learning environments that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of reading. She believes every student has a unique way of learning and enjoys tailoring her teaching approach to meet each student's individual needs.
Throughout her career, Alice has also been committed to supporting young learners beyond traditional tutoring. She has volunteered with the Young Storytellers Foundation, mentoring elementary school students as they wrote original screenplays, and with Love on 4 Paws, where she and her therapy dog visited children in local hospitals to provide comfort and companionship. These experiences have further strengthened her ability to connect with students with empathy, creativity, and encouragement.
When she's not tutoring, Alice enjoys screenwriting, performing stand-up comedy, and acting. Her creativity, warmth, and sense of humor allow her to connect with students in meaningful ways, making learning both engaging and enjoyable.
Joey
Math And Science Tutor
Joey Stromberg graduated with honors from the University of Kansas with a degree in Finance and a concentration in Chemistry before continuing his education at the Notre Dame School of Law. His passion for teaching began while tutoring University of Kansas student-athletes in math and science, where he discovered the impact that personalized instruction can have on a student's confidence and academic success.
Known for his patient, encouraging approach, Joey believes that every student learns differently. He works closely with each student to identify the strategies that best match their individual learning style, helping them build confidence, strengthen critical thinking skills, and achieve meaningful academic growth. Whether working with students who need help mastering challenging concepts or those striving to reach the next level academically, Joey creates a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and taking intellectual risks.
Beyond academics, Joey's diverse experiences reflect both his creativity and leadership. During his time at the University of Kansas, he directed and wrote a musical, coordinated the university's homecoming parade, and studied abroad at the Asian School of Business in Trivandrum, India. These experiences shaped his ability to connect with students from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
Joey's combination of analytical thinking, creativity, and genuine enthusiasm for teaching allows him to help students not only improve their academic performance but also develop the confidence and problem-solving skills that will serve them long after tutoring has ended.
Robert
Test Prep, English, And Math Tutor
Robert Spuhler has been tutoring students throughout Los Angeles for nearly two decades, helping them prepare for everything from classroom exams and final projects to standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and HSPT. Widely regarded as A-List's test prep guru, Robert is known for his ability to simplify complex concepts, develop personalized testing strategies, and help students approach exams with confidence. His approachable, encouraging teaching style has helped countless students reach their academic and testing goals.
Robert graduated with honors from American University with a degree in Print Journalism and a minor in Government. Equally comfortable analyzing The Great Gatsby or explaining the intricacies of algebra and geometry, he enjoys engaging both the analytical and creative sides of learning. His ability to make challenging concepts accessible has made him a trusted tutor for students with a variety of learning styles and academic needs.
In addition to tutoring, Robert is an accomplished writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Vulture, and other respected publications. His background as a professional journalist strengthens his ability to help students become thoughtful readers, stronger writers, and more effective communicators.
When he's not working with students, Robert can often be found on a soccer field, attending concerts, or exploring new places. His curiosity, enthusiasm, and ability to connect with people make him not only an exceptional tutor but also a mentor who inspires students to approach learning with confidence and curiosity.
Daisy
Language, Executive Functioning, And Neurodivergent Learning Tutor
Daisy Valadez graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Psychology, a minor in Cognitive Science, and a concentration in Neuroscience. With a diverse background in education, Daisy has developed a passion for helping students discover how they learn best and building the confidence they need to succeed academically.
As an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) specialist, Daisy has extensive experience supporting neurodivergent learners and understands that every student brings unique strengths, challenges, and learning styles to the table. Her patient, individualized approach allows her to create engaging lessons that help students build skills, overcome obstacles, and develop greater confidence both inside and outside the classroom.
A passionate language learner, Daisy speaks English, Spanish, Italian, and Mandarin. She believes that language opens the door to deeper cultural understanding, a belief that has inspired her travels to more than 25 countries around the world. Her global perspective and appreciation for diverse cultures enrich her teaching and encourage students to approach learning with curiosity, confidence, and an open mind.
Whether she's helping students strengthen academic skills, develop executive functioning strategies, or build confidence in the classroom, Daisy brings enthusiasm, compassion, and a genuine love of learning to every tutoring session.
Arielle
English, Reading, And Writing Tutor
Arielle Sitrick graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Narrative Studies from the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and a minor in Songwriting from the Thornton School of Music. A lifelong storyteller, Arielle brings creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm to every tutoring session, helping students build confidence while developing strong communication, reading, and writing skills.
Arielle believes that every studenI have t has a unique way of learning and expressing themselves. Her supportive, encouraging approach helps students strengthen their academic skills while discovering their own voice and developing the confidence to tackle new challenges. Whether she's helping students improve their writing, strengthen reading comprehension, or think more critically, Arielle creates a learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and taking intellectual risks.
Outside of tutoring, Arielle is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has been writing, releasing, and performing original music under the name R E L since 2015, with performances throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York. She recently completed her first children's book, which is currently being illustrated. When she's not creating music or writing, Arielle enjoys playing guitar, hiking, traveling, reading, practicing yoga, exploring art museums, dancing, attending concerts, and writing poetry.
Originally from Chicago, Arielle now calls Los Angeles home. She's also a proud lefty, dog lover, and is half Dutch!
How We Match Students With The Right Tutor
Every student learns differently, so we take time to understand each student’s academic needs, learning style, personality, goals, and schedule before recommending a tutor. We also consider parent expectations, subject requirements, and whether the student prefers in-person tutoring in Los Angeles or online support.
Our personalized tutor-student matching process helps create a strong working relationship from the start. By pairing students with tutors whose experience and teaching style fit their needs, we can provide more focused support and help students build skills, confidence, and independence.
What Families Say About A-List Tutors
“I would like to thank Alexis and her team of tutors! When applying for High School I was very stressed out about taking the ISEE test. Alexis had me work with one of her greatest tutors. He helped me to not worry and taught me step by step, section by section, how to approach the test. It was stress management combined with test tutoring. I couldn’t have mastered the ISEE as well as I did without the help. Thank you again for helping me succeed! I am so very grateful and excited to be attending Crossroads this fall for High School. If I ever need any form of tutoring in the future, I would not want to work with anyone else but Alexis’ team!”
Parent, Crossroads School for Arts and Science
“Our family was supported by Carolyn during the admissions process last fall, and we couldn’t recommend her more highly. She is a wealth of knowledge about the schools with her years of experience in admissions, which gave us confidence in our decision making. But even more helpful, her demystifying the process helped us actually enjoy admissions. By the way, our son got into every school he applied to. Thank you Carolyn!”