Areesha Velani, Director of Admissions at UniHawk, is an education consultant with over four years of educational experience. She hails from Pakistan, and grew up between Dubai and Texas to gain the unique perspective she has today. Armed with a Psychology and Business degree from Baylor University in Texas, she combines her expertise in education, marketing, administration, and psychology to guide students to top-tier institutions like Brown, Cambridge, McGill, UC Berkeley, and more. Areesha’s passion for mentoring, coupled with her passion for travel, shapes her approach to empowering students on their educational journey. Interested specifically in adolescent psychology, she hopes to empower students in her holistic mentoring methods throughout their secondary educational experience.

Akshatha graduated from Emory University with a double major in International Relations and Music (vocal performance). At Emory, she was part of the Emory Concert Choir, the Emory Jazz Alliance, the university acapella group, and Theater Emory. During her time in Atlanta, she worked as an Economics Undergraduate Research Assistant and published research papers on a variety of political topics. She is also a supporting author in the Routledge Handbook on Arab Media, edited by Noureddine Miladi and Noha Mellor. After working as a Writing Instructor at Emory for two years, she continued her work as an educational consultant in Dubai and has helped students secure placements at Yale, Princeton, Georgia Tech, Emory, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, Tufts, among other stalwart institutions in the US. She also has expertise in coaching students in art portfolio development- particularly those interested in pursuing the performing or visual arts. In only a couple of years, Akshatha will be a lawyer – with a graduate degree from Fordham University.

Ijaaz Jackaria was born and raised in Mauritius. He completed his BA at the University of Chicago on a full-ride scholarship, where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Physics and Middle Eastern Studies. During his time at UChicago, he interned in China and India in the field of Education Consulting. He was also the Director of a community-based education program in Chicago. Post graduation, in 2019, he moved to Dubai where he worked for 3 years as a senior Educational Consultant. He has mentored hundreds of students, many of whom got admitted to the Ivy Leagues, Stanford, UChicago, UC Berkeley, etc. Several of these students also secured full financial aid from US universities. His “specialization” as a consultant is in the STEM field and traditional academic fields (Economics/Business/Humanities) for the top-tier undergrad programs in US/Canadian/UK universities. Ijaaz recently completed a Master of Science in Comparative Education and International Development at the University of Edinburgh.

Rizwana Anjir is a dedicated educator and counselor hailing from India, with an academic background boasting triple majors in Literature, Psychology, and Journalism. With over 8 years of experience in primary and secondary education, she is deeply committed to student-centered teaching methodologies, prioritizing active engagement, and empowering learners throughout their educational journeys. She fosters inclusive learning environments and promotes student empowerment. Additionally, her impactful work in the non-profit sector as a youth mentor focused on bridging educational gaps for children from under-resourced communities within the Indian landscape. Currently, her expertise extends beyond traditional teaching roles into career counseling, psychometric testing, student recruitment, and profile building for international students in the GCC. She excels in various facets of educational management, including classroom dynamics, lesson planning, curriculum design, and performance evaluation.

Shokhrukh Nurmatov graduated from Georgetown University in Qatar, majoring in International Economics and minoring in Government. He is an MBA candidate at NYU Stern, specializing in Finance and studying on an 85% scholarship. With a background in education consulting, he has supported over several students through the college admissions processes around the world. His students received offers from top universities like Columbia, UPenn, UCLA, and Georgetown, often getting accepted to 8 or more schools each. He also designed long-term academic and extracurricular plans and maintained an 80% conversion rate in consultations. Before diving into the education field, Shokhrukh worked in data and strategy roles at Snoonu and Growth, where he developed dashboards in Tableau and provided insights to support business decisions. Outside of work, he enjoys youth mentoring and has competed in several business competitions, including the World Bank Group Case Challenge and Qatar’s QBIC Hackathon and QIC Program.

With over 4 years of experience in higher education counselling, I have supported students with university admissions in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Ireland, Finland and other European countries. I’ve worked with over 300 students, including several complex and sensitive profiles. My diploma in Psychology and Counselling from IMBS Green Campus, Sri Lanka, has helped me develop strong communication skills and a more personalised approach when working with students. I aim to understand each student’s situation and guide them in a way that suits their personality and needs. Working closely with both students and universities, I make sure the entire process runs smoothly from start to finish. This work is something I truly enjoy.

I am an experienced student counselor with over 5 years in the international education industry, guiding students toward higher education opportunities in Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the USA. I hold dual master’s degrees – an MBA in Media & Entertainment and an MA in Mass Communication (Journalism & PR) – which have equipped me with strong communication, counseling, and interpersonal skills. My expertise lies in offering personalized guidance based on students’ academic goals, career interests, and financial background. I have successfully supported numerous students through the entire journey—from course and university selection to application, visa processing, and pre-departure preparation. I’ve also actively participated in school visits and education fairs across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, building strong relationships with both students and institutional partners.

With over 14 years of experience in higher education counseling, I specialize in guiding students toward academic paths that align with their unique strengths, goals, and interests. I take pride in understanding each student’s profile and providing personalized support throughout every stage of the admissions process, from program selection to application strategy and beyond. Whether students are applying to competitive programs or exploring diverse study destinations, my aim is to ensure they feel confident, informed, and well-prepared every step of the way.