About Us
Martha Crowe, MA, Founder/President
Martha C. received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her MA in Child Development from Tufts University. She also spent some time in a Human Development and Psychology doctoral program at Harvard. Martha C. has worked as a social worker, a program director, and as a consultant for nonprofit organizations. In 2013, Martha C. moved into the field of public health and continues to work as a Research Associate at San Diego State University’s Institute for Public Health. There, she developed a passion for using data to inform both individual and institutional decisions. She is also an Assistant Professor at SDSU.
Martha C. started working informally as a college counselor with her nephews, sons, and their friends and came to believe this was the work she was meant to do. So, she got a job as a college essay advisor for a large college prep company, learned the business, and set out on her own. Martha C. loves using her understanding of research and statistics to inform her work, her knowledge about child development to relate to students, and her writing skills to help students craft the best college applications.
In 2026, Crowe College Counseling was rebranded and expanded to Customized College Counseling when Martha C. realized she could not keep up with the demand for the type of personalized, holistic, relationship-based college advising she believes in.
Outside of work, Martha C. loves to travel to see her sons, hang out with her daughter, husband, and two dogs, and bake up the world’s best chocolate chip cookies. Martha C. is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Michelle Fox, M.Ed., ATACP, CSP
Director of Growth and Student Experience/Senior College Advisor
After earning her B.S. in Business Administration from Arizona State University, Michelle Fox spent a decade working as a marketing director before following her passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. She went on to earn her Master of Education in Special Education and dedicated the next ten years to directing special education services in schools and consulting with districts.
Michelle brings deep expertise in supporting diverse learners, with extensive experience in English learners, assistive technology, dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading, writing, and spelling. She is also a certified somatic therapy practitioner, integrating nervous system–informed support into her work with students to promote confidence, regulation, and overall well-being.
In 2023, Michelle was honored with the “Emergent Leader” Award (Charter Schools) by the County of San Diego. She is deeply committed to helping students recognize their unique strengths and build paths that align with who they are.
Outside of her work in college counseling, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, and can often be found reading, biking, hiking, or exploring the outdoors.
Martha Sandven, MA, MAT, NBCT
Director of Test Prep and Tutoring/Senior College Advisor.
Martha S., known by her students as “Ms. Martha,” earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Speech and went on to earn her Master of Arts in Theatre/Film from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Arkansas.
She started her career in Kansas City, Missouri, running a youth development and children’s theatre organization called Chameleon, where she also wrote plays and musicals with input from children and then toured them to schools. She taught at the Kansas City Art Institute in community art and collaboration. Martha S. later relocated to Northwest Arkansas, where she taught English/Language Arts and served as English Department Chair in three different public schools over 12 years. Harnessing the creativity of junior high students, Martha S. founded an award-winning after-school arts-integration program that eventually expanded to become ART/Works!, a job-training-through-the-arts program that offered job development at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center in Fayetteville. She earned her National Board Certification in Teaching in 2017 and developed a series of courses on creativity and innovation at the University of Arkansas.
Martha S. currently teaches aspiring teachers at the University of Arkansas and presents nationwide about her teaching approach. She is a firm believer in the power of higher education to change lives and is passionate about preparing students for college through test preparation, tutoring, and college advising. She has special expertise helping students through their transition to college and loves meeting with them throughout their freshman year to ensure their success. Martha S. has won many awards including Teacher of the Year, Mentor Teacher of the Year, the Governor’s Arts Award, and the Agnes Dixon Playwriting Award.
Outside of CCC, Martha S. loves to read, write, and hang out with the many animals on her farm, including horses, cats, and dogs. Martha S. is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Sarah Bateman, Director of Operations
A graduate of University of California, San Diego, Sarah earned her B.S. degree in biology and then began a long career in non-profit fundraising and management.
Sarah has served as the Director/Chief of Development for several organizations, including ElderHelp San Diego, Project Wildlife, Montana Wilderness Association, Mountain Finance and Immanuel Lutheran Communities. Through these positions, Sarah has gained deep expertise in finance, budgeting, business management, and donor cultivation.
In 2019, she moved into operations and has worked for San Diego State University since then, managing administrative functions and human resources for the Institute for Public Health and for research projects across the university. Sarah is responsible for developing and implementing the business infrastructure that keeps CCC running smoothly.
Outside of work, Sarah loves to spend time with her two dogs and husband and is passionate about conservation and wildlife. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive and has donated her time and expertise as a Board member for nonprofit organizations.
What makes us different?
Students First
Every decision we make is filtered through one question: is this good for the student? Not good for our reputation. Good for the young person in front of us. We actively protect students from unnecessary pressure — because this process should not cost them their well-being.
Relationship-Based
We don’t hand students a checklist and a portal login. We get to know them — their strengths, their fears, their sense of humor, what lights them up. The best work happens inside a trusting relationship, and we take the time to build one.
Ethical and Transparent
No sales tactics. No inflated promises. No telling families what they want to hear. We give honest, realistic guidance.
Data-Driven and Fit-Focused
Data-Driven and Fit-Focused. We know the numbers — acceptance rates, academic profiles, campus culture data, trends in higher education. But data is only useful when it’s in service of the right fit. We use it to find schools where your student will genuinely thrive.
Developmentally Informed and Neuro-Responsive
We understand adolescent development, and we understand that every student learns differently. We tailor our work accordingly.
A Healthy, Human Practice.
We are a small, collaborative team, not a factory. We don’t crank students through a system. We invest deeply in the ones we work with, and we invest in each other. That culture of care shows up in every client interaction.
Helping your child thrive at the right college.
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