Janessa Dunn
Director of Admissions
Skidmore College (NY)

What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
Like many in this profession, I found my way to admissions counseling through a series of experiences as a college student. I had a wonderful experience as a telecounselor at Georgia Southern University, my first on-campus job as an undergraduate student. I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with students and their families by phone to support their college search process, and I enjoyed sharing this passion with fellow GSU students. Although I primarily studied chemistry, I found that the tools that I learned — such as data-analytics, communication, problem-solving, and storytelling — all contributed to my ability to connect with students and families from many backgrounds and interests.

After GSU, I enrolled in a graduate program at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, which expanded my understanding of the higher education ecosystem in the U.S. and abroad. I had the wonderful opportunity to serve as an intern in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (shout-out to Maria Elena Ornelas), which catapulted me to my first full-time role in admissions.

What is your favorite part of the job?
This is a hard one! I have the beautiful honor to lead a fabulous, warm, and student-centered team that genuinely enjoys connecting with students from many walks of life. I also have the wonderful opportunity to work alongside a tight-knit and caring community of colleagues across my campus who are “all-in” on the Skidmore educational experience, in the present and beyond. I am grateful that I have been able to serve and support institutions like Skidmore, which is strongly aligned with its mission and values.

Personally, I am energized when a student or parent/guardian has an “aha” moment as it relates to finding their college match, whether for an academic program, social/affinity group, or the college itself. As someone who has experienced a few different types of institutions as a student and professional (e.g., comprehensive research, Research 1, liberal arts college), I believe that it is possible for students to have more than one college match, and I am committed to supporting them in making an informed decision about where they will best thrive.

How has NACAC played a role in your career?
My goodness — the NACAC network has been incredibly influential in my personal and professional journey in college admissions. Attending Dry Run as a newly minted admissions counselor (sponsored by SACAC); serving as a faculty member for the Summer Institute (sponsored by NYSACAC); learning from incredible colleagues in my recruitment regions (Ohio ACAC, Potomac ACAC, KYACAC, SACAC, etc.); participating in professional development institutes such as NACAC’s Admission Middle Management Institute and International ACAC’s Regional Institute, and attending the national conference and GWI, have all influenced my perspective and practice in ways I couldn’t imagine.

I am not only a more informed college admissions counselor; I am an active contributor to the success of a new generation of students as they become the new leaders of our world. Although our day-to-day schedules and tasks are varied, NACAC members are a dedicated, diverse, and deeply passionate group of colleagues who have a shared understanding of the impact of postsecondary education for students. This type of synergy for this mission-aligned work is special and not easily duplicated.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today?
Elevating the value of a postsecondary degree is more important now than ever. Understandably, there is not one day when I am not discussing the return-on-investment (ROI) of a college degree, preparation for careers in an AI landscape, and/or the value of experiential learning (e.g., internships, job shadowing) with students, parents/guardians, and supporters. These topics remain salient priorities for employers, too, according to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers). I am a firm believer that postsecondary pathways are a solution to the upcoming needs of our local, national, and global economies, and that informed college admissions counseling for students and their parents/guardians/supporters is integral for students’ future success. The challenge is that there is a lot of “noise” in the college admission landscape, where the accurate portrayal of the true, long-term value of a college degree is not always accessible to students and their families.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
I love watching miniseries, such as Paradise, The Diplomat, and Shrinking. I also love listening to my highly curated 1990s and 2000s-inspired playlists (R&B, soul, gospel, and pop) and podcasts hosted by Keke Palmer, Emma Grede, and Amy Poehler.

What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Empathetic. Values-driven. Advocate. Community-focused. Connector.

 

Published Oct. 26, 2026