On this episode of Enrollment Edge, I talk to Jae Denson, college advisor and coach, as well as founder of JD Educates—a company that helps students find the right college, the right program, and the right fit. We’ll talk about the challenges that college-bound students face, especially first generation students. Jae points out the need for colleges to better communicate the real costs and value versus indebtedness to students who do not have the background to fully understand the investment of a college degree. Listen to how Jae describes his advising philosophy that there are multiple pathways to a career and there are multiple careers that student should be considering. For enrollment managers, his insights into student needs and concerns should lead to real changes to recruitment messages given prospective students and their families. 

About Our Guest
The quote “education plus character, that is the goal of true education.” from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, is what motivates Jae Denson, Founder of Jae D. Educates, to provide students
with a personalized coaching experience. These coaching experiences prompt self-awareness and finding the students’ true “academic fit” when identifying institutions and financial resources for the college admissions process or career promotion.

A native of Columbus, OH, Jae grew his passion for higher education at his undergraduate alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, where he became a student office assistant in the Office of the President, under the leadership of then University President, Dr. Walter Broadnax. From this experience, Jae was able to make important connections to his love of public speaking and relationship management with education. He later started his career at Clark Atlanta as an admissions counselor and tour coordinator, shortly after receiving his Bachelor’s in Public Relations. 

Jae has proven time and again that he is a lifelong learner. In addition to his Bachelor’s from Clark Atlanta, Jae received his Master’s in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration from Strayer University, along with a graduate certification from Franklin University for Instructional Design & Performance Technology. 

While working as the Associate Director of Admissions at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Jae was instrumental in developing the Commitment to Access Resources through Education (C.A.R.E.) Program that recruited dental applicants from underserved communities in Ohio to train there and help the healthcare disparities in their communities after graduation. 

Most recently, Jae was the Director of Student Recruitment, Admissions & Diversity at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In this role, Jae provided direction and oversight to the development of recruitment activities and student diversity initiatives, including both K-12 and college aged students.

Jae’s vision for Jae D. Educates is to ensure a quality application to an undergraduate, professional institution or scholarship organization. He hopes one day that he and his company will work with foster care organizations and other non-profits that guide the underserved and often overlooked youth.