Team Highlight: Devon MacIver

With a distinguished career that spans college admissions, independent counseling, and educational psychology, Devon MacIver brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to the Nova Scholar Education team. His professional journey has been defined by a deep commitment to student-centered learning and academic mentorship, shaped by years of experience supporting students through some of the most competitive admissions processes in the country.

Devon served as an Assistant Dean of Admission and, more recently, as Associate Dean at Claremont McKenna College, where he played a key role in reviewing thousands of applications and mentoring students through the transition to college. These roles provided him with firsthand insight into what it takes to succeed in higher education—not only in terms of academic credentials, but also personal clarity, self-discipline, and the ability to think independently.

At Nova Scholar, Devon was drawn to the organization’s mission of helping students take ownership of their education through a blend of inquiry-based learning, expert mentorship, and real-world relevance. He describes Nova Scholar as a kind of “academic training ground”—a dynamic environment where students are not only building content knowledge but also developing the executive functioning skills essential for college and lifelong success. These include time management, critical thinking, self-advocacy, and goal setting—capacities that, in Devon’s view, are too often overlooked in traditional academic settings.

Devon sees Nova Scholar’s mentorship-based model as especially powerful. The one-on-one and small-group support structure allows students to dive deeply into subjects that excite them, identify their intellectual and personal strengths, and develop a clearer sense of identity and purpose. “When students are invited to take charge of their learning, supported by expert mentors, something transformational happens,” he notes. “They begin to think not just about what they’re learning, but why it matters and how they want to contribute to the world.”

Whether students are enrolled in Nova Fundamentals, Nova Research, or Nova Patent, Devon believes the programs are designed to offer more than just enrichment—they provide a launchpad for long-term growth. By encouraging students to pursue their interests with structure, rigor, and reflection, Nova Scholar prepares them to thrive in college and beyond—not just as strong students, but as thoughtful, capable, and self-directed individuals.‍

Devon’s Journey Through Education and Counseling

Devon MacIver’s path to becoming a respected leader in college counseling and student development began in a small town in western Massachusetts. A first-generation college student, he earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, followed by a Master of Science in Applied Educational Psychology from Northeastern University—a credential that continues to shape his reflective, student-centered approach to advising.

His early professional experiences took him to Roanoke College in Virginia, where he first stepped into the world of college admissions. In 2009, Devon relocated to Los Angeles to join the admissions team at Occidental College, where he expanded his work in educational equity and community outreach across LA’s diverse school districts. His focus on access and inclusion quickly earned him recognition, and he developed a reputation for blending a deep understanding of selective admissions with a strong commitment to helping students and families navigate the college process with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Devon currently resides in the San Fernando Valley with his husband, their energetic five-year-old daughter, and their beloved dog. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys baking intricate desserts, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with his family—activities that reflect his blend of creativity, introspection, and warmth.‍

From Admissions Dean to Family-Focused Counselor

In 2021, Devon made the intentional decision to step away from his high-profile leadership role in higher education to focus on being a stay-at-home parent. Yet his passion for education never faded. He transitioned into part-time college counseling with The Princeton Review, where he continued to support high school students in shaping their narratives, refining their application strategies, and making thoughtful decisions about their academic futures.

This shift gave Devon a unique vantage point. Balancing parenthood with professional advising offered deeper insight into the complex pressures that students—and their families—face during the college admissions journey. It also strengthened his belief in the importance of personalized, empathetic guidance grounded in both professional experience and lived understanding of developmental challenges and growth.

Now, as part of the Nova Scholar Education team, Devon brings this holistic, psychologically informed approach to a new generation of learners. He is especially passionate about helping students align their academic goals with their core values, interests, and motivations—an approach that reflects Nova Scholar’s mission to cultivate both intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence through mentorship, rigor, and reflection.‍

The Educational Promise of Gentle Parenting

Looking ahead, Devon MacIver is deeply intrigued by the growing cultural and academic conversation surrounding gentle parenting—an approach to child-rearing rooted in empathy, emotional attunement, and respectful communication. While this philosophy has gained widespread traction among parents seeking more compassionate alternatives to traditional discipline models, Devon sees its relevance reaching far beyond the household. As both a counselor and educational psychologist, he is particularly interested in the potential implications of gentle parenting for K–12 education, student development, and the college admissions landscape.

Devon observes that many students raised with gentle parenting frameworks tend to exhibit traits such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, collaborative problem-solving, and intrinsic motivation. These qualities not only contribute to healthier relationships and better mental health outcomes, but also align well with the priorities of holistic admissions used by selective universities, which increasingly emphasize qualities like resilience, initiative, empathy, and authentic self-expression alongside academic performance.

“What we’re starting to see,” Devon explains, “is a generation of students who may not just be academically capable—but also emotionally literate, introspective, and community-minded. These are students who want to know why they’re learning something, how it connects to their values, and how they can apply it meaningfully in the world.”

He believes educational institutions and mentorship programs must evolve in response to this shift. Schools and enrichment organizations that rely solely on performance-based achievement models may risk missing the deeper potential of students raised in emotionally supportive environments. At Nova Scholar Education, Devon hopes to explore how mentorship models, curricula, and student advising frameworks can be adapted to engage and support this new generation of learners—meeting them with the same respect, curiosity, and emotional nuance that gentle parenting encourages at home.‍

A Vision for Student Growth at Nova Scholar

Devon’s work at Nova Scholar Education is grounded in a clear and forward-looking philosophy: academic success should be paired with purposeful growth, and mentorship should be about more than just academic instruction—it should be a transformational relationship that empowers students to become the authors of their own educational journey.

He is particularly excited about Nova Scholar’s comprehensive, tiered approach to student engagement. Whether it’s through Nova Fundamentals, where middle school students begin developing core academic skills and curiosity; Nova Research, which allows high schoolers to pursue advanced inquiry under the guidance of PhD-level mentors; or Nova Patent, where students turn innovation into action, Devon sees each program as a powerful vehicle for growth.

“These programs are more than academic supplements,” Devon notes. “They are structured opportunities for students to learn how to think independently, take intellectual risks, and connect their personal interests to real-world impact.”

Devon plays a key role in program development, student advising, and partnership cultivation at Nova Scholar. His goal is to help expand the reach and accessibility of Nova’s mentorship-driven learning model, especially to students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. He believes that every motivated student—regardless of their starting point—deserves the opportunity to explore their academic passions in depth and to receive guidance that affirms their identity, potential, and ambition.

Devon also serves as a bridge between families and mentors, helping to ensure that each student’s experience is deeply personalized and aligned with their goals. He understands the importance of clear communication and trust in the mentorship process and works to foster a collaborative environment where students feel both challenged and supported.

Whether he’s guiding a student through their first literature review, helping a family navigate the nuances of college admissions, or reflecting on how parenting practices inform educational trends, Devon MacIver brings a rare combination of insight, warmth, and strategic vision to everything he does. His work exemplifies the core values that define Nova Scholar Education: intellectual curiosity, empathetic mentorship, and a deep belief in every student’s ability to grow into a capable, confident, and purpose-driven leader.