Jim Barekman

MEd, Guidance and Counseling, MA, Educational Administration and Supervision. 

Jim Barekman is a Third Culture Adult (TCA) who has worked in an international school setting for most of his educational career. Originally from California, Jim grew up in Canada and has worked overseas since 1989 in Jordan, Israel, India, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Austria. He is currently the High School Counselor, Grade 11/12 at the International Community School of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jim has traveled to over 90 countries and is still trying to figure out a way to work in Australia and Antarctica to have lived on all seven continents! His journey has been a team adventure with his wife and three high school aged children accompanying him in experiencing the world.

Working with international students, including U.S. citizens living abroad, has been his life’s work. Helping international students apply to university is an exciting profession as the process and factors influencing that process are constantly changing. As a result of serving a diverse student population, Jim has a strong understanding of his multi-cultural students and, because he has visited several universities both in the United States and throughout the world, has been able to help his students find their “best fit” universities.

Jim is a lifelong learner with a B. Sc. in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific, a B.A. in Psychology from Concordia University College of Alberta, a M. A. in Educational Administration from San Jose State University, and a M. Ed. in Counseling from Bowling Green State University (where he taught the Introduction to Teaching Course). He is certified as both a teacher and a school counselor. He completed the UCLA College Counseling Certification with Distinction. Jim is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and its overseas affiliate, the International ACAC