Ty Garricken
Marketing Content Specialist for Admissions
Ball State University (IN)

What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
It was a profession I didn’t know existed until I joined Ball State’s orientation crew in undergrad. I loved the experience so much that it changed my trajectory. I enjoyed meeting students where they were in their college journey and encouraging them to discover their “why” as they considered where life would take them after high school.

What is your favorite part of the job?
I’m very fortunate to be working my dream job which bridges two of my passions: admissions and graphic design. I originally studied to be a multimedia journalist, but couldn’t find my niche until I stumbled upon admissions. I enjoy creating visual pieces that (hopefully) resonate with students and instill excitement about opportunities ahead of them. Working for my alma mater is also a plus. 🙂

How has NACAC played a role in your career?
NACAC and my affiliate, INACAC, have played a fairly large role in my career. Upon joining the profession, I volunteered to help redesign my affiliate’s website. Little did I know my contributions would lead to a leadership role as the communications chair for INACAC. Succeeding that role has brought me so much joy, and even led to me landing my current role in admissions at Ball State. More recently, I’m proud to be among those recognized as a Rising Star and a participant in NACAC’s new NEXT program.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today?
I think the biggest challenge facing our profession is accessibility. The cost of a postsecondary education continues to soar, financial aid opportunities struggle to keep up, middle- and low-income families and minorities still have to climb, and there’s no guarantee that a degree will lead to a career that corresponds with said degree (or at least not right away). The contemporary landscape of society is riddled with challenge and I think there’s a lot to be discussed about what accessibility and security means for students moving forward.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
I enjoy playing guitar and video games, cooking, traveling, and sharing life with my lovely wife, Haylie, and our pets, Emmy and Quinny. I’m also an avid James Bond 007 fan.

What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Creative. Compassionate. Charismatic. Perfectionist. Altruistic.

 

Published on Jan. 22, 2024