In the heat of the pandemic, we were all working from home. There was no "hybrid" element to worry about - just a whole new way of working. Since then, every aspect of our job can be measured against the question, "Do I need to be in the office to do this?"

But with the flexibility comes challenges that didn't exist before.

Given our longer runs in the profession, we thought this would be a great topic for folks who see this current approach as more normal and mainstream than those of us who've been around for a minute.

Lexi Aguayo, Senior Associate Director at Pepperdine University

Ebony Sistrunk, Associate Director of College Counseling at The Whitefield School

Well, if there ever were a topic for your hosts to step aside, this is it. In admissions, we are used to a thousand thought pieces about "this generation" being different than "that one" or "the one before that" or even "the first half of this generation."

Often, it's unique, valuable insights. Often, it's universal truths masquerading as generational research.

To dig in deeper, we have two great guests who are both gen z and rising stars in their affiliates:

Savvi Leach, Admissions Counselor at Bellin College

Logan Blunt, Regional Admissions Representative at Wichita State University

Is there a disconnect between the job we signed up for and the job we have?

To the extent that there is, why does that disconnect exist, and what impact does it have on us? On students? On our institutions?

Joining us to tackle those questions are:

Lai Ara Powell, Associate Director of Recruitment at Temple University School of Pharmacy

Eric Grego, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment at King's College

After a long break, we are thrilled to be back with another compelling season of The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.

This season, we're switching things up. After ten seasons of bringing you some of the leading voices in college admissions, for season eleven, we're bringing you some of the people who are becoming leading voices.

Season eleven is all about the rising stars of our profession, shining a spotlight on folks earlier in their career than you might be used to.

Here's to the next ten seasons being as great as the first ten!

Rural recruitment requires more than a map and a mileage log, it demands real understanding. In this bonus episode, we dig into the misconceptions about rural students, the values that shape their college choices, and how colleges can build genuine connections beyond the big cities.

Our guest this week brings deep on-the-ground insight:

• Conner Ellinghuysen, Director of Admissions and Head Archery Coach at Buena Vista University (IA) and President-Elect of Iowa ACAC

From small-town visits to community trust, Conner shares what makes rural outreach unique, and what colleges can do better.

More money, more possibilities. For our Season 10 finale, we asked a simple but revealing question: if your admissions or counseling budget grew by 20%, where would you put it, and why?

Our guests share how they’d prioritize resources, balance quick wins with long-term investments, and make the case for more support:

• Cicily Shaw, Director of College Counseling at Thayer Academy (MA) and Past-President of New England ACAC

• Stephanie Dickerson, Associate Director of Admissions for Outreach & Scholarships at the University of Louisville (KY) and Past-President of Kentucky ACAC

Their answers may surprise you, and spark your own ideas for what to do with more funding.

We talk a lot about students ghosting colleges, but what about when we’re the ones who disappear? This week, we take a closer look at why admissions offices sometimes go silent, what that means for relationships, and how to re-engage students more intentionally.

Our guests bring both the high school and college perspectives:

• Diane Campbell, Director of College Counseling at Liberty Common School (CO) and Past President of Rocky Mountain ACAC

• Dr. Jose Valentine, Dean of Enrollment Management at San Jacinto College (TX) and President-Elect of Texas ACAC

They share honest reflections on communication gaps, data-driven follow-up, and how to keep students feeling seen, even when time and budgets are tight.

Registrars often work behind the scenes, but their impact on admissions, transfer credit, and graduation is enormous. This week, we explore how admissions and registrar’s offices can move from occasional overlap to meaningful collaboration.

Our guests bring both the school counseling and campus perspectives:

• Adam Stout, Co-Director of College Counseling at The Prairie School (WI) and President-Elect of Wisconsin ACAC

• Alyson Leas, Director of Admissions at the University of Jamestown (ND) and Past President of Dakota ACAC

They share candid insights on where breakdowns happen, what strong partnerships look like, and how better collaboration can improve student success.

Faculty can be some of the most powerful allies (or unexpected challenges) in student recruitment. This week we explore how to move from “favors” to real partnerships with academic departments, and what makes faculty involvement meaningful for students.

Our guests bring both the high school and college perspectives:

• Amanda Chapman, Director of College Counseling at The Whitfield School (MO) and President-Elect of Missouri ACAC

• Christine Grotzke, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Michigan Technological University (MI) and President of Illinois ACAC

Together, they share how faculty shape student impressions, how to build stronger collaborations, and where admissions leaders can start.

Campus visits have long been seen as the ultimate recruitment tool, but is that still true today? This week we explore whether in-person visits remain the deciding factor, how virtual options compare, and what makes a visit truly impactful for students.

Our guests bring perspectives from both high school counseling and admissions offices:

• Sasha Rashid, School Counselor at Henry P. Becton High School (NJ) and President of New Jersey ACAC

• Dan Revier, Senior Admissions Representative at University of Mary (ND) and President-Elect of Dakota ACAC

They share what students focus on during visits, how colleges can adapt, and whether the campus tour still reigns supreme.