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Transforming Admissions Through Alumni Engagement | Nastaran Hakimi & Meg Shannon
Transforming Admissions Through Alumni Engagement | Nastaran Hakimi & Meg Shannon
In this episode, Nastaran Hakimi and Meg Shannon from Boston University Academy share how they’ve built an innovative alumni interviewing program that now handles 150 admissions interviews per season. They discuss the evolution from a small Saturday program to a comprehensive initiative that engages alumni across the country through virtual interviews, personalized email campaigns, and speaking opportunities. Learn their practical strategies for training alumni interviewers, keeping them updated on school changes, managing evening interview schedules, and addressing family perceptions about interview importance. The conversation reveals how this collaboration between admissions and alumni relations creates wins across the board: reducing staff workload, providing more equitable access through evening and weekend interviews, keeping young alumni engaged with the school, and giving prospective families authentic connections with graduates who’ve lived the school experience.
Nastaran Hakimi is the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement at Boston University Academy, where she oversees admissions, alumni relations, and marketing. Meg Shannon serves as Senior Associate Director of Admission. Together, they’ve built BUA’s alumni engagement initiatives over 13+ years at the school.
Hosts & Guests
Matt Soule | Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School
Angie Ward | Enroll Media Group
Nastaran Hakimi
Meg Shannon
Upgrade School Marketing now on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
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Transforming Admissions Through Alumni Engagement | Nastaran Hakimi & Meg Shannon
In this episode, Nastaran Hakimi and Meg Shannon from Boston University Academy share how they’ve built an innovative alumni interviewing program that now handles 150 admissions interviews per season. They discuss the evolution from a small Saturday program to a comprehensive initiative that engages alumni across the country through virtual interviews, personalized email campaigns, and speaking opportunities. Learn their practical strategies for training alumni interviewers, keeping them updated on school changes, managing evening interview schedules, and addressing family perceptions about interview importance. The conversation reveals how this collaboration between admissions and alumni relations creates wins across the board: reducing staff workload, providing more equitable access through evening and weekend interviews, keeping young alumni engaged with the school, and giving prospective families authentic connections with graduates who’ve lived the school experience.
Nastaran Hakimi is the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement at Boston University Academy, where she oversees admissions, alumni relations, and marketing. Meg Shannon serves as Senior Associate Director of Admission. Together, they’ve built BUA’s alumni engagement initiatives over 13+ years at the school.
Hosts & Guests
Matt Soule | Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School
Angie Ward | Enroll Media Group
Nastaran Hakimi
Meg Shannon
Upgrade School Marketing now on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
Related Episodes
Transforming Admissions Through Alumni Engagement | Nastaran Hakimi & Meg Shannon
by Upgrade School Marketing | Nov 12, 2025 |
Transforming Admissions Through Alumni Engagement | Nastaran Hakimi & Meg Shannon In this episode, Nastaran Hakimi and Meg Shannon from Boston University Academy share how they've built an innovative alumni interviewing program that now handles 150 admissions...
Building Stronger School Teams with the Six Types of Working Genius | Miriam Stein
by Angie Ward | Aug 23, 2025 |
Building Stronger School Teams with the Six Types of Working Genius In this episode, team strategist Miriam Stein reveals how schools can transform their team dynamics using the Six Types of Working Genius assessment. Drawing from over 20 years of experience working...
All About Yield | Admissions Roundtable
by Angie Ward | Feb 11, 2025 |
This panel-style episode comprises 5 Enrollment Management, Admission and Marketing Professionals from 5 different independent schools who are ready to talk yield. From clever acceptance packages and videos, to email marketing, ads, and beyond, this discussion is packed with creative ideas to help Independent Schools move parents and students from the acceptance stage to enrolled status.