About Juan Camilo Tamayo | MBA
Tour Leader
Juan Camilo Tamayo has assisted thousands of students in reaching their educational goals. His twenty-seven years career in higher education has given him extensive and successful experience in guiding families through the process of choosing and applying to colleges and universities in the United States and abroad.
Mr. Tamayo was born in Medellin, Colombia. After studying locally, he moved to New York City in 1991 to study English and then transferred to Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where, in 1995, he earned his BA in Communications. Upon graduation he worked for Clarke University in the office of admissions where he coordinated international recruitment. Later he pursued an additional degree in Business at Clarke University, finishing in 1998. The following year, Mr. Tamayo began working for Lynn University’s office of admissions in Boca Raton, Florida; at the same time he completed a Master’s degree in International Business. He has traveled and recruited in over 85 countries and has led several recruiting tours around the world, including tours in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, visiting high schools, universities, and Education USA Centers worldwide. In addition, he has traveled throughout the United States and is familiar with the vast variety of colleges and universities across the country. During his career in university admissions he has forged numerous lasting relationships with higher education colleagues, students, parents, and high school counselors. These relationships enhance and reinforce his ability to assist students with the best guidance possible. Most recently, Mr. Tamayo was elected to the position of Vice President of Government Relations with the International Association for College Admission Counseling (International-ACAC). In this position, Mr. Tamayo has had varied and exciting opportunities to connect with education colleagues from all over the world. In 2010 Mr. Tamayo was the recipient of the CIS T. Michael Maybury Award, which honors a member of the CIS university admissions community who has made significant contributions to the field of university admission and recruitment.
Mr. Tamayo’s philosophy is one of partnership. He believes that students and parents must work together to find the best path to higher education—one that fosters growth for the student as well as satisfaction for the family. He is sensitive to the goals that parents have for their children; at the same time, he understands that it is important to nurture independence for young people who are leaving home to pursue education, as he did in his own life. Success requires preparation and goal setting—he helps families engage in thoughtful research and planning through his guidance and expertise.