The Anchor Exchange: A PCACAC P(C)odcast

The Podcast Team is feeling bittersweet about this being the last episode of Season 2. We start with our Shifting Currents segment and a discussion about our favorite topics that have been covered, as well as if any thoughts or opinions have changed since the episode has aired. Then, the current Presidential Trio has a conversation about the importance of our association, relevance of the college admissions industry, and how PCACAC members can and should stay involved. Anchors Away and stay tuned for Season 3!

March means something big in higher education: March Madness! In this episode of The Anchor Exchange, we explore how big athletic moments can shape college admissions.Kiara talks with Dale Bittinger from University of Maryland Baltimore County about the impact of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament and how moments like that influence student interest, campus culture, and admissions.Later, Janssen is joined by Roger Burke from James Madison University and Michael Nixon from University of Maryland College Park to continue the conversation.Our Shifting Currents segment highlights how admissions teams can better use junior-focused programming in their recruitment strategies.

Spring yield season is here and we’re diving into it from both sides of the desk.In this episode, we sit down with Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Delaware Kasey McAlister and College and Career Specialist Amy Ferguson to talk about what yield season really looks like on both sides of the desk. From student decision-making trends to relationship-building, and the emotional weight of spring enrollment decisions, we explore how institutions and high schools work together to support students through one of the most important moments in their college journey.We also take time to recognize Black History Month and reflect on what it means to support both Black students and professionals within admissions.We hope you enjoy this episode!

In this episode, we sat down with members of PCACAC’s Government Relations Committee to discuss how the higher education landscape has shifted one year into the current presidential administration. The conversation covers updates to FAFSA, funding changes, and what may lie ahead for the Department of Education. The episode also features our Shifting Currents segment, where we explore pre-college programs as an option for students.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really happens during application reading season and what student engagement looks like throughout the process. We talk about how applications are reviewed, the ways students show up during this time, and what that means for counselors on both sides of the desk. As the holiday break approaches, we also reflect on the importance of logging off, setting boundaries, and giving ourselves permission to unplug and recharge. Whether you’re deep in application review or counting down to winter break, this episode is a reminder that rest is part of the work, too.

In honor of November being the First-Gen Student month, Lauren MacGregor sat down with Nakia Waters from the First Gen+ Center at George Mason Universty, and Ellen Spokes from CollegeBound Foundation to talk about supporting students and their families through the admissions process. They were also joined by two first-gen identifying students, both named Angel. The episode also features our Shifting Currents segment on AP versus Dual Enrollment credits.

It’s Homecoming season! In this episode of The Anchor Exchange, hosts Kiara Alexander and Candace Leake dive into the energy, history, and community that make HBCU Homecomings so special.They’re joined by Lisa Fuller, Independent Educational Consultant with College-Primed and proud Spelman College alumna, to reflect on her experiences and what makes HBCUs such vibrant spaces of tradition and pride. Later, the conversation continues with Christine Burnette, Director of College Counseling at Saint John’s College High School and Howard University graduate, along with Carla Goodwin, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Howard University, as they share their insights on HBCU life, admissions advice, alumni involvement, and what Homecoming means to them.Candance Leake kicks off the episode with our Shifting Currents segment for a conversation on Counselor Fly-In programs.Listen now on Spotify!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Janssen sits down with Wendy Ayala, Director of Collegiate Directions and co-chair of PCACAC’s Latiné SIG, to discuss community, advocacy, and access. We also feature a conversation with the president of Marymount University on the significance of being a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Plus, as always, we kick things off with our Shifting Currents segment, this month we are discussing 'legacy admissions'. Thanks for your support!

New episode alert! We’re diving into the world of high school visits - how admissions professionals connect with students and counselors, support first-generation students, and make each visit meaningful. Tune in to hear how these conversations shape the path to college.

In the fifth episode of the season, we present a one two punch! First, Candace sits down with Hamzat Saba and Khala Granville Wiliamson of theCurrent Trends and Future Issues (CTFI) committee to discuss AI in admissions. Then, we move from future technologies to reflecting on the past with Janssen interviewing Scott Cooper and Kiara Alexander about their experiences with travel season. We hope you enjoy the insights from this episode!

In the fourth episode of this season, we're bringing you new energy in different way! Our friends on the Current Trends and Future Issues (CTFI) committee, Hamzat Saba and Khala Granville Wiliamson have agreed to launch a new segment each episode titled Shifting Currents. Highlighting trends and issues that are impacting the profession, this episode's segment is an introduction to the CTFI committee and what we can expect to hear about! Then, our newest host, Kiara Alexander, joins Janssen Keiger in talking with the LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group's leadership, Caleb Shankle and Raquel Sobczak, about what pride means to the college admissions profession!

In our third episode, we sit down with Kevin Medina and Jack Fulco, members of the PCACAC Government Relations Committee, to learn about their projects and National Advocacy Day. Listen now and let our PCACAC Podcast Production Team know what you would like to hear more about this season. Anchors away!

Season 2 of The Anchor Exchange by PCACAC continues! In our second episode, we catch up with members from Community-Based-Organizations, college admissions professionals, and high school seniors, to learn more about the trends and experiences they are having this admissions cycle. Listen now and let our PCACAC Podcast Production Team know what you would like to hear more about this season as we continue drifting through these uncharted waters. Anchors away!

Season 2 of The Anchor Exchange by PCACAC is underway! Join us for our first episode in which we sit down to talk with our current president, president-elect, and past president to hear what values they feel the organization has brought them, how to get involved, how to get the most out of the upcoming conference, and more. Listen now and let our PCACAC Podcast Production Team know what you would like to hear more about this season - we cannot wait to explore unchartered waters with you. Anchors away!

PCACAC College Fair Chair Margaret Omwenga and Vice Chair Chris Gothard talk about the upcoming PCACAC Virtual College Fair being held on May 15 and 16 for students and counselors in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Colleges can register by Monday, April 18.

Welcome back for a special feature episode of The Anchor Exchange! Earlier this week, hundreds of college counseling professionals gathered in Harrisonburg, VA for the 57th Annual PCACAC Conference. We were privileged to interview and honor the keynote speaker and CEO of NACAC, Angel Perez. Tune in to hear his insight on the state of the field, mental health of students, DEI initiatives, and ways to grow in both PCACAC and NACAC. If you haven't already, check out the NACAC podcast network at https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/nacac-podcast-network/. 

The leadership of PCACAC past, present, and future joins us for the Season 1 finale with a conversation about our beloved region's organization. Tune in as James Massey Jr., current President, Rebekah LaPlante, and President-Elect, Ann Marie Straus, discuss the essence of the Potomac and Chesapeake region, getting involved, and their vision for the future as we approach the annual conference in April. We also have some departing news from our host, Jonathan Gowin, as he embarks on a new professional journey with a push for our listeners to get involved with the production of The Anchor Exchange for Season 2. For inquiries, email us at [email protected].

On this week's episode, Damian Garcia, Co-Director of College Counseling at Glenelg Country School, and Anthony Ambrogi, Director of College Counseling at St. Catherine's School, continue with our theme of "Advancing Yourself and the Profession" as they delve into the idea of leadership in the field. 

Student mental health has been a hot topic for years, but as is certainly no surprise, the pandemic caused these issues to skyrocket. On top of that, the college admission process became more arcane as we struggled to transform the ways that we connect with students families. For this episode, we brought in Alice Whitener, School Counselor at Chantilly High School, and Jessica Monterastelli, Associate Director of College Counseling at Friends School of Baltimore, to share their observations from the public and independent school spheres. We talk trends and counselor intervention, and discuss how colleges can communicate more empathetically with students and families. Note: The audio quality for this episode is slightly lower due to technical difficulties experienced while recording.

We have officially entered the second theme of season one of The Anchor Exchange, which focuses on both student and professional wellness. This episode is inspired by Toni Morrison's great quote, "You are not the work that you do, you are the person you are." Fatmata Koroma, Associate Director of College Counseling at Georgetown Day School, and Alison Weston, Enrollment Management and Transfer Services Coordinator at New River Community College, come together to discuss the value of and strategies for developing your own professional mission and philosophy. They cover everything ranging from how to know if the field is the right fit for you to tips and tricks for self-preservation while still diving head first into your professional passions. With this they also touch upon how to identify the things and people that not only inspire, but can be turned to for guidance. Embark with us on this journey of self-care as we count the days down to the Annual PCACAC Conference in Harrisonburg, Virginia: https://pcacac.memberclicks.net/2022-conference 

That's right, listeners--the in-person, 57th PCACAC Annual Conference is back this April in Harrisonburg, Virginia! This week, hear from Rosemary Martin Edwards, Chair of the Conference Planning Committee and Leader of PCACAC's LatinX SIG, about all the great reasons why you should show out for this year's #StrongerTogether Conference. We talk logistics and share stories of gatherings past and--as usual--riff on the world of admission. For more details and to register today, visit the main conference webpage: https://pcacac.memberclicks.net/2022-conference Note: The audio quality for this episode is slightly lower due to technical difficulties experienced while recording. 

This week's episode of The Anchor Exchange brings together Michael Pina from the University of Richmond and Wendy Ayala from Collegiate Directions to discuss the recruitment of minoritized and underserved student populations and a critical programming component in engaging with those students: the fly-in program. We discuss that major challenges facing those students today, with particular focus on the impact of COVID on inclusive recruitment practices. We also spend some time exploring innovation in this space; for example, is the idea of a virtual fly-in effective and equitable? Tune in to learn more about what institutions are doing to "lean in" to inclusive recruitment and how to build programs that ensure students aren't left behind in the process.

Happy New Year, College Admission Colleagues! Leading us into 2022, we have Calvin Wise of Johns Hopkins University and Hannah Wolff of Langley High School with us to continue a conversation that's going on in our profession for years: what do we do about the high school visit? Is it still relevant? Should we do away with it or is it still a valid and valued recruitment tool? We talk recruitment and rural and first-generation-to-college students, and guests bring a healthy dose of optimism to the conversation to keep our spirits up.

In this episode, Barbara and Bethany will share their take on collaboration between high school counselors and community-based organizations, as well as their experiences as volunteers in various admission professional organizations. They'll share their wisdom and advice for listeners seeking growth through volunteering and trusting relationships with colleges around the college admission table. Thank you to Barbara Conner (Foxcroft School) & Bethany Ely (Next One Up) for coming on the show!

Today, we’ll continue our conversation about relationship building in recruiting students through a slightly different prospective. This time, we’ll hear from two non-admissions folks: Barbara Conner, Director of College Counseling at the Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA and Bethany Ely, Director of College and Career Counseling at Next One Up, a community-based organization focused on college access in Baltimore, MD. In this first part of our conversation, you’ll hear about their respective journeys through education and we’ll talk about building trust between professional groups in the work of college admission. Spoiler alert: Integrity is everything! In Barbara's words: "Say what you'll do and then do what you say."

Today, we finish our conversation with Luis & Sofia about relationships in our recruitment world and dive into the advice they have for folks newer to the work. As stated early in the episode, it all hinges on Maya Angelou’s famous quote: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Thank you to Luis Portillo, Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, and Sofia Fallas, Admissions Counselor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for being our inaugural guests on the show! Helpful Links: Mid-Atlantic Regional Counselors Association (MARCA) DMV Admissions Recruiters Facebook Group

To explore our first theme of Recruitment, this first episode features two admission professionals who exemplify both excellence in the work and openness and intentionality in connecting with colleagues at other institutions: Luis Portillo, Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, and Sofia Fallas, Admissions Counselor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We know the value of relationships in this profession; listen along as we explore how these friendships are made and hear advice from our guests! 

The Anchor Exchange is a podcast and conversation space developed by college admission professionals for college admission professionals. Produced by the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, The Anchor Exchange promises to provide a new space for the voices of college admission to be heard and to highlight our colleagues who often work and innovate under the radar: the “unsung heroes” of our world.