About

Cheryl Peterson Roddy, JD 

Dr. Roddy offers comfort, calm, expertise, and confidentiality to students and their families during the college application and athletic recruitment process. Her counseling experience includes grading freshman applications for the University of California, presenting workshops for Poway Unified College Fairs and San Diego Science Festivals, guiding her own children through K-12, college and law school, and helping San Diego students and families like you.

Experience grading freshman college applications

Dr. Roddy had the pleasure of virtually meeting and scoring the applications for thousands of University of California applicants from 2011 through 2023.  Pursuant to the comprehensive review system, Dr. Roddy reviewed applicants’ entire files. This review included transcripts, college test scores, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement test scores, honors, school and community activities, service, college preparation programs, employment, essays, and comments about special circumstances.

Education

Dr. Roddy’s educational background includes a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of San Diego School of Law (1981), a Specialized Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, San Diego (2009), a Public Law Certificate from The Hague Academy of International Law (1978), and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton (1977). During her collegiate years, Dr. Roddy also interned with the U.S. Committee for UNICEF (1974) and the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council in the U.N. Graduate Interne Programme (1974).

Community Involvement

Dr. Roddy has volunteered with school and community programs for over twenty years. She has offered her volunteer assistance in academics, the arts, and athletics. Dr. Roddy served on the Poway High School Site Council, the committee that reviews the school’s academic plan, from 2004 through 2010. Prior to helping with the Site Council, Dr. Roddy served on the Poway Unified School District’s Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Committee. In the arts, Dr. Roddy directed elementary and middle school performing arts programs. She also served on the City of Poway’s Advisory Committee for the Center for the Performing Arts. In athletics, Dr. Roddy has helped with youth and high school programs in baseball, basketball, cheer leading, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and water polo.

Personal

Dr. Roddy and her husband met in law school and have been married since 1983. They have three adult children, a son with a Bachelor of Science in Television, Film, and New Media with an emphasis in Production from San Diego State University, a daughter with a Juris Doctorate (law) and Bachelors of Art in Economics and Art History from UCLA and law school course work at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and a daughter with Bachelors of Art in Archaeology and the Ancient World and History of Art and Architecture from Brown University and a Master of Arts from the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA.  Their younger daughter also played Division I lacrosse for Brown University.

Services available

Dr. Roddy is available to assist students with long range planning, high school course selection, extra curricular activity plans, college readiness, applications, essays, testing planning, trends in admissions, athletic recruiting, scholarships and financial options, college selection, transitioning to college life, and planning for graduate and professional schools.