Dr. Courtney Skiles, the director of recruiting and admissions at Trinity Valley Community College, shares an unexpected tactic her team uses to engage students and increase college applications: dressing down. 

By wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and cool shoes, TVCC recruiters aim to be relatable and break down barriers between college representatives and high school students. This tactic has resulted in one in five students applying to their college after a visit. 

Courtney emphasizes the importance of building rapport and making students feel comfortable by sharing personal stories and being relatable. Overall, her mindset and leadership has led to an 8% increase in enrollment and has challenged the traditional perception of college as a distant and unattainable goal.

Guest Name: Courtney Skiles, Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Trinity Valley Community College

Guest Social Handles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyskiles56/

Guest Bio: Courtney Skiles is the Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, TX. She found her passion for higher ed as a student at TVCC in 2016 and has relentlessly pursued her higher ed career and education ever since. She is a proud gen-z leader that specializes in student engagement, creative problem solving, and organizational change. She recently earned her Doctor of Education in higher education leadership from Maryville University and aims to utilize her career to continuously promote higher education to underserved populations.

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Dayana Kibilds
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayanakibilds/

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