ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Ken Anselment

Business Careers EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

105

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Ken Anselment hosts a series of one-on-one conversations with people who have been climbing the leadership mountain in the world of college admissions. Some are nearing the summit. Some are already there. But how did they get there? And what can other climbers learn from their mindsets, habits, and experiences? © Ken Anselment 2024

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 247 min

Amy Hutton: Where Data Meets Storytelling

What do Broadway stage management, a PhD in statistics, and enrollment leadership have in common? For Amy Hutton, vice chancellor of enrollment management at the University of Colorado Boulder, the through line is people. Amy joins her Colorado neighbor, Ken, to trace an unconventional journey from professional theater to higher education—and the curiosity, mentors, and willingness to ask that helped her along the way. They explore why strategy happens at the intersection of data and storytelling, what stage managers understand about leading humans, and how getting off the grid helps a team learn to trust itself. Along the way: finding purpose after achieving an early dream, making room for voices beyond your own, and raising adventurous kids. 00:00 — Introduction and Dad jokes 01:52 — From aspiring music teacher to professional stage manager 04:52 — A professor sees a possibility Amy hasn’t considered 06:24 — Parenthood, music admissions, and an unexpected career turn 07:05 — “I want your job. What do I need to do?” 10:08 — Building a network and taking the shot before you feel ready 13:20 — From reading the handbook to helping write the next edition 15:46 — Strategy at the intersection of data and storytelling 17:13 — What stage management teaches us about leading people 18:35 — Executive coaching, therapy, and being a whole human 20:20 — Putting the strategic back into strategic enrollment management 22:37 — Building trust and telling the story behind the numbers 25:30 — Public trust and the value of higher education 28:02 — Achieving the dream—and discovering what’s missing 31:23 — Family, getting off the grid, and trusting your team 34:32 — Listening, asking better questions, and conducting the orchestra 38:16 — The Rapid Descent: movie scores, books, baking, and beautiful notebooks 44:38 — Seeing something in someone—and telling them 45:17 — The next adventure: the Tour du Mont Blanc Mentioned in This Episode Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Generations by Jean M. Twenge The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt The Daily and The Journal podcasts “Ode” by Arthur O’Shaughnessy — the poem behind the Willy Wonka quotation AAC&U’s work on advancing public trust in higher education Amy’s Walkout Music The theme from the Remember the Titans film score—the music that accompanied her dissertation writing. The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 5, 2026Episode 147 min

Mary Napier: From Recruiting Students to Recruiting Leaders

Season 13 opens with someone who has helped generations of admissions and enrollment professionals find their way: Mary Napier, founder advisor of NES Executive Search and recipient of NACAC’s 2026 Gayle C. Wilson Outstanding Service to the Profession Award . With the NACAC conference approaching, Mary joins Ken to reflect on the career turns, relationships, and moments of discernment that led her from recruiting students to recruiting leaders. They explore what readiness for senior leadership looks like today, why the listening tour never ends, and how to navigate the disappointment of a job that goes to someone else. 00:00 — Welcome to Season 13 01:18 — A call from Angel and an unexpected honor 04:07 — Service to the profession, one colleague at a time 05:19 — From sitting in the chair to helping others find it 07:30 — Believing in the work and the people it serves 09:41 — Listening, connecting, and playing the long game 12:21 — Taking the leap toward executive search 15:05 — Discerning what an institution needs 16:37 — Finding the work that brings everything together 18:47 — What readiness for senior leadership means today 20:44 — Quick wins that build credibility and collaboration 22:52 — The listening tour never ends 23:52 — Curiosity, assessment, and relationships across campus 26:06 — The enrollment leader as translator and meaning maker 27:18 — Seeing the person beyond the résumé 29:43 — Delivering disappointment with honesty and care 33:04 — Building a career with purpose and patience 36:03 — Letting your boss know where you hope to go 37:07 — When the work fits who you are 38:48 — A George Bailey moment for Mary 41:24 — Rapid Descent 45:43 — Heading into NACAC with gratitude Mentioned in This Episode NES Executive Search NACAC’s awards and Mary’s recognition Walkout song: “Here Comes the Sun” — The Beatles Best recent read: The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins Next read: Finding Me — Viola Davis Favorite podcast: Good Hang with Amy Poehler The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

April 17, 2026Episode 338 min

Coming Back to Ourselves: Solitude with Angel Pérez

In this episode of Coming Back to Ourselves , Ken Anselment sits down with Angel Pérez CEO of NACAC to explore how silence, solitude, and intentional time away can help leaders reconnect with themselves—and lead more effectively. Angel shares how a period of burnout early in his tenure led him to meditation, journaling, and solo time in nature. What began as a personal reset has become a core leadership practice. Together, they explore: Why silence and solitude are essential in a noisy profession How slowing down can actually improve decision-making The idea of “working in seasons” instead of constant output How meditation sharpens awareness and presence Why time away should be considered part of your work strategy Finding awe—even in small, everyday moments The conversation also touches on gratitude, journaling, and the power of noticing what’s already around us—but often unseen. For folks navigating pressure, pace, and constant demand, this episode offers a different path forward—one grounded not in doing more, but in coming back to yourself. (Recommended reading: Cal Newport's Slow Productivity: The Lost of Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout ) 00:00 — Introduction to Angel Pérez and the idea of “coming back to ourselves” 02:00 — When you need to step away… where do you go? 03:00 — “I turn to silence”: solitude as a leadership practice 04:10 — Meditation as training (start small, build the muscle) 06:25 — Silence as problem-solving: letting answers emerge 09:00 — Solitude, rest, and showing up as your best self 12:45 — “You can go faster by going slower” 14:00 — Seeing the world differently after slowing down 16:15 — Burnout → awakening: the moment that changed everything 18:30 — Investing in yourself (and why it matters now) 20:10 — Shenandoah: perspective, gratitude, and being a “tiny speck” 22:35 — Holding onto silence after the moment ends 24:00 — Accessing awe anywhere—even in the middle of a city 25:30 — Gratitude journaling and capturing moments that matter 27:30 — Creating a daily “fortress of solitude” 29:00 — Time away as part of your work strategy (not separate from it) 31:30 — Working in seasons and protecting your energy 33:15 — Listening for the “whispers” 34:30 — Noticing what’s already there (the “trust the process” moment) 36:45 — Final reflections: making space, slowing down, and coming back to yourself 38:00 — Closing The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

April 10, 2026Episode 236 min

Coming Back to Ourselves: Deep Listening with Brian Pertl

In this episode of Coming Back to Ourselves , Ken is joined by his longtime friend and creative partner, Brian Pertl —a musician, ethnomusicologist, didgeridooist, and practitioner of deep listening. Together, they explore the practice of deep listening, a concept developed by composer Pauline Oliveros , and what it means to truly pay attention to the world around us ... and within us. Through stories, laughter, and reflection, Brian shares how deep listening can: awaken creativity and play build connection and belonging help us regulate, reset, and remember our five-year-old selves This episode also includes a guided deep listening exercise with a full minute of intentional silence. Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction to Brian Pertl (didgeridoo, deep listener, and longtime collaborator) 00:30 — Why this season calls us to “come back to ourselves” 03:27 — What is deep listening? The story behind the practice 05:35 — Listening beyond what we normally notice 07:46 — Deep listening as culture-building and leadership practice 11:22 — A simple deep listening exercise using words and sound 13:18 — From vulnerability to shared meaning: what emerges in groups 15:27 — “Feeling comfortable being uncomfortable” 18:08 — Sound, space, and play 22:20 — Why there are no wrong notes (and no wrong ways to participate) 23:43 — Practicing deep listening in nature 26:05 — What do you hear when you pause? 28:00 — Listening as presence—and as an embodied practice 31:05 — Guided deep listening exercise (find a quiet place) 32:50 — One minute of intentional silence 33:55 — Returning from the exercise: what did you notice? 35:19 — Final reflections and remembering your five-year-old self The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

April 3, 2026Episode 137 min

Coming Back to Ourselves: Microdosing Awe with Joy Jordan

Springtime in admissionsland has a way of pulling us out of ourselves and making us more human doings than human beings. In this opening episode of a special ALP miniseries— Coming Back to Ourselves —Ken is joined by mindfulness teacher (and former Lawrence statistics professor) Joy Jordan to explore a different way of moving through this season. Together, they talk about: the idea of “microdosing awe” why mindfulness doesn’t require more time—just more noticing how small pauses can restore perspective, agency, and clarity and what it really means to “come home” to yourself Highly recommend checking out Joy's website: bornjoy.com and signing up for her free Pocket Pause 00:00 – Opening + framing the series 02:00 – The phrase that launched this miniseries: “microdosing awe” 03:15 – Joy’s path: statistics → mindfulness 06:10 – The moment of truth 08:45 – What she actually teaches (and always has) 09:30 – What mindfulness really is 11:00 – The power of three breaths 12:00 – Practical micro-practices 15:00 – The hardest place to practice: with other people 16:30 – The deeper truth 18:45 – Practice outside the moment 20:30 – The trap: hustling your own well-being 25:00 – How Ken's panic moment can model vulnerability 27:00 – Reframing nerves as excitement 28:15 – For the skeptics: the science is clear 29:30 – Awe as a practice 31:00 – Ways to microdose awe 33:25 – Dacher Keltner's work Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life 34:30 – You are enough The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 24, 2025Episode 1158 min

Emily Smith: This One Goes to 11

For the Season 11 finale— the season's 11th episode—we go to 11, earning ourselves an "E" for some cussin' In the ALP's most meta-episode, two podcasters hit record and promptly turn the show into a show about conversation, consulting, and being human. Emily Smith , VP of Partner Success at CollegeVine and host of the terrific podcast, The Vinedown with Emily Smith , joins Ken to talk podcast origin stories, why vendor content too often feels “imperious,” and how she builds a looser, more generous show that invites guests to actually "go there." We compare notes on consulting craft (including Ken's early tendency to overdeliver), the outsider/insider lens she’s honed across work with hundreds of colleges, and a smart take on AI as a thought partner—not a cheat code. Emily also drops a keeper: pattern-break vision —spotting the stale thing we repeat for no good reason and reframing it so others can finally see it. The episode, in true Emily fashion, is quick, witty, and wildly human. (Her take on Mary Oliver's poetry in the Rapid Descent is gold.) 00:00 — Cold-open chaos 05:38 — Emily’s show origin, friction of starting, and why “imperious” content misses the mark 07:32 — Trust from CollegeVine; leaning out from salesy moments 10:44 — Early episodes, dropping the brand preamble, finding the voice 13:37 — Doubt & impostor syndrome thread (and why it shows up) 15:46 — Outsider vs. insider: value of the outside lens; “600 colleges” perspective 19:18 — Consulting arc: outsider credibility, my over-delivering phase, and the line “everything you say must be true… but you need not say every true thing” 22:22 — “Noise-lumberjack”: cutting clutter vs. adding it 24:28 — Community building and how Emily chooses (and handles inbound) guests 29:02 — Jeff Selingo gets a public invite to join the show + the “VP Council” mini-series idea (a teaser for season 12). 34:06 — Using GPT well: training on transcripts; AI as creative accelerator 40:30 — Key takeaway, from pattern-match to pattern-break vision 43:33 — Rapid Descent (spoiler, there's talk of heliskiing in Alaska) 55:16 — Outtake: first meeting, Colorado life, and Emily's “Hello Humans” sign The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 17, 2025Episode 1049 min

Chris George: On Joy, Grit, Epic Runs and Organ Donation

Chris George —Associate Vice President for Enrollment at St. Olaf College—brings joy, grit, and a runner’s curiosity to this conversation that has less to do with enrollment leadership than it does with living life fully. We trace his path from student life to directing financial aid on day one; how the Lawlor Summer Seminar jump-started a lifelong habit of building a board of experts; and why he asks his team to buy two coffees a year with people outside their lane. We detour to Japan (the Shimanami Kaidō ride), a sunrise stair run inside Athens’ original Olympic stadium, and a family story that turns organ donation into triumph—culminating in a father–son-daughter triathlon three months post-transplant. (I'm not crying; you're crying.) We close with what Japan is doing about its own enrollment cliff and the best advice Chris ever got: understand why a process exists before you change it. Inspired by Chris's story? Visit donatelife.net 00:00 — Cold open with the “most joyful person in admission.” 02:45 — From residence life to enrollment: the six-story Christmas Eve flood that changed everything. 05:05 — “Director on day one”: learning financial aid by building a network fast. 08:20 — Lawlor Summer Seminar → lifelong connectors; creating your board of experts. 11:55 — Internal networking: have two coffees a year outside your lane. 13:30 — Campus beat reporters example (disability services as cross-campus liaisons). 15:10 — Chris's approach to curating his social persona: runs, rides, and family. 16:15 — On how to truly arrive in a place. Chris's approach is to run in every city you sleep in (and what it reveals about place). 18:50 — Japan: solo ride on the Shimanami Kaidō; hospitality and arrival. 25:35 — Athens: alone inside the Panathenaic Stadium at sunrise—an all-timer. 27:55 — The arc of his son's post organ transplant journey: hospital hallway walks → stolen bases → a family triathlon. 32:05 — Call to action: become an organ donor ( donatelife.net ). 33:15 — Japan’s enrollment cliff: pathways to residency, international student strategy. 41:05 — Rapid Descent: walkout song, books, breakfast, and staying connected to Colorado sports. 45:25 — Best advice: understand the “why” before changing the “how.” 47:20 — Bucket list (Australia, Alaska, Ireland… and bring the family back to Greece). The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 10, 2025Episode 950 min

Jen Gagne: Laughter, Leadership and Memorable Rituals

Even though we've only known each other for less than two years, this episode feels like one between two old friends. The newly-minted Dr. Jen Gagne , Executive Director of Admissions at Colorado School of Mines , brings warmth and wit while digging into important stuff: pathways to thriving for queer-spectrum students, how she navigated being an internal candidate, why grad schools are structurally “separate and replicated,” and a spot-on pattern-match between kindergarteners and first-year college students. We also hit college football haircuts (yes, really), her terrific bucket-list twist on the B&B. Stick around for the epilogue where we swap stories about high-touch, memorable college welcome rituals that create community and belonging. Highlights 00:00 — An unusual opening and origin stories 03:30 — Overseeing undergrad and grad admissions at Colorado School of Mines. 04:50 — Mountains, mines, and the glowing “M” that lights up Golden. 05:50 — College football haircuts and mustaches ( look it up, friends ). 06:30 — From interim to Executive Director. 08:10 — Doctoral work on queer-spectrum students and the college experience. 09:30 — Language matters: why Jen uses “queer spectrum and trans spectrum.” 11:00 — Invisible minorities, safe-space signals, and vanishing LGBTQ centers. 15:20 — Inside view: navigating the tricky path of being an internal candidate. 19:30 — A non-traditional path through advising, career, and student life to EM. 22:20 — Why graduate admissions feels “separate and replicated.” 26:30 — The complexity of overlapping grad cycles and constant motion. 29:50 — Finding community and confidence in Colorado’s admissions network. 31:20 — Leadership in flux: “If you say you know what to do, you’re lying or delusional.” 33:35 — Pattern matching: how kindergartners and first-year students share the same transition. 36:00 — Rapid Descent, ( HOT TO GO! , Handsome , and The Speed of Trust ) 45:15 — Epilogue: Helluva Welcome week, ten-pound rocks, whitewashing the “M,” and hard-hats. Also, class colors, dirt and the formula for chlorophyll. The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 3, 2025Episode 854 min

Brian Troyer: On Pausing to Let Our Soul Catch Up

Brian Troyer, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Marquette University, joins the ALP for a conversation that explores the deep roots of Jesuit leadership and the lighthearted joys of life in Milwaukee, including: Marquette’s Gift of Time and why institutional rest matters. How the university discerned its move to test-optional admissions, grounded in archival research and mission alignment. The legacies of leaders like Ray Brown, Roby Blust, and the late President Mike Lovell — and how Brian carries that mantle forward. Reflections from the Ignatian Colleagues Program, including the reminder to “pause and let our soul catch up.” Brian’s dissertation on how high schoolers’ ecological environments shape their sense of what’s possible after graduation. Plus: Tolkien manuscripts, bourbon tours, and a meditation on raw vs. fried cheese curds. It’s a conversation about integrity, mission, and belonging ... peppered with a fair amount of laughter, reflection, friendship and bourbon. 01:30 – A family road trip and Marquette’s Gift of Time . 04:20 – Remembering Mike Lovell and lessons in leadership. 07:10 – Why and how Marquette went test-optional, with help from the archives. 09:20 – Tolkien manuscripts, reading The Hobbit to his son, and dreaming of Stephen Colbert in the archives. 12:30 – Retention milestones: two of the best years in Marquette’s history. 15:00 – Honoring Ray Brown and Roby Blust (and how Roby's fishing skills resemble that of a well-known biblical fisherman). 18:55 – Leadership lessons: integrity, mission alignment, and Shaka Smart’s “relationships, growth, victory.” 25:45 – Ignatian Colleagues Program and contemplatives in action. 28:45 – A six-day silent retreat and the wisdom of pausing to let our soul catch up. 31:30 – Dissertation insights: how ecology shapes student horizons. 36:00 – A bourbon detour: Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and Kentucky connections. 39:45 – Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce: Kopp’s burgers, Lakefront Brewery, and cheese curds. 43:15 – Raw vs. fried cheese curds: a meditation. 44:20 – Rapid Descent. The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

September 26, 2025Episode 745 min

Candace Boeninger: Holding Power with Purpose

Candace Boeninger, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ohio University, joins the ALP to share lessons from her journey into senior leadership, reflecting on her experience working with an executive coach and how it helped her navigate the transition to cabinet-level leadership, as well as her evolving understanding of power—and the responsibility that comes with it. Candace also shares her approach to “being a student of the profession,” including the podcasts and newsletters that keep her sharp. 00:00 — Welcome and Candace’s path to Ohio University. 06:00 — From construction software to admissions: “other duties as assigned” and career pivots. 13:30 — On career progression: “I want to do work that matters, and I don’t want to work for a bozo.” 15:30 — Leadership development and discovering executive coaching. 18:50 — The Hogan assessment and learning to find direction without waiting for top-down instruction. 24:20 — Lessons from coaching: finding her voice, learning to hold power, and using it responsibly. 28:50 — The tension between being a people pleaser and wielding power. 29:50 — “If you aren’t willing to become a student of the profession, then you’re probably not going to have very much fun.” 31:50 — Her routine for digesting information: Future U , NASFAA’s Off The Cuff , NACAC Admission News, NASFAA newsletter. 38:20 — Rapid Descent. The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education . Music arranged by Ryan Anselment