NACAC Conference - the best and busiest 3-day conference for any admission professional. It’s a combination of new learning, hope for the future, and friendships to last a lifetime.

If you told 18-year-old me that I’d end up working in education, I would’ve laughed, cried, or maybe just walked away pretending I didn’t hear you. It wasn’t my first choice. Honestly, it probably wasn’t my second either. But somehow, here I am - working at NCC in admissions - and I can’t even lie… I’ve found my home in higher ed.

Like many admission counselors and representatives, I wear many hats on campus, and one of the biggest parts of my fall is travel! Many of us “road warriors” hit the road in early September and are just now wrapping up our travel season.

I am thrilled to share more about the 2025 L.E.A.P Conference and what makes it so special. L.E.A.P, which stands for Leading and Excelling, Academically and Professionally, is an annual conference held for 10th-12th grade students in Iowa. While all students are welcome, a majority of the attendees are first-generation, low-income, or underrepresented students. L.E.A.P can make such a difference in these students’ lives by getting them connected with individuals and resources that will help shape their futures- no matter what path they choose.

Say hello to Jasmine Washington, Cornell College, our new Inclusion, Access, and Success (IAS) Committee Chairperson! Jasmine is jumping in feet first as she leads the IAS Committee in preparation for the 2025 LEAP Conference on December 2 at Kirkwood Community College.

As I begin my second fall semester in admissions — having started in November 2023— I’m struck by how different this season feels. It’s not just  the rhythm of the academic year or the changing campus energy; it’s the sense of familiarity and forward motion that comes with experience.

The Iowa ACAC Executive Board gathered in Okoboji, Iowa, in early August for our annual retreat. It was a great opportunity for both new and returning board members to connect, get to know each other, and better understand our roles and responsibilities within the Association.

It’s hard to believe the new recruitment cycle is right around the corner! Summer has flown by, and it’s time to gear up for the 2025/2026 College Fair season.

It was another successful RIDE in June, as school counselors and CCTCs took time out of their early summer to "Rediscover Iowa's Diverse Education!" 

Facebook got me in trouble. I recently posted a picture in one of my happy places—pouring world-class beer samples at last year’s Northside Oktoberfest in Iowa City. (Editor's note: Not TROUBLE - just a request for this article! :)

Whew — what a fantastic conference week we had! It was truly rewarding to see all our hard work and planning come to life as we Bridged Together at Indian Hills Community College.

Four of our new committee chairs took over after the spring conference. One has been involved since the fall, but we wanted to officially introduce her, too! 

On weekends starting in April, there is a pretty high chance you could find me with dirt under my fingernails and my hair stuffed into a hat. I have been spending every weekend, and some weeknights, over the last month and a half working on my home vegetable garden and a demonstration garden at Lowe Park in Marion, IA.

How do I describe the RIDE? I moved to Iowa 7 years ago from the beautiful State of Hawaii. The first question students asked me was “Why” and the second question after I sat down with them to do their career planning was “What’s this college or that college like?”

Working in College Admissions for the past 14 years has been incredibly rewarding in so many ways. Yes, we face burnout, spend a lot of time on the road, and put in extra hours—often for less-than-ideal pay. However, I believe in the work we do, I see the impact we have on students, and I never wake up dreading my job. For me, that is a true blessing.

Back in the day, we got all our Iowa ACAC updates by snail mail—postcards, flyers, newsletters. Now it’s all digital (yay for less paper!). But I know how easy it is to feel buried in emails and miss things...I know I overlook sometimes.

Spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means—it's almost time for the Iowa ACAC Conference!

The new year has brought a sense of reflection and gratitude for being part of this group. One of the reasons that I appreciate being part of the college admissions and school counseling community is the sense of purpose, resilience, and tenacity of the individuals in these professions.

The 2025 conference planning team is hard at work, and we're buzzing with excitement about creating an unforgettable experience for all attendees. As the chair of this amazing team, I’d like to personally invite you to join us at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa this coming May for what promises to be an inspiring and fun-filled event: “Bridging Together in Higher Education”.

LEAP 2024 Conference took place on Wednesday, November 20th at DMACC. This year's conference featured a keynote address from Jordan Brooks from Iowa State University who challenged students to manifest their dreams and how knowing themselves can help them find a college and career that combines their passions and interests.