About Us
Meet Principal Paige
Dedicated to helping every student find their clear, confident, and personalized path forward.
Our Story
Ivy & Ember College and Career was founded on a simple belief: every student deserves a counselor who genuinely sees them — not just their GPA or test scores, but who they actually are. Too many students navigate the college and career process feeling overwhelmed, unseen, and unsure — and that's exactly the problem we set out to solve.
With a boutique, concierge approach to one-on-one counseling, we take the time to understand each student's unique strengths, goals, and story. This is a family affair — we believe the whole household should feel informed, aligned, and at ease. From the first conversation to the final decision, we show up with honesty, integrity, and more than a little humor to keep things in perspective.
About Paige
Paige Hadziselimovic
(Hah-jee-seh-leem-o-vich)
Founder & Lead Counselor
A native Austinite, mom, and educator at heart, Paige brings a uniquely personal perspective to college and career counseling. Her background as a theatre and English teacher — and later as a school principal — gave her a deep understanding of how students learn, grow, and find their voice. That foundation, combined with her credential as a Rice University-Certified College Access Counselor, a 2026 recipient of the Influential Women Magazine, and her membership in the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), shapes every aspect of her work at Ivy & Ember. She leads with authenticity, operates with integrity, and genuinely believes that the right fit — for school or career — changes a life. She also loves to laugh — and she'll happily tell you she was destined to become a principal the moment she graduated from FU (Furman University, of course).
"Each college search, application, and recommendation is a puzzle just waiting for the right piece to fit."
Paige prides herself on genuine connections, true concierge-level personalization, and bringing families together during one of the most exciting — and stressful — seasons of life. She doesn't just guide students through applications; she helps the whole family feel informed, aligned, and confident every step of the way. Expect honesty, warmth, and the occasional well-timed joke — because navigating this process should feel human, not clinical.
Our Values
Student-Centered
Every recommendation, strategy, and conversation starts with the student — their goals, their strengths, their authentic story. We never apply a template to a person.
Integrity in Everything
We give families honest guidance, even when it's not what they hoped to hear. You can trust that every recommendation reflects what we genuinely believe is right for your student.
Family First
College decisions affect the whole household. We keep parents informed, included, and at ease — because when the family is aligned, the student thrives.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're just beginning to explore your options or ready to dive in, we'd love to connect.