Annette Ruzicka

Director of Student Success

Annette is the Director of Student Success at Mindspire Tutoring and Test Prep. As a proud military spouse, she spent 25 years traveling the world with her husband and six children. Her experiences as a mom, combined with a deep interest in education, naturally led her into the college admissions world when her oldest child began applying to universities. After guiding her own children through more than 40 college applications, Annette developed a passion and expertise for helping families navigate the admissions process—especially when it comes to testing and preparation.

All five of Annette’s children who have applied to college have worked with Mindspire tutors. Three attended Brown University for their undergraduate degrees, two earned master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, and one is currently at the College of William & Mary, already accepted into the university’s master’s program. Her fifth child is a senior in high school navigating the process now, and she still has one more to go—a freshman in high school!

Before becoming Director of Student Success, Annette served as Program Manager and Student Success Specialist at Mindspire, managing the Libertyville, Illinois (2016–2017) and Richmond, Virginia (2018–2020) offices. Over the years, she has helped hundreds of students choose the right test, identify the best program, and connect with the perfect tutor to help them reach their goals.

When she’s not working or cooking for her family, Annette enjoys reading, hiking through the woods, spending time with friends, and traveling to out-of-the-way places.

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