The Admissions Directors Lunchcast

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10 kicks off with a big question: are colleges truly listening to what students care about, or are we still stuck in outdated assumptions?This week’s guests bring insider perspectives from both the school and state levels:Julio Mata, Dean of College Counseling at Chadwick School and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.

Information about Lunchcast Lectures is available here.Use promocode: COLDOPEN for a friend of he pod discount!This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠College admissions has always been stressful—but today’s students are facing a level of anxiety and pressure unlike anything we’ve seen before.From social media-fueled perfectionism to overwhelming college messaging, mental health is now a major factor in the admissions process.Joining the conversation: Mary O’Malley, Co-Head of Advising at Union Hall Admissions Counseling, shares what she’s seeing firsthand—why students struggle to define what they actually want and how parents, counselors, and colleges can help. Alicia Bourque, Vice President for Student Affairs at Loyola University New Orleans, gives insight into how colleges should proactively support students’ mental health, from admissions through graduation.We discuss: The biggest mental health struggles students face in the college process How colleges' deadlines and messaging can either help or hurt Why peer support networks matter more than ever What admissions professionals can actually do to support student mental health

Information about Lunchcast Lectures is here.Use promocode: COLDOPEN for a friend of the pod discount!This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠The last few years have been rough for admissions professionals, and the conversation about staff morale isn’t going away anytime soon. How do leaders keep their teams motivated? What actually improves morale (beyond pizza Fridays)? And what role do admissions counselors themselves play in shaping workplace culture?Joining the conversation: Dana Lambert, School Counselor at West Milford Township Public Schools, shares insights from the high school side—why school counselors often feel stuck in “middle management,” how burnout impacts students, and what admissions reps can do to strengthen relationships. Angie Cooksy, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bradley University, brings the VP perspective on building a culture of support, resilience, and positivity while acknowledging the very real pressures of enrollment work.From avoiding toxic positivity to managing remote staff, this episode digs into the realities of keeping morale high in a high-pressure profession.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠Vendors are a critical part of the admissions and enrollment world—but are you getting the most out of them? This week, Nathan and Teege explore the best strategies for building, managing, and maximizing vendor partnerships to improve recruitment, retention, and efficiency.Joining the conversation: Jeff Fuller, College Counseling Director at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School, shares how vendors shape relationships between high schools and colleges—and where ethical considerations come into play. Tess Ferzoco, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Edgewood College, gives an inside look at how institutions can get real ROI from their vendor contracts and avoid common pitfalls.From data privacy concerns to underutilized tools, this episode is packed with insights on making vendors work for you—not the other way around.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠Data drives everything in modern admissions—but are colleges using it the right way? This week, Nathan and Teege dive into how institutions can analyze student data more effectively to improve recruitment and yield.Joining the conversation: Brian Ford, Director of School and College Counseling at Boston College High School, who shares what high schools wish colleges paid more attention to in student data. David Dysart, Associate Director for Data Analytics at Stevens Institute of Technology, who breaks down how colleges can actually use data to target the right students and avoid common integration pitfalls.From tracking demonstrated interest to the ethical concerns of data-driven decision-making, this episode covers it all. Tune in to make sure you’re using data the right way!

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠CRMs, texting platforms, predictive analytics, chatbots—oh my! The world of admissions technology keeps evolving, and if you’re not careful, your tech stack can start running you instead of the other way around.This week, we’re talking to two experts who have mastered the digital frontier: Abe Gruber, Vice President of Strategic Growth & Operations at Softdocs, shares the biggest mistakes colleges make with tech implementation and where AI is taking us next. Bridgett Thompson, Director of Admissions Operations at Knox College, discusses how to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and avoid tech burnout in admissions.We cover: How to get the most out of your CRM and recruitment tools The key to successful tech implementation (hint: it’s NOT the go-live date) The role AI is already playing in admissions—and where it’s headed Why student portals are becoming a critical recruitment tool The one thing most admissions offices would change about their techWhether you’re wrangling a brand-new CRM or just trying to tame your current tech, this episode is packed with practical advice.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠Expanding into new recruitment territories is a common strategy—especially with the demographic cliff approaching—but how do you actually break into a market where your institution has little name recognition?This week, we talk to two experts with hands-on experience in new territory recruitment: Dean Jacoby, Director of College Guidance at Albuquerque Academy, shares the high school perspective on what works—and what doesn’t—when colleges enter a new market. Keegan White, Associate Director of Admissions at Lawrence University, discusses how he’s successfully built relationships in multiple recruitment territories and what strategies admissions professionals should use.We cover: The biggest mistakes colleges make when entering a new market How to build long-term relationships with school counselors Why parents play a crucial role in recruitment success How to balance an existing market with a new one The role of data and tech vs. human interactionWhether you're launching into your first new market or just looking for ways to strengthen your current outreach, this episode is packed with practical advice.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠College fairs: Are they still worth it?Have they evolved enough to keep up with the way students search for colleges today? And what’s next for these staple recruitment events?In this episode, we tackle the changing role of college fairs, the impact of technology, and whether they still belong in the modern admissions strategy.Joining us are two experts:Zachary George, Senior Director of College & Fair Relations at StriveScan, who shares insights on how technology has transformed college fairs and what’s coming next.Alison Crowley, Assistant Director of Admissions at Northern Michigan University, who brings 27 years of experience working college fairs and explains how states like Illinois have successfully restructured them.We discuss how student behavior has changed, the rise of parent involvement, the role of budget constraints, and whether in-person college fairs still have a place in the recruitment funnel.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ Politics have always played a role in higher education, but in today’s climate, are they actually influencing where students apply and enroll? In our Season Nine premiere, we tackle the complex relationship between politics and the college search—what the data tells us, how families are navigating these concerns, and what admissions offices can do about it.Joining us this week are two expert guests:Grant De Roo, Founder and Principal of ADV Market Research & Consulting in Iowa City, Iowa, who shares key insights from his recent nationwide study on how state politics affect student decision-making.Robert Nowak, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, who offers a campus-level perspective on how politically divided states impact recruitment and student perceptions.We discuss surprising findings from the research, strategies for communicating institutional values without getting caught in political crossfire, and how admissions professionals can help students focus on belonging and fit rather than just red vs. blue.

Ready or not, we're back for another season!Coming to your podcast feed every Tuesday between now and May 1, you can expect Nathan and Teege to deliver their signature banter on current topics in admissions. Each week, they'll be joined by two guests: one influencer and one practitioner, each discussing the same topic.We strive to be the most productive lunch meeting you'll take all week!

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched an exclusive video podcast series - Lunchcast Live. Twice a month, Teege and Nathan will welcome a guest to discuss a hot topic on their mind. The interview will often be shared here, but the full conversation with the audience is available only to members of the Lunchcast community. If you would like to be added to the invitation list, email adlunchcast@gmail.com. For this Lunchcast Live, we are sharing a conversation from December, 2024, with Emily Smith, VP of Partner Success at CollegeVine. We discussed all things related to AI in admissions, ugly sweaters, and a few other tangents before we moved to the exclusive interactive conversation.