Admit It, An AACRAO Podcast

College admissions isn't confusing by accident. It's confusing on purpose, and the people who built it know it.

Teege Mettille spent twenty years in higher education, rising from admissions counselor to vice president of enrollment at small private colleges across the Midwest. His book, College Is Broken, draws on more than a hundred interviews with admissions counselors, deans, enrollment executives, students, and parents to lay out how the system actually works.

In this episode, we dig into the discount-rate arms race and why so few schools are willing to walk away from it, the psychology behind "merit scholarships" and what an honest version might look like, and why presidents so often believe their own hype even when the data says otherwise. We close on what admissions professionals can change right now, without waiting for anyone above them to sign off.

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Academic Lead, M.Ed in Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guest:

Teege Mettille, Owner and College Planner at Class 101 in Brookfield, Wisconsin & Author of College is Broken

Leadership isn't just about supporting others. It's also about sustaining yourself. In this episode of Admit It, Dr. Cassandra Heath discusses the emotional demands of leadership and how leaders can empower and care for their teams while also prioritizing their own well-being. From navigating stress and uncertainty to avoiding burnout, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders striving to show up for others without losing themselves in the process.

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Academic Lead, M.Ed in Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guests:

Cassandra A. Heath, Ph.D.
University Registrar
Office of the Registrar
Biola University 

In this special live episode of Admit It, recorded at the AACRAO Annual Meeting 2026, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with two enrollment leaders from Texas A&M University to discuss their conference session, “On the Road to Recruitment: Regional Open Houses That Bring Campus to the Community.”

Joining the conversation are Laurie Castillo and Elisa Jones-Martinez, who share how Texas A&M’s San Antonio Regional Office has successfully hosted off-campus open houses for more than two decades, bringing the campus experience directly to prospective students and families across the region.

Together, they discuss the planning, logistics, and partnerships that make these regional events successful, as well as the lessons they have learned about engaging students, collaborating with campus partners, and maximizing impact while working within a limited budget. Their insights demonstrate how institutions can extend their reach and create meaningful connections with prospective students beyond the boundaries of campus.

Whether you are looking to expand your recruitment footprint, strengthen regional partnerships, or design high-impact events with limited resources, this episode offers practical strategies and inspiration for enrollment professionals seeking innovative ways to meet students where they are.

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor 
Northeastern University

Guests:

Laurie Castillo, Director of Regional Recruitment, Texas A&M San Antonio Regional Office

Elisa Jones-Martinez, Associate Director of Regional Recruitment, Texas A&M San Antonio Regional Office

In this special live episode of Admit It, recorded at the AACRAO Annual Meeting 2026, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with three leaders from University of Cincinnati to discuss their conference session, “Beyond Silos: Aligning Admissions, Registrar, and Student Success to Transform the Student Experience.”

Joining the conversation are Dr. DeRecco Lynch, Tara Warden, and Molly McDermott, who share how senior-level collaboration across Admissions, the Registrar’s Office, and Student Success helped the University of Cincinnati break down traditional departmental silos and create a more seamless student experience.

Together, they discuss how aligning goals, responsibilities, and communication across these critical areas reduced barriers for students and reframed retention as a shared institutional responsibility rather than the work of a single office. The episode highlights the power of cross-functional leadership and offers practical strategies for institutions seeking to strengthen collaboration and improve student outcomes.

Whether you work in admissions, registration, advising, or student success, this conversation provides actionable insights on how integrated enrollment and student success efforts can lead to meaningful institutional change.

Host:
Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guests:
Dr. DeRecco Lynch, Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management, University of Cincinnati

Tara Warden,  Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, University of Cincinnati

Molly McDermott, Assistant Vice Provost and University Registrar, University of Cincinnati

In this episode of Admit It, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with a team from SUNY Brockport to explore their SEM Conference presentation, “Bridging Recruitment & Retention Efforts: The Emerging Scholars Program.”

Joined by Dr. Sara Kelly, Vice President for Enrollment Management; Jianna Howard, Academic Success Coordinator; and Thomas Chew, Director of New Student and Transition Programs, the conversation highlights how institutions can better align recruitment and retention strategies to support student success from day one.

The team shares the development and impact of the Emerging Scholars Program, offering insights into how cross-functional collaboration—spanning enrollment, academic success, and student transition programs—can create a more seamless and supportive student experience. They discuss the challenges institutions face when these efforts operate in silos, and how intentional design can bridge those gaps to improve both access and persistence.

This episode provides practical takeaways for enrollment leaders, student success professionals, and anyone looking to better connect the front end of enrollment with the long-term success of students

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guests:

Dr. Sara Kelly, Vice President for Enrollment Management, SUNY Brockport 

Jianna Howard, Academic Success Coordinator, SUNY Brockport

Thomas Chew, Director of New Student and Transition Programs, SUNY Brockport

In this live episode of Admit It!, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with Dr. Michael Williams, Executive Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Effectiveness at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, to explore his SEM Conference presentation: “Re-Evaluating Program Success: A New Model for Non-Traditional Program Evaluation.”

Michael dives into how institutions can rethink what “successful” programs look like—especially those serving non-traditional, adult, and online learners. He introduces a new evaluation model that moves beyond traditional metrics to incorporate mission alignment, learner outcomes, market demand, and long-term sustainability. The conversation highlights why this shift is necessary, how Embry-Riddle developed its framework, and what lessons other institutions can apply when examining their own program portfolios.

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guest:

Dr. Michael Williams, Executive Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Effectiveness, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

In this live episode of Admit It!, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with Dr. Alicia Kornowa, Director of Admissions at Western Michigan University, to discuss her insightful SEM Conference presentation: “A Multiple Case Study of Four-Year Public, Non-flagship Universities: Meeting Common Institutional Goals of Increased Enrollment and Academic Profile.”

Dr. Kornowa shares findings from her multi-institution case study, highlighting the strategies, challenges, and shared themes among public non-flagship universities striving to grow enrollment while strengthening academic profile. The conversation explores what differentiates successful institutions, how leadership and organizational culture shape outcomes, and which data-driven approaches are proving most effective in today’s competitive landscape.

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guests:

Dr. Alicia Kornowa, Director of Admissions, Western Michigan University

In this live episode of Admit It!, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with Dr. Shannon Fuhrman, Director of Training & Development at Regent University, to discuss her engaging SEM Conference presentation: “Credentialing Your Campus: Building a Culture of Learning Within Your Enrollment Team.”

Shannon shares how Regent University has developed a structured credentialing model to strengthen professional growth, elevate staff expertise, and foster a culture of continuous learning within enrollment management. The conversation explores why credentialing matters, how it improves team performance and morale, and what it takes to implement a scalable, sustainable learning framework on campus.

Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor, Northeastern University

Guests:

Dr. Shannon Fuhrman, Director of Training & Development, Regent University

In this live episode of Admit It!, host Dr. Alex Fronduto sits down with Jessie Richardson, Online Program Manager, and Mason Mulnix, Data Analyst, both from The University of Alabama, to explore their innovative SEM Conference presentation: “Your First Class Free: Using Tuition Grants to Increase Admit to Enrollment Conversion and Reach Enrollment Goals.”

Together, Jessie and Mason break down how their institution leveraged a tuition-grant model to lower barriers for newly admitted students, improve yield, and strategically support enrollment growth.



Host:

Dr. Alex Fronduto
Faculty Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration & Associate Teaching Professor
Northeastern University

Guests:

Jessie Richardson, Online Program Manager, The University of Alabama

Mason Mulnix, Data Analyst, The University of Alabama

In this special Admit It! and Transfer TEA crossover episode, hosts Alex Fronduto and Loida González Utley sit down to discuss one of the most persistent challenges in higher education—bridging the divide between freshman and transfer admissions. Drawing from national data and institutional experiences, they examine why these two areas often operate in silos, the impact that disconnect has on students, and what innovative models are emerging to close the gap. The conversation explores institutional culture, communication, pathways, and practical strategies for creating a more seamless student experience from recruitment to graduation.

Hosts:

• Dr. Alex Fronduto
  Associate Teaching Professor & Faculty Program Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration
  Graduate School of Education, Northeastern University
• Loida González Utley
  Director, Recruitment and Enrollment Services
  Texas A&M University–Central Texas