Justin J. Mohney
Deputy Director of Admission
Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
I grew up in a rural community outside of Pittsburgh and I’m a first-generation college graduate. I remember how influential a couple of my admission counselors were during my college search. The kindness and quality advice that they offered played a big role in my ability to attend my alma mater — guiding me through the benefits of considering the Early Decision application plan and ensuring that my family took full advantage of financial aid policies and programs. The opportunity to pay that kindness forward by being a part of the college admission counseling profession drew me to this work and keeps me motivated each year to make a difference for students and families like those counselors did for me.
What is your favorite part of the job?
At this stage of my career, I really enjoy the opportunity to work with and mentor emerging leaders in the field. I had amazing mentors in this work who made sure that I took full advantage of the opportunities to volunteer with and become a leader in the Pennsylvania ACAC, who advocated for my advancement in my home office, and who acted as sounding boards as I found my voice as a manager. I now find myself in the position to invest my time in helping young professionals see the potential of this work to make an impact on the lives of students and families by providing them with the same support and encouragement that brought me along in this profession.
How has NACAC played a role in your career?
NACAC has been the place to build a network of trusted colleagues who act as sounding boards and sources of encouragement. Serving on NACAC’s Affiliate Presidents Council (APC) was one of the best networking experiences of my career and reconnecting with my APC counterparts across the country is something I look forward to at the NACAC annual conference each year.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today?
The erosion of public trust in higher education is the biggest challenge today because it compounds every other challenge we are facing. The demographic cliff hits harder when students question if going to college is worth it and opt out of pursuing a college education. Affordability concerns worsen when public investment in education dips and institutions become more driven to find net revenue. The idea of education as a public good becomes harder to see when education is framed as a divisive political issue. Restoring trust is going to require a collective effort and voice to speak to the positive impacts of education — both on individuals/families and for our communities as a whole — and NACAC is one of the organizations that allows us opportunities to amplify our voices in speaking out about the value of our institutions and work.
When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
I’m an introvert at heart, so reading a good book with a better cup of tea is one of my favorite ways to recharge.
If you could be any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Just about any character from The West Wing, but if I had to choose one I’d go with Bradley Whitford’s character, Josh Lyman.
Published Nov. 23, 2026