Ray Diffley serves as Director of Character Education & Senior Educational Consultant at SNF, and he's also the Founder and Director of the RD3 Education and Advising Center. 

As a 1991 Bowdoin College graduate, Ray has carved an impactful career in education and admissions, focusing on character development and assessment innovation. Ray held a distinguished 23-year tenure at Choate Rosemary Hall, with the majority of his time serving as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid. During his tenure, he received Choate's Johannes Van Straalen Award for distinguished teaching in 2016. His roles at Choate extended beyond admission, encompassing coaching ice hockey, dorm advising at all levels, and active participation in various School life committees.

Ray's commitment to education and assessment led him to complete his Master's degree at Wesleyan University in 2004, where he delved further into human assessment, including Dr. Robert Sternberg's theory of "Successful Intelligence." His expertise gained national recognition, earning him The Enrollment Management Association's Bretnall Award in 2014. Ray's involvement extended to leadership roles, including Chair of The Enrollment Management Association's Think Tank on the Future of Assessment and Co-Chair of the development of the Character Skills Assessment.​

In July 2016, Ray left Choate to become the Director of AISAP's Center for Admission and Enrollment Management Leadership and delved into educational advising. Concurrently, he played a key role in helping to launch the Character Collaborative (a non-profit seeking to raise character's role in the college admission process), where he served on the Board until its acquisition by NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counselors) in 2023.

In addition, throughout his career, Ray has enjoyed coaching ice hockey at the youth A, AA, AAA, and prep school levels, with experience training athletes for D1 & D3 College, Olympic and Professional.​

Ray has consistently advocated for excellence in admissions, education, and sports, leaving an indelible mark on these fields through leadership, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to character-driven growth.