The Admissions Directors Lunchcast

In the heat of the pandemic, we were all working from home. There was no "hybrid" element to worry about - just a whole new way of working. Since then, every aspect of our job can be measured against the question, "Do I need to be in the office to do this?"But with the flexibility comes challenges that didn't exist before.Given our longer runs in the profession, we thought this would be a great topic for folks who see this current approach as more normal and mainstream than those of us who've been around for a minute.Lexi Aguayo, Senior Associate Director at Pepperdine UniversityEbony Sistrunk, Associate Director of College Counseling at The Whitefield School

Well, if there ever were a topic for your hosts to step aside, this is it. In admissions, we are used to a thousand thought pieces about "this generation" being different than "that one" or "the one before that" or even "the first half of this generation."Often, it's unique, valuable insights. Often, it's universal truths masquerading as generational research.To dig in deeper, we have two great guests who are both gen z and rising stars in their affiliates:Savvi Leach, Admissions Counselor at Bellin College Logan Blunt, Regional Admissions Representative at Wichita State University

Is there a disconnect between the job we signed up for and the job we have? To the extent that there is, why does that disconnect exist, and what impact does it have on us? On students? On our institutions?Joining us to tackle those questions are:Lai Ara Powell, Associate Director of Recruitment at Temple University School of PharmacyEric Grego, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment at King's College

After a long break, we are thrilled to be back with another compelling season of The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.This season, we're switching things up. After ten seasons of bringing you some of the leading voices in college admissions, for season eleven, we're bringing you some of the people who are becoming leading voices.Season eleven is all about the rising stars of our profession, shining a spotlight on folks earlier in their career than you might be used to.Here's to the next ten seasons being as great as the first ten!

Rural recruitment requires more than a map and a mileage log, it demands real understanding. In this bonus episode, we dig into the misconceptions about rural students, the values that shape their college choices, and how colleges can build genuine connections beyond the big cities.Our guest this week brings deep on-the-ground insight:Conner Ellinghuysen, Director of Admissions and Head Archery Coach at Buena Vista University (IA) and President-Elect of Iowa ACACFrom small-town visits to community trust, Conner shares what makes rural outreach unique, and what colleges can do better.

More money, more possibilities. For our Season 10 finale, we asked a simple but revealing question: if your admissions or counseling budget grew by 20%, where would you put it, and why?Our guests share how they’d prioritize resources, balance quick wins with long-term investments, and make the case for more support:Cicily Shaw, Director of College Counseling at Thayer Academy (MA) and Past-President of New England ACACStephanie Dickerson, Associate Director of Admissions for Outreach & Scholarships at the University of Louisville (KY) and Past-President of Kentucky ACACTheir answers may surprise you, and spark your own ideas for what to do with more funding.

We talk a lot about students ghosting colleges, but what about when we’re the ones who disappear? This week, we take a closer look at why admissions offices sometimes go silent, what that means for relationships, and how to re-engage students more intentionally.Our guests bring both the high school and college perspectives:Diane Campbell, Director of College Counseling at Liberty Common School (CO) and Past President of Rocky Mountain ACACDr. Jose Valentine, Dean of Enrollment Management at San Jacinto College (TX) and President-Elect of Texas ACACThey share honest reflections on communication gaps, data-driven follow-up, and how to keep students feeling seen, even when time and budgets are tight.

Registrars often work behind the scenes, but their impact on admissions, transfer credit, and graduation is enormous. This week, we explore how admissions and registrar’s offices can move from occasional overlap to meaningful collaboration.Our guests bring both the school counseling and campus perspectives:Adam Stout, Co-Director of College Counseling at The Prairie School (WI) and President-Elect of Wisconsin ACACAlyson Leas, Director of Admissions at the University of Jamestown (ND) and Past President of Dakota ACACThey share candid insights on where breakdowns happen, what strong partnerships look like, and how better collaboration can improve student success.

Faculty can be some of the most powerful allies (or unexpected challenges) in student recruitment. This week we explore how to move from “favors” to real partnerships with academic departments, and what makes faculty involvement meaningful for students.Our guests bring both the high school and college perspectives:Amanda Chapman, Director of College Counseling at The Whitfield School (MO) and President-Elect of Missouri ACACChristine Grotzke, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Michigan Technological University (MI) and President of Illinois ACACTogether, they share how faculty shape student impressions, how to build stronger collaborations, and where admissions leaders can start.

Campus visits have long been seen as the ultimate recruitment tool, but is that still true today? This week we explore whether in-person visits remain the deciding factor, how virtual options compare, and what makes a visit truly impactful for students.Our guests bring perspectives from both high school counseling and admissions offices:Sasha Rashid, School Counselor at Henry P. Becton High School (NJ) and President of New Jersey ACACDan Revier, Senior Admissions Representative at University of Mary (ND) and President-Elect of Dakota ACACThey share what students focus on during visits, how colleges can adapt, and whether the campus tour still reigns supreme.

Our inboxes are overflowing, but are students paying attention? This week we’re asking whether email is still the best way to connect, or if it’s just the easiest metric to track.Our guests weigh in from both the counselor and admissions office perspectives:Erin Jensen, Independent Consultant at Golden Ratio Northwest (WA) and President of Pacific Northwest ACACRyan DePuy, Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions at Iona University (NY) and Past-President of New Jersey ACACThey share candid insights about what communication cuts through the clutter, what students actually respond to, and what colleges should stop doing.

Burnout in admissions and counseling is real, but recovery is possible. This week, we’re talking about how teams can bounce back, what good leadership looks like, and the practical ways to keep morale strong through a tough cycle.Our guests bring both the school and university perspectives:Arlene Outerbridge, Director of Guidance and College Counseling at The Masters Academy (FL) and President of Southern ACACJames Powell, Assistant Director of Recruitment at Oklahoma State University and President of Great Plains ACACTogether, they share candid strategies for supporting staff, protecting well-being, and leading teams through challenging times.

Season 10 kicks off with a big question: are colleges truly listening to what students care about, or are we still stuck in outdated assumptions?This week’s guests bring insider perspectives from both the school and state levels:Julio Mata, Dean of College Counseling at Chadwick School and Past-President of Western ACACAaron Salasek, Direct Admissions Coordinator at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and Past President of Minnesota ACACTogether, they unpack how student voices are shaping recruitment, communication, and policy, and what admissions leaders need to change now.

Campus Pro Events: Rethinking Campus Tours and VisitsWhy haven’t campus tours changed in 30 years? What happens when visitors can’t hear the guide, don’t speak the language, or simply forget most of what they’ve been told? This podcast explores the overlooked, but crucial, role of campus visits in recruitment and belonging, and how technology can transform the experience.From accessibility and interactivity to personalization and data insights, Campus Pro Events is reshaping tours, orientations, financial-aid sessions, graduations, and more. Hear the stories that inspired our tools, what admissions and visit leaders are asking for now, and how mobile devices, live translation (130+ languages, including ASL support), and real-time dashboards make visits more engaging, inclusive, and memorable.See it in action and claim a free trial event setup at campusproevents.com.Meet them at NACAC: Booth #631—across from CIVSA and CollegeVine.Email Tim: tim@campusproevents.com

In this podcast episode, we explore what it really means to empower a college’s internal enrollment management team - not just by providing services, but by strengthening their ability to handle every aspect of the enrollment cycle with confidence. As institutions face staffing shortages, enrollment pressure, and evolving student expectations, the temptation is often to outsource and move on. But what if external support could actually build long-term capacity within your internal team?Join us as we discuss practical, real-world strategies for developing self-sufficiency in enrollment offices, from capacity building and coaching to creating sustainable systems. Learn how a strategic partnership can leave admissions offices more capable, more independent, and better prepared to navigate the challenges ahead.Whether you’re a VP of Enrollment, a Director of Admissions, or a consultant working alongside institutions, this conversation will offer insights into delivering lasting support, not just quick fixes that fill immediate gaps.

Well, it was bound to happen. At long last, the tenth season is upon us, and wow do we have an exciting round of guests lined up. This season, we went Presidential. Just like in season five, all of our guests are the current President, President-Elect, or Past President of their regional NACAC affiliate.We're leaning all the way in on the current leaders of the profession - the folks managing the debate over ethics in their state, the regional college fair circuit, and whether to get cookies or hummus at the conference social.Episodes will be released every Tuesday between now and November 4th. But, as always, we might have a surprise or two up our sleeves in the mean time.

It seems like we've been saying it for years and years: college fairs are dying out. And yet, here in 2025, they continue as strong as they have been in some time.Part of that is the enduring nature of the event - and part of it is the work of Dan Saavedra and his innovative team at StriveScan. For this Lunchcast Live, we asked Dan to help us understand how he found opportunity and improvements in a recruitment event that is older than any of us.

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched a live video podcast version of our unique brand of conversations. Throughout the winter and spring, we held less formal, but just as informative, conversations with admissions leaders about what's on their mind.While the live version was an exclusive invitation for our Lunchcast community (email adlunchcast@gmail.com to get on the list for future episodes!) - the first half of the conversation is now available on the podcast feed.We are pleased to bring you the first section of our conversation with Jim Miller, retired admissions professional, former NACAC President, and the namesake of the Wisconsin ACAC's Commitment to Service award, discussing what wisdom he would pass along to the rising generation of professionals.

A few months ago, we recorded a special Lunchcast Live with Nick Spaeth, Dean of College & Academic Advising at Brookfield Academy in Brookfield, Wisconsin.Nick joined us to discuss the importance of building and maintaining relationships across the desk in our work.

Our very first guest on the podcast, Adrian Flores, came back for a Lunchcast Live discussion on what colleges are missing when it comes to recruiting first generation college students.Adrian Flores is a College Transition Coordinator at The Carmen Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his career, he has worked at two small private institutions that were incredibly tuition dependent and is able to dive deep into the competing demands facing colleges and universities.