Admission Middle Management Institute (AMMI) serves as a unique professional development opportunity for mid-level leaders within the field of college admission. The workshop is designed to foster collegiality and transparency in the exchange of insight critical to professional advancement.

AMMI challenges participants with content suggested as essential to the successful growth trajectory of mid-level admission professionals. The leadership and facilitators of this workshop utilize small group discussions, promising practices and expert panels to cultivate life-long professional competencies and connections. Specific skills include strategic planning, managing and advocating for your budget, achieving success through coaching, and working with third-party vendors.

Program Director

• Derek Brinkley, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions/Columbia College Chicago
• Angie Cooksy, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management/Bradley University

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (PT)

Check-In & Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (PT)

Welcome and Introductions

Program Directors:
Derek Brinkley, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions, Columbia College Chicago
Dr. Angie Cooksy, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, Bradley University

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (PT)

What Does it Mean to Manage and Lead (and Take Care of You)?

Defining leadership. understanding the difference between a leader and a manager? And finally, tools needed to answer the question, how do you, as a leader, take care of yourself while managing others?

Presenters:
Chevonne Totten-Garner, Executive Director of Admissions, CalArts

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (PT)

Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (PT)

Strategic Data Analysis

Tailored for both the math-anxious and data nerds alike, attendees will engage with real world data problems relevant to senior level admissions/EM positions. A recent NACAC report noted a “lack of capacity among emerging professionals to perform the increasingly common data analysis functions of their positions”. This session will be an introduction to data analysis essentials, including asking the right questions, basis analysis methods, external data sources, turning data into strategy, and ethical dilemmas.

Presenter:
TBA

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (PT)

Lunch with CHIEF

12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (PT)

Resume Tips and Tricks/Peer-Review of Resume

How do you ensure that your resume is well-crafted for the next role you are looking to obtain? This session will provide tips and tricks on resumes and will include a peer review. Please bring a paper copy of your resume!

Presenter:
Angie Cooksy, EdD, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (PT)

Break

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (PT)

Knowing Your Audience in 2024: A Lesson from the Kendrick Lamar and Drake Feud

It’s exciting when the world hands us tangible lessons on a silver platter. Even better when we get sound bites to use in our meetings included in the learning. Such is the case with a particular element of the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

We will review the timeline and takeaways from the global phenomenon that is #BBLDrizzy. How can we apply lessons to our own institutional brand awareness and marketing efforts? How can we connect these concepts to leadership that has no idea who Drake or Kendrick Lamar is?

Presenter(s):
Dale Louis Gaubatz, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, University of the Virgin Islands

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (PT)

Career Exploration and Working with an Executive Search Firm

Many middle managers find it difficult to answer “what’s next?” in the midst of a successful and rewarding college admissions career. Others simply feel stuck and are in search of new challenges. Do you have to move out to move up? Have you really maximized opportunities to develop as a professional in your current role? Some AMMI attendees have firmly decided to make admissions and enrollment management their life’s work while others are at a crossroads. This session will be a time of self-assessment and reflection as you contemplate your career trajectory and explore methods to help you make strategic and thoughtful decisions.

Presenter:
Christy Pratt, Consultant, WittKieffer
Laura Robinson, Principal, NES
Robert Springall, Consultant, WittKieffer

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT)

Day 1 Wrap-Up

Thursday, September 26, 2024

7:00 am – 8:00 am (PT)

Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (PT)

Budget Workshop

Learn strategies on effectively managing budgets and prioritizing resources in an ever-changing industry.

Presenters:
TBA

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (PT)

Leadership and Career Panel

Unwind by asking confidential questions to a distinguished panel of senior admission enrollment management leaders. Panelists draw from their personal experiences to answer questions about the profession.

Presenters:
Adam Miller, Vice President for Admission & Financial Aid, Whitman College
Ashley M. Pallie, Dean of Admissions, Caltech
Falone Serna, Dean of Undergraduate Admission and Outreach, California Lutheran University
Dr. Wes Waggoner, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Southern Methodist University