NACAC Preconference Seminars are paid, 2.5 hour sessions that will be held on the morning of Thursday, October 8, 2026, ahead of the opening NACAC Conference 2026 Main Stage event.

These seminars can be added for an additional fee in the registration process.

Thursday, October 8, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CT
Minneapolis Convention Center

Seminar Offerings

The world of college athletics is consistently evolving and can be confusing and overwhelming for student-athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators. Enjoy a lively and interactive session with experts from the NCAA National Office and the secondary and post-secondary education communities as they help you better understand the changing landscape of college sports.

Speaker:

  • Matt Harris – Assistant Director of High School Review, National Collegiate Athletic Association 

How can counselors create a workshop environment that invites openness, vulnerability, and creativity? What’s the role of the facilitator? How much sharing is “too much” when it comes to describing mental health challenges? How can you get to know students quickly and deeply before reviewing their essays? We’ll discuss formats for 1-hr, 2-hr, 3-hr, multi-day, and multi-week workshops. Attendees will receive practical handouts (and slides!) they can use with students right away

Speakers:

  • Ethan Sawyer – Founder, College Essay Guy
  • Hanah Lim – Director of Workshops, College Essay Guy

This seminar is designed for independent educational consultants seeking to strengthen and future‑proof their businesses. Whether participants are launching a new practice or refining an established one, the seminar will explore key elements of successful business operations, including setting up a consultancy, scaling services thoughtfully, implementing strong financial and operational practices, engaging in professional development, and navigating ethical considerations unique to the profession. Through practical guidance, real‑world examples, and structured reflection, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to run a sustainable, professional, and values‑driven IEC business.

Speakers:

  • Marie Morris – Independent Consultant, Beyond 18 College Consulting
  • Teo Salgado – Principal, VerveSmith
  • Kate Van Pernis – Independent Higher Education Consultant, KVP Educational Consulting

The role of the chief enrollment officer has increasingly become what is described as "the hottest seat on campus," requiring leaders who can think strategically, exercise resilience, navigate complex institutional dynamics, and build strong teams. This interactive pre-conference seminar is designed for emerging enrollment leaders who aspire to expand their leadership impact and prepare for future executive roles. Through guided discussions and collaborative exercises, the seminar will introduce practical approaches for crafting a purposeful career path, building resilience and leadership skills in a demanding profession, and using coaching-based leadership practices to develop and empower colleagues. Attendees will leave with practical tools for strengthening their leadership practice, supporting team development, and navigating the evolving expectations of enrollment leadership—along with a clearer roadmap for their own professional growth.

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Desjarlais – Principal, Cambridge Hill Partners
  • Elizabeth Cheron – CEO, Coalition for College 
  • Laurie Koehler – Principal, Koehler Consulting LCC 

Taking the long view in international student outreach & engagement continues to be essential. Convulsive policy fluctuations, rising geopolitical tensions, and changing student preferences have caused tremendous disruption for institutions committed to international student enrollment. In such a tumultuous environment, how can higher ed institutions sustain their meaningful international student engagement — adapting their strategies & approaches while staying steadfast & grounded in their missions, visions, and values? This NACAC pre-conference seminar will explore how higher ed enrollment leaders and their teams can navigate today’s rapidly shifting international education landscape while maintaining a principled and sustainable approach to reaching, recruiting, and supporting right-match international students. Drawing actionable insights from recent data trends, emerging policy developments, and authentic on-the-ground experience, our seasoned faculty will examine the forces reshaping global student mobility. We will discuss how institutions can thoughtfully adjust recruitment, outreach, and partnership strategies, and stay steady going forward. This seminar will also welcome counselors who are guiding & supporting international students.

Speakers:

  • Clay Hensley – Senior Recognition Manager, International Baccalaureate Organization
  • Vern Granger – Director of Undergraduate Admission, University of Connecticut
  • Yvonne Romero – Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Rice University

This 2.5‑hour preconference seminar will examine the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in the college admission counseling ecosystem, offering practical insights for school counselors, IECs, CBO professionals, admissions officers, and anyone who supports the field. Participants will explore how AI is being leveraged across key stages of the process, including college counseling, student search and outreach, application review, and more. Through real-world examples and facilitated discussion, the seminar will highlight opportunities to improve efficiency, personalization, and access, while also addressing risks related to bias, transparency, ethics, and equity.

Speakers:

  • Juan Espinoza – Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Virginia Tech

What separates great managers from competent ones isn’t ambition — it’s specific, learnable habits. Since implementing its internal manager training program, Collegewise has twice ranked in the top 98% of Gallup’s employee engagement survey, administered to over 25 million employees worldwide. This session reveals exactly how they did it. Drawing on Gallup’s decades of management research, attendees will walk away with a clear picture of what their role actually demands, the four skills at the core of exceptional management, and practical approaches to today’s most pressing challenges: remote teams, employee well-being, and a new generation of workers redefining what work means to them. Whether you’re a first-year manager or a seasoned leader, you’ll leave with tools you can use on Monday to help your direct reports do their best work.

Speakers:

  • Kevin McMullin – Founder & Chief Education Officer, Collegewise

The campus visit remains the most influential factor in a student’s decision to enroll, yet many programs are built on aging foundations that no longer meet the expectations of modern families or the capacity of overextended staff. This immersive seminar provides a comprehensive roadmap for building or “rebooting” a visit program from the ground up. Drawing on the successful revitalization of Brown University’s tour guide program, facilitators will guide participants through the structural, cultural, and logistical shifts required to modernize the campus events team and the visit programs available. We will explore the architecture of a balanced visit portfolio. From daily tours, group tours, and VIP tours to high-production yield events. We dive deep into what makes a visit program run: the students and how we reimagined our tour guide program in the matter of months. Participants will leave with a toolkit for recruiting and training a diverse guide cohort that prioritizes authentic storytelling over scripted monologues. By the end of the session, attendees will have a concrete plan to audit their current offerings, empower their student leaders, and build a sustainable culture of excellence that resonates with visitors long after they leave campus.

Speakers:

  • Eliza Etter – Director of Communications & Outreach, Brown University
  • Brianna Montecalvo – Senior Assistant Director, Visits and Events, Brown University

Join presenters from NACAC’s Center for Innovation in College Admission Character Focus Initiative to discuss the latest research on collaborative efforts in character-based college admissions assessment.

Seminar Pricing

Member Associate Non-Member
April 7 – May 7 $95 $160 $160
May 8 – August 6 $105 $170 $170
August 7 – October 7 $115 $180 $180
Onsite $125 $190 $190