Shows
ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastEmily Smith: This One Goes to 11For the Season 11 finale—the season's 11th episode—we go to 11, earning ourselves an "E" for some cussin'In the ALP's most meta-episode, two podcasters hit record and promptly turn the show into a show about conversation, consulting, and being human. Emily Smith (VP of Partner Success at CollegeVine) joins Ken to talk origin stories, why vendor content too often feels “imperious,” and how she builds a looser, more generous show that invites guests to actually "go there."We compare notes on consulting craft (including Ken's early tendency...
2025-10-2458 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJen Gagne: Laughter, Leadership and Memorable RitualsEven though we've only known each other for less than two years, this episode feels like one between two old friends. The newly-minted Dr. Jen Gagne, Executive Director of Admissions at Colorado School of Mines, brings warmth and wit while digging into important stuff: pathways to thriving for queer-spectrum students, how she navigated being an internal candidate, why grad schools are structurally “separate and replicated,” and a spot-on pattern-match between kindergarteners and first-year college students.We also hit college football haircuts (yes, really), her terrific bucket-list twist on the B&B.
2025-10-1050 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastBrian Troyer: On Pausing to Let Our Soul Catch UpBrian Troyer, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Marquette University, joins the ALP for a conversation that explores the deep roots of Jesuit leadership and the lighthearted joys of life in Milwaukee, including:Marquette’s Gift of Time and why institutional rest matters.How the university discerned its move to test-optional admissions, grounded in archival research and mission alignment.The legacies of leaders like Ray Brown, Roby Blust, and the late President Mike Lovell — and how Brian carries that mantle forward.Reflections from the Ignatian Colleagues Program, including the reminder to “pause and let our soul catch u...
2025-10-0354 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCandace Boeninger: Holding Power with PurposeCandace Boeninger, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ohio University, joins the ALP to share lessons from her journey into senior leadership, reflecting on her experience working with an executive coach and how it helped her navigate the transition to cabinet-level leadership, as well as her evolving understanding of power—and the responsibility that comes with it.Candace also shares her approach to “being a student of the profession,” including the podcasts and newsletters that keep her sharp.00:00 — Welcome and Candace’s path to Ohio University.06:00 — From construction software to admissions: “other duties as assi...
2025-09-2645 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRakin "Rock" Hall: From the Standup Stage to the Enrollment StageRakin “Rock” Hall, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at Ithaca College, brings a unique mix of reflection, humor, and leadership to The Admissions Leadership Podcast.In this wide-ranging conversation, Rock shares his take on the promise and perils of AI in higher education, why he's been creating short-form video reflections on leadership and life, and how his first-generation journey shaped the way he now guides his own daughter through the college search.We also dive into his surprising background in stand-up comedy—what Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and basement record players taught him ab...
2025-09-1247 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPhil Moreno: Finding Stillness in MotionPhil Moreno—Associate Director of College Counseling at the Nueva School and Board Chair for the National Association for College Admission Counseling—joins this episode of The ALP to talk about what it means to lead leaders in challenging times, why gratitude and handwritten notes matter, and how he’s learned to “stay on the bike” while also carving out intentional moments of stillness and renewal. He shares the practices—from solo retreats to time outdoors under dark skies—that help him restore his energy and model balance for others in a profession that asks us t...
2025-08-2955 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastThyra Briggs: Baseball, Cover Letters, Grace and TransparencyFrom a childhood “baseball club” in Boston to becoming a Dean of Admission at just 27, Thyra Briggs, Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid at Harvey Mudd College, has built a career defined by curiosity, courage, and care.In this episode, Thyra reflects on the role of baseball in her story—including a thoughtful gift from Ray Brown and why she’s known as “Aunt Bob”—and the way cover letters have become her personal test for knowing when an opportunity is truly the right fit. She also talks about the leadership qualities that have shap...
2025-08-2252 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJeremy Lowe: The Power of Punk Rock, Long Walks and Under-reactingJeremy Lowe, Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Admission at American University, has built his leadership style on lessons from three seemingly different places: the punk rock stage, long walks through D.C., and intentional pauses in the face of challenges. In this conversation, Jeremy shares how getting heckled and booed by 1,500 fans taught him resilience, how a 10-mile-a-day walking habit (unbroken since 2020) fuels his problem-solving, and why under-reacting has become one of his most valuable tools as a leader. Along the way, he reflects on belonging, fun, and helping students focus on who they are...
2025-08-1553 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJustin Rummel: From Policy to Purpose in Enrollment LeadershipIn this episode of The Admissions Leadership Podcast, Justin Rummel, Vice President for Enrollment at Susquehanna University, shares how his journey to the VP seat followed anything but the traditional path.With no background in admissions, Justin’s career has spanned state politics, federal financial aid policy, compliance and internal audit in both for-profit and non-profit institutions, and leadership in student financial services. It’s a route shaped by systems thinking, sharp financial acumen, and a deep commitment to student success.Toge...
2025-08-0853 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastLisa Keegan: Leading with Purpose in a Time of TransitionLisa Keegan returns to the mic just as she prepares to step into her new role as the inaugural Vice Provost for Enrollment Strategy at William & Mary. With signature candor, humor, and heart, Lisa reflects on her five-year tenure at Bucknell University, where she helped build and elevate a leadership bench that is now stepping into her shoes. We explore the “liminal moment” of transition, how to onboard with humility, and what it means to lead with both confidence and care in a sector under pressure. From building trust and amplifying student voices to u...
2025-08-0149 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPeak Perspectives: Assumptions and DecisionsHave you ever caught yourself making an assumption about someone's capacity for success based on where they come from or the challenges they've faced? At this time of year, when many admissions offices are deep in application review, it seems fitting to pause and reflect on how assumptions can shape decisions.In this Peak Perspective, we hear a vignette from Laura Kaub, director of the Duolingo Partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who reminds us that there is way more to a student's story than where they came from—and that often th...
2025-01-1409 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPeak Perspectives: A Purposeful NoHave you ever paused to consider the path you were on? Maybe that reflection led to affirmation, a definitive “Yes, this is the right direction.” Then again, maybe you sensed a quiet voice asking the question, “Are you sure this is the right direction?”In this Peak Perspective, we hear a story from Thom Golden, founder and CEO of Golden Educational Consulting, who found himself on the traditional admissions leadership track but was wrestling with what he calls "purposeful unrest." How did he respond? (Original audio clip from Season 5, Episode 4 of the ALP)It's fro...
2024-12-2308 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPeak Perspectives: Living with the ImposterHave you ever faced an opportunity that made you question your readiness, your abilities—even your worth?In this Peak Perspective, I share a story from Marie Bigham, founder of ACCEPT and IQID, who wrestled with self-doubt when she was invited to make a leap. What gave her the confidence to jump? (Original audio clip from Season 1, Episode 4 of the ALP)It's from Chapter 8, "Living with the Imposter," one of 20 chapters in my new book, Climbing the Admissions Leadership Peak: Lessons from the ALP, available on Amazon paperback and Kindle.The AL...
2024-12-1606 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPeak Perspectives: Embrace the UnexpectedHave you ever made a decision so unexpected that it completely changed the course of your life?Welcome to Peak Perspectives, a short-form spinoff of the ALP, where I share insights and stories from my new book, Climbing the Admissions Leadership Peak. Chapter 10, "Embrace the Unexpected," shares the stories of six admissions leaders who did just that. Here I read the intro of that chapter where I describe my own unexpected course change.The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment
2024-12-0903 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastSeason 10 PremiereSeason 10 kicks off with exciting news and an audible sneak preview.(And that, dear listener, is what folks in the business call a teaser.)The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment
2024-09-2319 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastThe Admissions Directors Lunchcast Meets The ALPNathan Ament and Teege Mettille are the creators and co-hosts of the hit podcast, The Admissions Directors Lunchcast. They share different versions of their podcast's origin while somehow enticing Ken to share how the ALP came to be. Also, there's a teaser hidden in the Rapid Descent that you might catch if you listen carefully.Special shout-out to a slew of Nathan's and Teege's former Lawrence colleagues, with extra love for Steve Syverson and Chuck Erickson, two of the finest to grace the halls of the Lawrence admissions office.If you can't get enough of...
2024-04-1954 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMichael Keaton(No, the other one.)What happens when two avowed GenXers record a podcast episode? From the host you get a bad reference to C+C Music Factory; from the guest you get helpful lessons on "how to vice president." Michael Keaton, VP for Enrollment Management at Ursinus College, sets the record straight on who was Michael Keaton first, how to leave things better than you found them, and why all colleges are not in the same boat in the midst of the FAFSA rollout debacle. Rapid DescentWalkout song: The B...
2024-04-1253 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCarin SmithCarin Smith, domestic recruitment manager and Chicago regional representative for Beloit College (and a former member of Ken's team at Lawrence who helped him learn how to be an admissions director through a creative partnership she arranged), talks about how to lead without title, and the four reasons why this has been a deliberate choice she has made over her four decades in college admissions. She'll also share three essential perspectives on what makes a good leader.This episode is dedicated to Molly Arnold (1962-2010), without whom neither host nor guest would be the people or professionals...
2024-04-0551 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJeff BlahnikFrom the time he was a little boy, Jeff Blahnik always wanted to be "an attorney," but a moment of crisis halfway through law school changed his path. He's now the Vice President of Enrollment Management at the University of Oklahoma, and shares the secret of winning the job interview at OU, how "inspired hospitality" makes a flagship feel intimate, and how to establish yourself as a new leader at a new institution. He also answers the question: "Who has the hottest seat on an athletic powerhouse's campus: president, enrollment VP, or football coach?"Special shout-out to...
2024-03-2249 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAngela FrazierAngela Frazier, Vice President of Student Services at Waukesha County Technical College (the ALP's first guest two-year college enrollment leader and the first African-American leader in WCTC's 100-year history) shines a light on what people get wrong about two-year colleges; how WCTC has punched above its weight with recruitment and retention; and why she needs help with a walkout song.Special shout-out to Angela's right-hand man, John McGreal, Dean of Enrollment Services. Rapid DescentWalkout song: "I don't have a walkout song. I don't like music." (But she's taking recommendations.)
2024-03-1555 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJustin DraegerJustin Draeger, President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, joins the ALP to share what colleagues in admissions, enrollment, student success, presidents' offices, etc. can do to support their financial aid colleagues, who are about to do 6 to 9 months of work in about 4 to 6 weeks. A deep thinker, reader, writer and speaker, Justin also shares a bunch of excellent leadership lessons, including how, as Bertrand Russell wrote, "Fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people full of doubts." Special shout-out to the Lawrence University financial aid team, "the...
2024-03-0846 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRick Bailey on the importance of coherence, relevance, and organizing your work around your core valuesRichard Harrison Bailey—the RHB behind RHB—joins the ALP to discuss the principle of Coherence; the virtuous cycle of relevance, relationships and revenue for colleges; the difference between market position and brand; and how the values of truth, beauty, love and justice animate the core values and, to this day, guide the work of the firm he and his business partner (and spouse), Tammy Bailey, formed in 1991. Rapid DescentWalkout song: Carmina Burana: I. O FortunaBest recent read: Yale Needs Women by Anne Gardiner PerkinsEager to read...
2024-01-051h 04ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastLaura Kaub of the UNHCR asks, "Why is it so hard for exceptional students to get access to education?"Laura Kaub, director of the Duolingo partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees program, talks about keeping refugees and African students out of the "hole" in holistic admission so they can get into the economic, educational and political systems that can bring about change. She provides examples of U.S colleges that "get it right," including Macalester and Northwestern, as well as models around the globe, like Rwanda and Uganda.Contact Laura directly if you're interested in talking with her about the students she serves.ReferencesPresident's Alliance on Higher...
2023-12-1847 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastDan Saavedra on How He (and Others) Built StriveScanHow does someone go from being a lawyer and a photographer to found and lead the company that has reshaped the college fair experience for millions of students and more than 15,000 admission professionals representing more than 2500 institutions around the world? Dan Saavedra, founder and president of StriveScan, tells us how he built StriveScan (spoiler, with trust and the friendliest client contract ... ever). Live through what their first college fair was like, as well as those moments when StriveScan created something out of nothing to foster connections for students and colleges in the early days of the pandemic. ...
2023-11-1053 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJen Dewar on Talking Yourself Into Doing Scary ThingsWhat is it like to leave the familiarity of higher ed to join a tech company with a vision to change how the world thinks about language testing? Jen Dewar, Senior Director of Strategic Engagement for the Duolingo English Test, shares how to break through, climb steep learning curves, learn from setbacks ... and why you don't win or lose—you only win or learn.ReferencesLuis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Duolingo on How I Built This with Guy Raz and The Tim Ferriss Show.Shout out to future ALP guest, Laura Kaub, UNHC...
2023-11-0351 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastDavid Burge on Rational Transfer Policy, the Value of Service, and Oxford CommasGet ready for an episode rife with random references when David Burge, VP for Enrollment Management at George Mason University and winner of the Margaret E. Addis Service to NACAC Award, joins the ALP to discuss ADVANCE, a model transfer partnership between GMU and Northern Virginia Community College. Warning: this episode contains eye-rolling dad jokes. Listener discretion is advised.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Champion by Fall Out BoyBest recent read: "My email."Eager to read next: See aboveFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: M...
2023-10-2753 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCarolyn Noll Sorg on Experience Design and Going from Alongside Back to Inside Higher EdWe have featured a bunch of folks who have gone from inside to "alongside" higher ed (including your host). Carolyn Noll Sorg, VP for Enrollment at John Carroll University has chosen to go in the other direction, and reminds us of the things that call us into this work. Bonus: Carolyn shares wonderful insights into how to think about creating memorable experiences for your students—including how to wrap it into your next staff retreat.ReferencesThe Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by the Heath brothersUnreasonable Hospitality by Wi...
2023-10-2056 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastEthan Sawyer on Figuring Out Who You Are and What You Care AboutSeason Premiere: Ethan Sawyer, founder of College Essay Guy, kicks off Season 8 of the ALP and we quickly learn it's not about the essay ... it's about figuring out who you are and what you care about. We talk about the applicability of Ethan's discovery exercises to everybody (not just college applicants), why Ethan might be the perfect candidate to interview Ken someday, and what roles Jesus and diapers play in the origin story of College Essay Guy.ReferencesCollege admission resources following the SCOTUS decision to end race-conscious admission decisions.Is it “Okay” to W...
2023-10-131h 03ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastA Time for Leadership, Not Retrenchment—Paths forward after SCOTUS decisions in Harvard & UNC casesIn this special edition, Art Coleman (@ArtColemanDC), managing partner and co-founder of EducationCounsel (and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights), shares the initial chapters of a playbook admissions officers can follow to move forward with confidence (and care) in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC. We discuss what colleges should (and shouldn't do), what people are getting wrong in their interpretations of the rulings, and what the future might hold.Art provides helpful advice on thoughtful d...
2023-07-0730 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJoffery GaymonSeason Finale: Dr. Joffery Gaymon, Vice President for Enrollment at Auburn University, shares what it's like (and what it takes) to make the jump to one of the biggest roles at one of the most recognizable institutions in the U.S. She shares the essential and timeless tools to keep in your toolbox, whatever your ambitions may be, as well as how to keep yourself focused and grounded as the work gets tougher. (And there may be a reference to teaching spin classes.)Rapid DescentWalkout sons: Special by LizzoBest r...
2023-06-1948 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastW. Kent BarndsKent Barnds, Executive Vice President of ExternalRelations: Advancement | Communication | Enrollment | Planning for Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), shares how he started as "an accidental admissions person" and become the person with the longest title in the history of the ALP, and what he has learned along the way by becoming a college parent. Great mysteries will be revealed in this episode, including the origin story of Kent's ubiquitous bow ties, what the "W" in his name stands for, and who can lay claim to being the pizza king of the Quad Cities.Rapid Descent
2023-06-1249 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRobert Gould, "Changing Admissions From Selecting to Belonging"Robert Gould, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management at Augsburg University (Minneapolis), offers a deep dive into an approach to college admission that is turning the process on its head and—in the process—not only fostering a greater sense of belonging for students, but for the admission professionals who work with them.Could it be an antidote to the Great Resignation?NotesAugsburg Applies to YouPower of You program (Augsburg partnership with Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Saint Paul College)John Doerr's Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).Harriet Tubman Effect Inst...
2023-06-0545 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAllan MathewAllan Mathew, Director of Graduate Admissions at Tufts University, discusses the similarities and differences of graduate and undergrad admissions and what he's learned working at three institutions in very different market positions. He also offers compelling insights into the four themes of his doctoral dissertation, which focused on the experiences of chief enrollment officers of color.Rapid DescentWalkout songs: Redbone by Childish GambinoBest recent read: Atomic Habits, by James Clear and Office Optional: How to Build a Connected Culture with Virtual Teams, by Larry EnglishEager to...
2023-05-2244 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastHeather DanielsHeather Daniels, Director of Admissions at Colorado State University, discusses how she's managed to "come home" to every college she has ever worked for ... and discovers that she and Ken have a surprising braided history.Rapid DescentWalkout songs: Believe by Mumford & SonsBest recent read/eager to read next: Coherence by Rick BaileyFavorite podcast: Up First | Smartless | Wiser Than MeFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Squash casserole (It's better than it sounds).What he uses to take and keep notes...
2023-05-1548 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastBoyd BradshawBoyd Bradshaw, the inaugural Vice President for Enrollment Management at Towson University (MD), discusses Towson's new comprehensive and integrated approach to enrollment—from recruitment to graduation—and what it has been like organizing the institution around that work. We also learn Boyd's secret and surprising skill that he carries with him to this day. Rapid DescentWalkout songs: Eye of the Tiger by SurvivorBest recent read: A Profession on the Edge by Eric HooverEager to read next: "the next thing to come into my inbox" Favori...
2023-05-0842 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastChristopher GrayIn this metaphor-loaded episode, Christopher Gray, Dean of Enrollment at Lasell University, discusses living and learning through a successful launch of a tuition reset, why communities matter to marathoners, and a nifty trick to try in your next meeting.Rapid DescentWalkout songs: Dirt Road Anthem by Jason AldeanBest recent read: Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat. audiobook by Sarah Robb O'Hagan and Fearless Leadership: High Performance Lessons from the Flight Deck by Carey D. LohrenzEager to read next: Quiet: The Power of...
2023-05-0145 minALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast"A Profession on the Edge" with Eric HooverEric Hoover, Senior Writer at the Chronicle of Higher Education, joins the ALP to discuss his April 5 Chronicle article, A Profession on the Edge: Why enrollment leaders are wearing down, burning out, and leaving jobs they once loved. He discusses what led to his writing the piece, what surprised him in his discovery, and why things are different now than they were nine years ago when he wrote a similarly provocative piece in September 2014, The Hottest Seat on Campus. Theme music arranged by Ryan AnselmentThank you to the National Association for College Admission Counseling fo...
2023-04-2454 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMary ChaseSeason Premiere: Mary Chase, Vice Provost for Enrollment at Creighton University, kicks off the season from her fortress of solitude (which will make sense when you listen), and shares how growing up on a farm, being a college mom, and leaving the first footsteps of the day on a dewy fairway shape her approach to enrollment leadership.Rapid DescentWalkout songs: You Time by Scotty McCreeryBest recent read: Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama, Restore Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses into Results, by Cy WakemanEager to...
2023-04-1741 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastVern GrangerSeason Finale: Vern Granger, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Connecticut AND the Chair of the Board for the National Association for College Admission Counseling shares what it takes to manage two jobs that, in themselves, are more than full-time jobs. We also discuss Vern's World Cup predictions, the finer points of bacon, proper peanut butter choices, and the virtue of the handwritten note. Rapid DescentWalkout songs: Big Poppa by the Notorious B.I.G. and Sumthin' Sumthin' by MaxwellBest recent read: The Color of Law: A F...
2022-11-2846 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastHow Creighton Improved Its First-Year Retention to 92%Wayne Young, Charisse Williams, Mary Ann Tietjen and Joe Ecklund of Creighton University's interdivisional student success team share some of the secret sauce behind how Creighton built and maintained a 3-point jump in first-year student retention over the past three years. The episode includes a look at Colloquium, a unique human-powered intervention with a 70% success rate retaining students who are preparing to leave the institution. Hat-tips throughout the episode to Mary Chase, Creighton's Vice President for Enrollment Management.Although there is no Rapid Descent with the Creighton University team, Charisse identified Industry Baby by Lil Nas X...
2022-11-2147 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAndy BorstAndy Borst, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, shares tips on nurturing and managing relationships with the media (with hat-tips to Scott Jaschik and Eric Hoover). Andy also shares his morning routine (itself a pro tip) as well as the origins of his name, which we somehow accidentally trip over early in the episode. Rapid DescentWalkout song: Know Your Enemy by Green DayBest recent read: The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions by Tim Fields and Shereem Herndon-BrownEager to read next: Ca...
2022-11-1447 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJoe MontgomeryJoe Montgomery may be one of the busiest people between enrollment jobs right now: a member of the advisory board to the Partnership for Education Advancement; a consultant through the United Negro College Fund; and now one of the newest members of NACAC's board of directors. Joe reflects on how creating your network with your body of work can sustain you when the headwinds come: "Lean into the headwinds and answers will reveal themselves."Rapid DescentWalkout song: Before I Let Go by Frankie Beverly and MazeBest recent read: Q...
2022-11-0758 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastVisionaries and Integrators: Complementary CollaborationTim Fields (Emory University) and Shereem Herndon-Brown (Strategic Admissions Advice)—co-authors of The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation about Education, Parenting and Race, and co-hosts of the podcast, Application to Admission: Understanding the Choices—provide a master class in leveraging complementary experiences, skillsets and mindsets in the collaborative process as they discuss how their groundbreaking new book grew from idea through process to reality. Rapid DescentWalkout song: Got to Give it Up by Marvin Gaye (Tim);
2022-10-3148 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJames MillerJames Miller, Assistant Vice Provost and Dean of Admission at Seattle University, reflects on the value of self-reflection in your own decision-making, the power of pausing when you're "in the grip," and why "relaxed is fast, slow is relaxed" and "slow is fast." (Also, there's randomly like 11 minutes of silence after the bumper music ... consider it an invitation for reflection. 😉)Rapid DescentWalkout song: Saving Grace by Tom PettyBest recent read: In Conversation: Honoring Ideological Divides On and Off Campus (by Lisa A. Kloppenberg, Vincent D. Rougeau, and Eduardo M. Pe...
2022-10-241h 02ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast"I Shouldn't Be The First"Five women who ascended to leadership roles just before or during the pandemic discuss what it's like to be the first in their roles—first woman, first person of color, first first-generation college student, first transfer students. Get ready for a torrent of great advice from Eva Blanco Masias of Santa Clara University, Jennifer Sandoval-Dancs of Claremont McKenna College, Lisa Keegan of Bucknell University, Melinda Wood of James Madison University, and Nikki Kahealani Chun of University of Hawai'i at Manoa.Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment.The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SI...
2022-10-1654 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastIneliz Soto-FullerIneliz Soto-Fuller, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions for Enrollment Management at Seattle Pacific University, discusses how to lead with integrity and authenticity in the midst of challenging circumstances. Turns out that a clear sense of what authenticity looks and sounds like (as well heavy doses of Quirkle and karaoke) go a long way.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Roar by Katy Perry and Vivir Mi Vida by Marc AnthonyBest recent read: On Managing Yourself by Harvard Business ReviewEager to read next: The Midnight Library by Matt Hai...
2022-10-1059 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAngie CooksyAngie Cooksy, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bradley University (Peoria, Ill.) and host of the podcast Elevating Admission Voices, discusses how she established herself as a regionally-based (in Kenosha, Wis.) admission professional 15 years ago and has steadily climbed the leadership mountain as a remote teammate ever since. Angie offers several great questions that new middle managers need to know ... and muses on the remarkable wonders of the Woodman's Market cheese aisles.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Girl on Fire by Alicia KeysBest recent read: Open Book by Jessica S...
2022-09-1949 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastReckoning with the Great ResignationIs it the Great Resignation? The Great Reckoning? The Great Contemplation? ALP Alumni Adrienne Amador Oddi (ep. 28), Heath Einstein (7), Marie Bigham (4), Rick Clark (3) and Tony Sarda (15) join Ken in a lively discussion of the causes, implications and potential remedies for the Great Resignation ... as well as some reconsidered walkout songs.Music arranged by Ryan AnselmentThe ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment
2022-09-1249 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastSteve SyversonIt seems fitting to drop the final episode of Season 5 on Ken's last day as Vice President for Enrollment at Lawrence University with the man who brought him to Lawrence 18 years ago: Steve Syverson, Dean of Admission Emeritus at Lawrence University. Steve served as Lawrence's chief enrollment officer for 28 years before handing the reins to Ken in 2011, and the episode is as much a trip down memory lane as it is an expansive view of what still matters most in the college admission profession.Shout outs from people who have worked with Steve include: Jen England, Carin...
2022-05-021h 00ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRoby BlustIn what may be the most blooper-reel worthy episode of the ALP so far, Roby Blust, Ken's second boss at Marquette University, demonstrates the importance of fun and humor while doing the noble work of college admissions, as well as how a crashed milk truck helped shape his view of what leadership means. Roby is the inspiration for a piece Ken wrote in 2018: "Why do we do this?"Shout outs from people who have worked with Roby include: Jeff Blahnik, Jenn Machacek, Susan Teerink, Kim Frisch, Ed Moore, Aaron Meis, Adam Stout, Connie Bennett, Jean Burke, and Da...
2022-04-1148 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRay BrownKen's first boss in college admission, Ray Brown, joins the show to swap stories about leadership, team development, and baseball. Ray is the chief enrollment officer at St. Joseph's College of Maine, having served previously as dean of admission at TCU and Marquette and director of admission at Lawrence University. Ray also happens to be a human baseball encyclopedia, and shares the three games he most would have liked to attend throughout history, including one with a surprise ending.Shout-outs to Bob Preloger, Fred Schebor, Steve Syverson, Duncan Murdoch, Heath Einstein and Mike Marshall....
2022-04-0458 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAmy CemborAmy Cembor, Senior Associate Dean of Admission at Providence College (go Friars!) and former president of New England Association for College Admission Counseling, shares insights about life on the secondary and higher ed sides of the table, resistance against just going after what's next, and a story about an unfortunate mic drop moment in Las Vegas that, were this a video podcast, would reveal deep shades of red on Ken's face. 5Shout-outs to Darryl Uy, Marie Bigham and LaSalle Bakery.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Standing Outside the Fire by Garth Br...
2022-03-2144 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJay JacobsJay Jacobs, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at the University of Vermont, shares a journey that starts with love at first sight (not only with college enrollment as a career but with a higher ed partner) and continues with a rapid ascent in the profession built through intentional career steps (College of New Jersey, Colgate, UChicago Booth School, U of Miami) including a life-changing caravan with three kids under age 3 up I-95 in the middle of winter and the middle of a pandemic.Shout-outs to Terry Cowdrey, John Haller, Gary Ross, Lynn Holcomb, Karen Long and, of c...
2022-03-1442 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastSusana Briscoe-AlbaSusana Briscoe-Alba, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Mount St. Mary College in New York and founder of the Grit and Purpose Academy shares a story about the journey from a time in her life of being someone not wanting to be heard to someone setting a course for leaders to create environments where everyone can be made to feel seen, valued, and heard.Special shout out to ALP alumna, Jennielle Strother, whom Susana met through the podcast.To take Susana's LinkedIn survey, which we discuss in this episode, go here.This e...
2022-02-2851 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastDan LugoDan Lugo, President of Queens University of Charlotte, who started his higher ed career in admissions at Carleton College (his alma mater), presents a master class in leadership with lessons too many to list here, but here's a sample: "If you're going to maximize what you're going to do in life you have to experience failure ... and invite it."Oh ... this episode is filled with more, so much more.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Fight the Power by Public Enemy (and, as if Dan weren't cool enough already, he's friends with Ch...
2022-02-1447 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMike MarshallDr. Michael Marshall, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communication at Bellarmine University, continues the streak of people Ken would love to work with (or for) someday, sharing great advice in bundles of three, like: the 3 Ps and 3 questions an enrollment leader must keep in mind; the 3 things he has kept in mind on his own leadership journey; and the 3 essentials for thriving.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Encore by Jay ZBest recent read: The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom by Eddie R. Cole (re...
2022-01-1747 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastNikki Kāhealani ChunNikki Kāhealani Chun, the inaugural Vice President for Enrollment Management at University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, shares the power of "talk story sessions" with her new team, the three essential questions to truly see the people you lead, and geographic agnosticism.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Respect by Aretha FranklinBest recent read: An article on equitable approaches to student financial aidEager to read next: Reflections of her sessions with staff that she describes early in the show.Favorite thing to make in the kitchen:...
2022-01-101h 01ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastThom GoldenThom Golden, Founder & CEO of Golden Educational Consulting, shares the story of his journey from college admission work to higher-ed adjacent work to launching his own college consulting firm centered around "whole student scheduling." The episode focuses on "purposeful unrest," the path not taken, and watershed moments, and includes great insights no matter where around the desk your seat is located.Whole Student Scheduling100 Cups AcademyNapier Executive SearchAtomic Habits by James ClearWatershed by Indigo GirlsRapid DescentWalkout song: The Man by Aloe BlaccBest recent read: The Second Mountain: Th...
2021-12-0651 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastEric HooverEric Hoover, Senior Writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education, shares stories about how his stories have come to be, why empathy is his North Star, and why writing about college admission is like writing about the meaning of life.We discuss some of his stories, including:A University in Texas Promised Full Scholarships to Dozens of Nepalese Students. Months Later, It Revoked the Offer. (April 2018)The Second Chance Club. Inside a Semester of Remedial English (March 2013)The Most Onerous Form in College Admissions (February 2021)Rapid DescentWalkout song: Fa...
2021-11-221h 03ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAlexander ClarkAlexander Clark, Founder & CEO of Technolutions (the folks behind Slate), shares the origin story of the CRM that changed the higher ed landscape, as well as the things he has learned along a journey that started with his first entrepreneurial venture ... in fifth grade. Bonus fun: learn about the freedom and flexibility of halcyon days.This episode is brought to you by RHB, which has been providing enrollment, marketing, CRM and organizational solutions for more than 300 institutions around the world for 30 years.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Voyager by Daft Punk
2021-11-0858 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastLiz GrossLiz Gross, Founder & CEO of Campus Sonar, and the author of The Higher Ed Social Listening Handbook and Fundamentals of Social Media Strategy: A Guide for College Campuses, kicks off Season 5 of The ALP with an episode loaded with great advice about leadership and entrepreneurship, including the importance of a clear work philosophy, learning organizations, compensation strategies, and equity ... also on why one can do great things in 40(ish) hours a week. Rapid DescentWalkout song: Like a Girl by LizzoBest recent read: Temperance Brennan Series Kathy Reichs and T...
2021-11-0154 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRonné TurnerRonné Turner, Vice Provost of Admissions & Financial Aid at Washington University of St. Louis and president of the College Board, speaks about the power of collaboration, and what happens when you put smart people together, use data, and put students at the center of your work.Shoutouts abound in this episode, including to Jane Brown, Sharon Alston, Linda Clement, Philomena Mantella, Lori White, Holden Thorp and Adele Brumfield.Check out CocaBiz in St. Louis, which ran Ronné's teams design thinking course.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Golden by Jil...
2021-06-1455 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastStefanie NilesStefanie Niles, Vice President for Enrollment and Communications at Ohio Wesleyan University and past-past president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, shares wisdom about how we choose to make time for the things we make priorities in our lives ... also, this episode continues our streak of podcast puppers (this time it's Dexter and Titan).Rapid DescentWalkout song: Raise your Glass by PinkBest recent read: Beyond Implicit Bias by her fellow doctoral classmate, Edward Pittman. Eager to read next: "Anything beachy"Podcast: The Br...
2021-06-0752 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJanet MarlingJanet Marling, Executive Director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and Associate Professor of Education at the University of North Georgia, offers a masterclass in practical ways of being a transfer champion at your institution. Learn about three essential leadership qualities ... and the power of a Chiweenie.Learn how to make your college's website transfer friendly by using the NISTS Transfer Website Strategy Guide.Rapid DescentWalkout song: High Hopes by Panic! At The DiscoBest recent read: Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of D...
2021-05-2452 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJoan LiuJoan Liu, University Advisor at United World College of Southeast Asia in Singapore, joins Ken to share her multi-continental leadership journey, including the powerful story of how she and her colleagues in the Nepal Justice League helped find college homes for dozens of Nepalese students whose scholarships were revoked by the University of Texas at Tyler in mid April, 2018. Learn more about Joan's superpowers, including why, when something is not a definitive yes, it's a definitive no.Shoutouts abound throughout this episode... too many to list here (so you'll just have to get out your bingo card a...
2021-05-1049 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJoy St. JohnJoy St. John, Dean of Admission & Financial Aid at Wellesley College, joins Ken for a conversation that could also have been featured on Guy Raz's "How I Built This" when she describes how she and her colleagues essentially built an admission office from scratch. Get out whatever you write your notes with, because Joy drops great advice all through the episode.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Just Fine , Mary J. BligeBest recent read: The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans--and How We Can Fix It b...
2021-04-2654 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPeaches ValdesPeaches Valdes, Dean of Admission at Hamilton College, joins Ken for a conversation that spans everything from taking the path less taken and the importance of having a board of mentors, to the magic of super soft stationery and storytelling without notes. Much hilarity ensues.Alternative episode title: "Paths, Pearls, Pickups, Pens, and Paper." Rapid DescentWalkout song: Tilted , Christine and the QueensBest recent read: The Farm: A Novel by Joanne RamosEager to read next: A Promised Land by Barack ObamaPodcast: Th...
2021-01-081h 04ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastNancy BeaneYou can hear it in my giddy voice when I start the intro for this episode, where Nancy Beane, recently retired associate director of college counseling at The Westminster Schools, and former NACAC president, reflects on her career and all the people who have inspired and lifted her along the way. Come for the inspiration, stay for the history lesson.Shout-outs ... consider it Nancy's thank you's for her Lifetime Achievement AwardJuan Acosta; Lee Ann Afton Backlund; Stephanie Balmer; Marie Bigham; Jack Blackburn; Wade Boggs; David Burge; Terese Buscher; Rick Clark; Anthea Economy; Sarbeth...
2021-01-0148 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastGil VillanuevaGil Villaneuva, Associate Vice President and Dean of Admission at the University of Richmond and former board chair of The Common Application, joins Ken to discuss horror movies, dogs, and maybe a few things (OK, more than a few things) about higher ed leadership, including the joy of working for ambitious institutions ... also SPAM and fried rice.Shout-outsNancy Tessier his former boss at University of Richmond (now at Art & Science Group)Pat Coleman, his former boss at Harvey Mudd (now at Witt/Kieffer)Hector Martinez, his foamier boss at Pitzer (now...
2020-12-1852 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastDJ MenifeeDJ Menifee, Vice President for Enrollment at Susquehanna University and member of NACAC's board of directors, shares the stories about his rapid ascent to higher ed leadership ... and, perhaps just as important, deconstructs the construction of a perfect PBJ with Ken. This quote from DJ (borrowed from Kobe Bryant):"If you want to be the best, you've got to sacrifice something."Shout-outsLori Greene (Butler U; mentor to DJ)Bill Sliwa (who hired him into the profession at Lees-McRae)Andy Borst (U of Illinois)Paul Steenis...
2020-12-1154 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAdrienne Amador OddiAdrienne Amador Oddi, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, shares her story, which may overlap with many other ALP alumni, but is very much her own. Learn how a swimmer's mindset is perfectly adaptable to leadership in admissions & financial aid. Also math.This quote from Adrienne Amador Oddi:"We take the steps to build community. And when we get tired, the beauty of community is that somebody else can keep us going, and then, when our energy is restored, we can pick up the slack again."...
2020-11-1358 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastEva Blanco MasiasEva Blanco Masias, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Santa Clara University, shares her story, including how a significant national crisis 19 years ago led her to leave a highly successful career to jump into the admissions and enrollment world.Shout-outsRod Skinner (and his mother, Mrs. Skinner)Mike SextonSandra HayesCharlie NolanPatrick LorenzoRapid DescentWalkout song: Mi Gente by J Balvin, Willy William ft. BeyoncéBest recent read: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (also Th...
2020-11-0650 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastFour PeaksKen shares four things to carry you into and through a Halloween/Nov. 1/pre-Election Day weekend. Full episode with new guests drops next week.Peak 1: The Keep Going Song a joyful ear wormPeak 2: "What's at Stake for College Admission in this Election?" by Angel PerezPeak 3: "Election Stress Getting to You? 4 Ways to Keep Calm"Peak 4: Wild Geese by Mary OliverThe ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment
2020-10-3005 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJenny RickardJenny Rickard, President and CEO of CommonApp, climbs a veritable mountain range on this episode of the ALP. Learn about a journey that's part dream, part serendipity and all dedication as you hear Jenny share what she's learned along the way, and what has driven her from the start.Rapid DescentWalkout song: While You See a Chance by Steve WinwoodBest recent read: Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy by Tressie McMillan Cottom Eager to read next: The College Conversation: A Pra...
2020-10-221h 08ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastDavid HawkinsWhat do a growling beagle, Andrew Cuomo, the Green Bay Packers, shoe leather and good ideas have in common? Find out in this fun and wide-ranging interview with David Hawkins, Executive Director for Educational Content and Policy at the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Rapid DescentWalkout song: Total Football by Parquet CourtsBest recent read: The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois Eager to read next: Mostly Harmless (The 5th book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy) by Douglas AdamsF...
2020-10-1646 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCorey JohnsonKen learns why dynamic kindness is more important than "success" in his chat with Corey Johnson, founder of Imagine Scholar, based in the Nkomazi region of Mpumalanga province, in South Africa. Imagine Scholar is "founded on the belief that there is an equal distribution of raw potential in every pocket of the world. Our mission is to equip young leaders with the integrity, skills, and mindsets they need to shape a world they can be proud of." Many thanks to Laura Kaub (whose name somehow got garbled on the pod!) from Yale Young African Scholars, who introduced...
2020-10-0958 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRachelle HernandezKen kicks off Season 3 with Rachelle Hernandez, Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Student Success at the University of Texas at Austin. Learn why you may be able to go fast alone, but you'll always go far together—a theme of this podcast—and how doing right by students will always mean doing right by your institution. Ken also learns that the last thing you need is a pen exploding on you.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Hall of Fame by The Script (feat. will.i.am)Best recent read: The 5...
2020-10-021h 02ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMaria FurtadoKen chats with Maria Furtado, Executive Director of Colleges That Change Lives, which is dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. Maria shares the origin story of Admissions Aerobics (it's real and it's magic), as well as lessons she's learned along the way as a former director of admission herself. Special shout-out to Marty O'Connell and Virginia Buege two of the big brains behind the birth of Colleges That Change Lives.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Flowers are Red by Harry ChapinBest recent read
2020-05-2248 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastDarryl UyKen chats with Darryl Uy, director of admission at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. \In the episode Darryl illustrates the joys and advantages of being the director instead of the VP or dean, and how majoring in theater is the perfect prep for being an admission director.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Don't Give Up on Me by Andy Grammer and Broken & Beautiful by Kelly ClarksonBest recent read: The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman Eager to read next: This Is How It Always Is by Laurie FrankelFavorite t...
2020-05-1552 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMay 1, Then and NowKen chats with—well—himself. No the quarantine isn't going that badly for him, but it seems like May 1 is a good day to pause and reflect on our previous expectations for—and now the new reality of—The Big Day.Shameless cross-promotion: Why Do We Do This? an article I published almost a year ago about the challenges and the gifts that come with the work of college admission counseling. The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment
2020-05-0107 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastPatrick O'ConnorKen chats with Patrick O'Connor, associate dean of college counseling at Cranbrook Schools and author of College Is Yours 2.0: Preparing, Applying, and Paying For Colleges Perfect For You. A frequent publisher of articles in the Huffington Post and elsewhere, Patrick is a strong advocate for college access (he's the chair of the Michigan College Access Network) with a long record of working with legislators to support college counseling.Rapid DescentWalkout song: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. BachBest recent read: The Anatomists of Melancholy...
2020-04-2455 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJennifer DelahuntyKen chats with Jennifer Delahunty, a self-described "accidental admissions officer, a humanoid and admissions gig worker. The former enrollment chief at Kenyon College and a perpetually gifted writer, Jennifer shares her views on how we can make the admissions world for students better than it is right now, and how our current disruption may be the perfect opportunity for nimble, creative, and humble leaders to bring all hands on deck to do so.Rapid DescentWalkout song: It's the End of the World as We Know It by R.E...
2020-04-0348 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMary Beth PetrieKen chats with Mary Beth Petrie, Dean of Admissions at Lawrence University (who works just two doors down from Ken). Beth reminds Ken what snowstorms can teach admissions folks about coping with pandemics, how to keep a team healthy in the midst of chaos, and, in an unusual twist, switches the typical ending of the ALP, much to Ken's surprise. Many thanks to Rick Bailey and Sam Waterson of RHB for sharing their advice during this episode about how we can "imagine voraciously" during this time of uncertainty.Rapid Descent
2020-03-271h 03ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastTony SardaKen chats with Tony Sarda, Director of Recruitment for Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Some are called to serve with a whisper, others with a boom of thunder... in the case of Tony, it was both. Learn about the importance of being open to grace, and giving grace... and why it's really hard to be whay you cannot see. Rapid DescentWalkout song: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmeralda (from the best scene in Kill Bill Vol. 1) and Lose Yourself by Eminem.Best recent read: Why A...
2020-03-2045 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJon BoeckenstedtKen chats with Jon Boeckenstedt, vice provost for enrollment at Oregon State University, and the mind behind Higher Ed Data Stories, a treasure trove of data-driven (and data-visualized) observations about the state of higher ed. Jon shares some views about his recent career move as well as surprises about his reading and writing habits, as well as the unusual upside of the imposter syndrome.Shout-outs & LinksA couple of other places to get your Boeckenfix: jonboeckenstedt.net and Out Here In Oregon.The Test and The Art of Thinking a documentary about standardized tests...
2020-02-1859 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCarmen LopezKen learns why "leadership is motion" with Carmen Lopez, Executive Director of College Horizons, a national educational non-profit serving American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Hawaiian Native students in their transition to college and graduate school.Shout-outs & LinksClaudio Sanchez's NPR story on College Horizons recorded at Lawrence University: How Native Students Can Succeed in College: "Be As Tough As the Land That Made You"Shout-outs to:Whitney Laughlin (founder of College Horizons) and Christine Suina, College Horizons program coordinatorDr. Robert Binswanger of Dartmouth, an early mentorDr. Adrienne Keene, author of Native Appropriations and co-host...
2020-02-0657 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAkil BelloKen chats with Akil Bello, founder of Bell Curves, who shares his views on higher ed and some news about a new professional adventure that fits perfectly with his leadership in matters around standardized testing. (And if you haven't read his writings on his website, Bellowings, you should give it a go.)Shout-outs & LinksAkil's presentation on entrepreneurship at the Harlem Business Alliance.An investigative report on whether Alex Bello is, in fact, Marlon Jackson's son, as referenced/joked about in the Netflix show, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch.A blog post...
2020-01-2455 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastReflections on Season OneWith 10 episodes in the books, we've come to the end of season one.(There will be a season two... coming soon.)There are many more guests lined up for next season, but if you have suggestions of folks you'd love to hear on the podcast, let me know via email or Twitter.In the meantime, if you're looking for walkout songs, you'll find the Admissions Leadership Playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. And if you're looking for that next good read, the right notebook, or a pen that allows you to write with...
2019-11-0702 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastEmmi HarwardKen chats with Emmi Harward, Executive Director at the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS). Together they explore alternate universes (including one where Emmi is a Supreme Court justice/former U.S. President) as well as a pro tip for getting the first win of the day before you even get out of bed.Shout-outs & LinksTerry Cowdrey, who hired Emmi into her first admissions gig at Vanderbilt. Marie Bigham... yes THAT Marie Bigham.Briana Barkin, Lawrence University California-based regional admission superstarSuzan Zarwell, director of college counseling at University School of Milwaukee (f...
2019-10-3151 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastLiz CheronKen chats with Liz Cheron, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Northeastern University, and former chair of NACAC's Admission Practices Committee. Liz shares a ton of great insights, including integrating design thinking into work, mastery of 24-hour trips to the West Coast and back, and why "admissions leadership and motherhood are not mutually exclusive."Also, there is a reference to a duck.Shout-outs & LinksDavid Burge, former NACAC president who tapped Liz on the shoulder to lead the Admissions Practices committee. Ronné Patrick Turner, former AVP for Enrollment at...
2019-10-2444 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCornell LeSaneKen chats with Cornell LeSane, Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Admissions at Allegheny College (Meadville, PA), and newly elected NACAC board director. We learn what a higher ed, a croquet match, and Downton Abbey have to do with each other, and also why you never turn around in racquetball.Shout-outs & LinksNancy Beane and Ellen Deitrich, who "voluntold" Cornell to run for NACAC board. Mike Steidel, Dean of Admission at Carnegie MellonBill Elliot, VP emeritus at Carnegie MellonSue Stuebner, former EVP at Allegheny now President at Colby-Sawyer, who asked Cornell to join her i...
2019-10-1739 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastHeath EinsteinKen chats with Heath Einstein, Dean of Admission at TCU about his circuitous journey to his current role, and learns the power of working as hard in your personal life as you do in your work life.Shout-outs & LinksFormer George Washington U colleagues Rhonda Leshman and Rafi Blumenthal. Jan Goldstein, formerly of Solomon Schechter in Long Island who referred him to his first counseling gig at Solomon Schechter in Westchester.Carol Wasden, who hired Heath at HockadayRay Brown, Ken's and Heath's former bossThe Power of Moments, by Chip and Dan Heath.R...
2019-10-1049 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastSuzanne LepleyKen chats with Suzanne Lepley, Interim Dean of Admission at Kalamazoo College, and learns the power of positivity and sweating out stress, as well as what cookies have to do with good interview questions.Shout-outs & LinksColleges That Change Lives—"Any group that works in higher ed together has more power than any individual institution for the betterment of higher education."Jeff Rickey, former enrollment chief at Earlham College who was an early mentor to Suzanne Marty O'Connell—former executive director of CTCL and mentor to Suzanne. Rapid DescentSuzann...
2019-10-0336 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastInterlude: The NACAC conference, etc.Ken's all by himself at the ALP studio, getting ready for the NACAC conference... as well as what comes after the big vote at the conference.We'll have new episodes again after the conference, but for now, you can enjoy a few additions to the ALP media empire (he says ironically):ALP: The Admissions Leadership PlaylistWalkout songs of all ALP guests are available on Apple Music and Spotify playlists.Also, you can find a list of good reads and nifty things on Amazon.The ALP is supported...
2019-09-2603 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastTodd RinehartKen chats with Todd Rinehart, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment at the University of Denver, former chair of NACAC's Admission Practices Committee, and candidate for NACAC president.Shout-outs & LinksRoger Campbell—Admission Dean Emeritus at University of Denver, and one of Todd's mentors. (passed away in 2009)Tom Willoughby—Vice Chancellor Emeritus at University of Denver and Todd's longtime colleagueNancy Beane—Associate Director of College Counseling at the Westminster Schools and former NACAC president (2016-17) Joyce Smith—as Todd describes her, "NACAC's powerhouse CEO" who will be retiring in 2020.@ToddRinehart, @NACACThis podcast has an elevation gain of 4490...
2019-09-1928 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastMarie BighamKen chats with Marie Bigham, founder and co-leader at ACCEPT: Admissions Community Cultivating Equity & Peace Today, and one of the masterminds behind Hack the Gates, whose goal is to "Radically Reimagine Admissions." Learn about the power of learning, listening, enjoying the ride—and also how Pearl Jam, Prince, Self-Care Sundays, and carrying a file folder confidently can make all the difference.Shout-outsNanette Tarbouni—former director of admissions and Marie's boss at Washington University of St. Louis, now a college counselor at John Burroughs High School.Marjorie Jacobs—former college counselor at Scarsdale HS in New...
2019-09-1244 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastRick ClarkKen chats with Rick Clark (Twitter, LinkedIn), Director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech and the voice behind the Georgia Tech Admission Blog. Learn about the power of a midnight run, what an English Premiere League soccer player has to do with a rising admission staffer, and where he and his team get their best ideas for staff engagement and renewal.Links and listsThe Truth About College Admission by Rick Clark and Brennan Barnard (published by Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019)Rick also mentioned a video they were working on that plays on the...
2019-09-0539 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastJennielle StrotherKen chats with Jennielle Strother (Twitter, LinkedIn), VP for Enrollment Management and Chief Enrollment Officer at Concordia University Texas. Learn the origin story of #EMchat, which she co-founded with Alex Williams, as well as the way she approaches her daily work... and why "pressure is a privilege."Links and lists"Pressure is a privilege" (Pep Guardiola) which Jennielle heard while watching All or Nothing—Manchester City. As Jennielle says, "I was watching the show with my husband one night, and there was a scene when he was talking to his team in the locker ro...
2019-08-2940 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastAngel PérezKen chats with Angel Pérez, VP for Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College (CT). This interview took place just a couple of days after Angel published his article, What Is a Chief Enrollment Officer? which gave them a perfect launching point for the conversation.Other links and lists:Angel's 2009 John B. Muir Award-winning article: Struggling Between Two Worlds: How College Affects Identity Construction (NACAC Journal, Winter 2008)Rapid DescentAngel's walkout song: We Are the Champions by QueenBest thing he’s read lately: Educated: A Memoir by...
2019-08-2227 minALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastTrailerHost Ken Anselment previews the ALP, a series of one-on-one conversations with college admissions leaders about their journeys. Some are nearing the summit. Some are already there. But how did they get there? And what can other climbers learn from their mindsets, habits, and experiences?Theme music arranged by Ryan AnselmentThe ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment
2019-08-1801 min