Steph Walsh
Director of College Counseling
Seabury Hall (HI)
What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
My entry into the profession was a literal homecoming. My former high school counselor reached out to me after I graduated from college, suggesting I try my hand at college counseling. After my first meeting with a 12th-grade student, any apprehensions were replaced with a deep love for this work.
Guiding students in the same school and Maui community that shaped me is a gift. Every day is an opportunity to give back to those communities that invested in me (often seeing my potential before I did) and that continue to invest so much in my growth.
What is your favorite part of the job?
While the emails never stop and the to-do lists grow new to-do lists, it is always important to remember our “why”: the student. It is a privilege to be a part of their journey. My favorite moment is witnessing the shift from overwhelmed to empowered. It often happens when the student stops seeing the process as a daunting hurdle and begins to see it as a reflection of how far they’ve come. Watching them take that first confident step toward their future is why I do this work.
How has NACAC played a role in your career?
Wide-eyed and full of excitement, I remember my first NACAC conference in 2012 in Denver, Colorado, when a seasoned Hawaiʻi ACAC college counselor took the time to help me plan my sessions and maximize my time at the conference. She also helped me manage the feeling of being so inspired that I’d wanted to rewrite my whole college counseling program in late September! While I didn’t quite uproot everything that fall, that important conversation was the seed that inspired connection and action.
From serving as the Neighbor Island College Fair coordinator to my current role as president-elect, the Hawaiʻi ACAC, NACAC, and APC communities have taught me that we never work in isolation. Whether it’s a quick text to navigate a tricky situation or the inspiration found at a national conference, I am a better counselor because of this network. We rise by showing up, lifting up, and leaning on one another.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today?
Many students are not served when we continue to create barriers in the admissions process with an unnecessarily complicated application process, coupled with the unrealistic and growing cost of a college education. We must come together to focus on access and equity for all.
When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
I am deeply grateful to my family, friends, community, and to the place I call home. My favorite sounds come from my children at the beach, whose laughter rivals crashing waves. I’m grounded at the lei table, where talking story with friends guides every flower into place and slows time down. My favorite mornings are spent with dirt under my fingernails, planting native Hawaiian plants, where a small ʻōʻhia may one day become a giant of the forest.
If you could be any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Reading with my family is a gift, and last year we fell in love with Roz from The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Roz is a robot who is stranded on a remote island and evolves from an outsider to the heart of her community. She uses her programmed logic and learned empathy to navigate an unpredictable world. If I could be any fictional character, it would be Roz as I admire her ability to unite a fractured community, skillfully manage conflict, and solve complex problems with technical precision and genuine care.
Published March 30, 2026