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Woodberry Expands College Counseling Team and Names Julia Hixson P'29 Director
Woodberry is excited to announce the appointment of Julia Hixson as director of college counseling, effective July 1, 2026. This promotion follows Stephen Jackson's decision to accept an opportunity to lead the college counseling office at Cincinnati Country Day School.
Since joining the college counseling office in 2023, Julia has brought a veteran's perspective and a calming, expert hand to the college search process. Before Woodberry, Julia's career in college counseling and education spanned tenures at The Covenant School, Miller School of Albemarle, and Charleston Catholic High School in Charleston, WV. She attended the University of Mary Washington, where she earned a BA in French, and Wake Forest University, where she earned an MA in Education.
"Julia is a consummate professional who understands the national admissions landscape and, more importantly, the hearts of Woodberry boys," says Headmaster Byron Hulsey '86. "As she steps into this leadership role, she does so with the full confidence of our faculty and the families she has served so well over the past three years."
In tandem with Julia's move to the director position, Perry Gresham and Joe Nero – both experienced Woodberry faculty members – have been appointed to serve as assistant directors of college counseling.
Perry joined the faculty in 2022 as an English teacher through the Kenan-Lewis Fellowship Program. She graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South, where she earned a BA in English. Perry's work with our boys, particularly on their own writing and reflection, will help students find a compelling story to tell and find a university community where they will continue to thrive.
Joe, a former Kenan-Lewis Fellow, will be returning to Woodberry after teaching and coaching at Savannah Country Day. Joe attended Davidson College, where he earned a BA in Spanish. Having already lived on dorm, coached, and taught many of our rising fifth and sixth formers, Joe brings a preexisting bond with the students that will allow him to hit the ground running as an advocate for them.
"By pairing Julia’s deep industry expertise with the cultural and relational strengths of Perry and Joe, we have built a fantastic team for our boys," says Byron. "Julia will be an outstanding mentor and leader of the team, and Perry and Joe are eager, competitive, and proactive professionals. This expansion is a testament to our belief that the college process should be a time of discovery, growth, and confidence for every Woodberry family, especially the boys in our care."
Our priority remains the boys currently in the heart of the college process. Stephen will continue to lead the work with the seniors and juniors in his care through the end of the school year. We thank him for his tireless work on behalf of our seniors and for working closely with Julia to ensure a seamless experience for our families as we move into this next chapter.
Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional private school community for high school boys in grades nine through twelve. It is one of the top boarding schools in the United States and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the country.
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Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.