ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast

Have 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 ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Have 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. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Season 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. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Nathan 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 Teege, you can also find him on the Melrose Place Cast, even though he doesn't want you to. Rapid Descent Walkout songsThe Humpty DanceSuperqueenBest recent readSay It Like ObamaThe Covenant of WaterEager to read next:Favorite podcast: B*tchslapCapture the Magic Disney World Podcast Favorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking and keeping notes: Memorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

(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 Descent Walkout songThe BossactuallyBest recent readThe Black KidsEager to read next:From Punk to MonkFavorite podcast: Broad Street BreakdownFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking and keeping notes: Kindle ScribeMemorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Carin 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 they are today. Rapid Descent Walkout songCenterfieldBest recent readThe Boys in the BoatEager to read next:Leaders Eat LastFavorite podcast: Favorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking and keeping notes: Memorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

From 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 Marquette University's Roby Blust, from whose coaching tree both guest and host have sprouted, and Dan Hamrin, yet another branch on that tree. The Miami of Minnesota ... it's a real thing. Rapid Descent Walkout songDon't Let the Old Man InBest recent readUnreasonable HospitalityEager to read next:BelongingFavorite podcast: Missing in AlaskaFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: "Taking and keeping notes: MoleskineZebraMemorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Angela 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 Descent Walkout songBest recent readTranscendent KingdomEager to read next:The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBoisFavorite podcast: For Your InstitutionFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: "Taking and keeping notes: Memorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Justin 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 finest team in all the land." References Why I Choose the Harder CommuteFinding Motivation in Tough TimesOff the CuffRapid Descent Walkout songBest recent readUncultured: A MemoirRemarkably Bright CreaturesEager to read next:Man's Search for MeaningFavorite podcast: The Gray AreaFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking and keeping notes: Memorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Richard 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 Descent Walkout songCarmina Burana: I. O FortunaBest recent readYale Needs Women Eager to read next:Who Killed Truth? A History of EvidencePodcast:IngenioUsFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: For notes: Memorable bit of adviceDavid C. BakerBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

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. References President's Alliance on Higher Education and ImmigrationMasterCard FoundationWorld University Services of CanadaDuolingo English TestRapid Descent Walkout songGhostwriterBest recent readThe Expanse SeriesEager to read next:Old World, Young AfricaNewFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket listUgly Delicious The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

How 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. References Illinois ACACCarin SmithRapid Descent Walkout songGood LifeBest recent readThe VergeArs TechnicaEager to read next:best coffee makersbed sheetsFavorite podcastElevating Admission VoicesThe Admissions Directors LunchcastFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

What 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. References Luis von AhnDuolingoHow I Built ThisThe Tim Ferriss ShowLaura KaubUNHCR University Access AdvisorDuolingo's work with refugees through the UNHCRRapid Descent Walkout songGroove Is in the HeartBest recent readAll That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family KeepsakeEager to read next:Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American FortuneFavorite podcastThe DailyWashington PostWSJ The JournalFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket list The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Get 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 Descent Walkout songChampionBest recent readEager to read next:Favorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking and keeping notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket listCheck out RHB Academy at Claremont McKenna. Nov. 17. The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

We 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. References The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary ImpactUnreasonable HospitalityThe Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It MattersThe Master of Fine Arts in Experience Design at Miami University of OhioRapid Descent Walkout songRunBest recent readUnreasonable HospitalityEager to read next:Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service (The Disney Institute Leadership Series)Favorite podcastRe:ThinkingFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: cookiesTaking notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket listThe ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Season 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. References College admission resourcesIs it “Okay” to Write about Race in Your College Application—And, If So, How?This guideThe “If You Really, Really Knew Me” Exercise (Template) The Social Identities Exercise (Template) Rocket FuelReinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human ConsciousnessEthan's voice over workRapid Descent Walkout songU Don't Have to CallBest recent readSeven Practices of a Mindful LeaderEager to read next: hereFavorite podcastWe Can Do Hard Things with Glennon DoyleFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Taking notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket listThe ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

In 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 design around scholarships and financial aid programs as well as broader recruitment initiatives, while calling for colleges to use a lens shaped by "a design associated with the DEI goals ... that drive their mission." Read: EducationCounsel's Preliminary Guidance Regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC. (with ongoing updates) Many thanks to the National Association for College Admission Counseling for supporting this podcast through the NACAC Podcast Network. Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment. The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Season 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 Descent Walkout sonsSpecialBest recent readCampus Economics: How Economic Thinking Can Help Improve College and University DecisionsSam WatersonRHBEager to read next: Favorite podcastUnreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro ChildrenFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: What she uses to take and keep notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket list: Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment. Many thanks to the National Association for College Admission Counseling for supporting this podcast through the NACAC Podcast Network. The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

Kent 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 Walkout songsEverybody Wants to Rule the WorldBest recent readThey Said This Would be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing UpEager to read next: The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest ChallengesFavorite podcastMarketplaceFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: What he uses to take and keep notesMemorable bit of adviceBucket list: Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment. Many thanks to the National Association for College Admission Counseling for supporting this podcast through the NACAC Podcast Network. The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

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? Notes Augsburg Applies to YouPower of YouJohn Doerr's Objectives and Key ResultsHarriet Tubman Effect InstituteNicole JohnsonWise MindThe Power of Forgiveness—MinneapolisRapid Descent Walkout songsChanging LandscapesBest recent readForgive For Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRsEager to read next: Favorite podcastEdify Justice Advocates PodcastFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: What he uses to take and keep notesRhodia NotebookMemorable bit of adviceLife is a balance of holding on and letting go Bucket list: "Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment. Many thanks to the National Association for College Admission Counseling for supporting this podcast through the NACAC Podcast Network. The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment