Fireside Chat:
Policy, Practice, and Possibility in Today’s Admission Landscape

Mainstage: Tuesday, July 28
9-10:30 AM

In this GWI mainstage fireside chat, NACAC CEO Angel B. Pérez is joined by Julie Park, Ph.D., University of Maryland professor, researcher, and author of Race, Class, and Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era. Together, they will explore equity and access in today’s evolving college admission landscape. Drawing on rigorous research and policy analysis, the conversation will examine what has changed, what has endured, and what college admission counseling professionals must understand as legal, ethical, and institutional contexts continue to shift. Participants will gain critical insight and forward‑looking guidance for advancing equity‑centered practice during a period of profound transition.

Julie J. Park
Professor of Education
University of Maryland
College Park

Julie J. Park, Ph.D., is professor of education at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research addresses racial equity in higher education, addressing the campus racial climate and college admissions. She also studies the complex ways that Asian Americans experience structural advantage and/or disadvantage in the realm of education. Her new book Race, Class, and Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era (Harvard Education Press, 2026) addresses college admissions following the Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard, as well as current attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. She is the author of two other books, including Race on Campus: Debunking Myths with Data. She served as a consulting expert in the landmark lawsuit SFFA v. Harvard on the side of Harvard, and also co-directs the College Admissions Futures Co-Laborative (www.cafcolab.org). She earned her Ph.D. in Education from UCLA and B.A. from Vanderbilt University.

Angel B. Pérez
NACAC CEO

Angel B. Pérez, Ph.D., is a globally recognized leader in higher education and the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, where he represents more than 28,000 professionals worldwide. Since 2020, he has led a major transformation of the organization, expanding membership, strengthening policy impact, and launching innovative programs to support the future of college admission.

A passionate advocate for student access and success, his work is shaped by his experience as a first-generation college graduate from Puerto Rico and the South Bronx.

He is also a leading voice on leadership, wellness, and mindfulness, and the author of The Hottest Seat on Campus: Mastering the Art of Leadership in College Admission and host of the podcast Leaders Are Human. Through his writing, speaker, and advocacy, he continues to shape national conversations on leadership and the future of higher education.