Janine Bissic, Whittier College
My WACAC Experience
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Share, Learn, & Connect (SLC) Committee Co-Chair 2014-Current
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:WACAC Leadership Development Institute (LDI) Class of 2013-2014
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Institute Planning Committee Member 2011
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Share, Learn & Connect (SLC) Conference Presenter 2012
My Related Experience
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Whittier College, Associate Director of Admission, 2013- Current,
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: University of Redlands, Assistant Director of Admissions, 2010-2012
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Chapman University, Admission Counselor, 2008-2010
My qualifications for this office
I have worked in various roles within higher education at 4 different institutions, all while being an active WACAC member. I look forward to serving in a capacity as a representative to the members and the ACAC that has given me numerous professional development opportunities over that past 8 years.
Goals I would set for myself in this office
- Goal 1:Continued commitment to WACAC and my colleagues across the profession.
- Goal 2:I intend to listen, to learn, and to engage in this role.
- Goal 3:To represent our ACAC with intention and humility.
Allison Lopour, CollegeWise
My WACAC Experience
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Share, Learn, Connect conference chair; Orange County (2016) and Inland Empire (2013-2015)
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:National College Fair Planning Committee Member (2013-2016)
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Conference Presenter; WACAC (2016, planned), Share, Learn, Connect (2012)
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Conference volunteer (2006-2016)
My Related Experience
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: NACAC Conference: Session Proposal Review Committee (2016), Volunteer (2006-2016)
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: The Point Foundation: Scholarship Application Reader (2016)
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: University of Redlands: Admission Counselor (2005-2007)
My qualifications for this office
I come from a low-income, single-parent family and attended a high school without much of a college-going culture. Our counselors had massive student caseloads and weren’t able to counsel me through my college options. But I got lucky. In my junior year I attended a NACAC college fair and stumbled into what would be the best college ever (for me). When I arrived at the University of Redlands, I got a job answering phones in the admissions office and eventually became the student director of our ambassador program. I remember first learning about WACAC while making posters for an SLC event hosted at Redlands, and for the past three years, I’ve run my own SLC programs (complete with student-made posters!). At Collegewise, I get to spend every day helping students and their families understand their college options and find their “Redlands”. Each of these small steps helped dictate the trajectory of my professional life—and at every turn, WACAC members were there to help teach, mentor, surprise, and challenge me. I believe fiercely in the work that I do with my students. But I am well aware that working with 30 students is a luxury not realistic for most. And, while I've been volunteering for 10 years and chairing SLC for three, I still sense it's not enough. I've loved meeting scholarship attendees at SLC events who were surprised and excited to learn about WACAC resources available to them, working with school counselors to find better ways to support their work, and seeing students who find the right college, knowing they will never be the same. I want to continue building SLC in Orange County, reaching a broader audience and impacting even more counselors. But, I have a vision for ways we can work together better—to bridge the gaps between school counselors, CBOs, admission counselors, and IECs—and I believe being a delegate would empower me to make a bigger impact. I believe being a delegate will help me to continue to do for others what WACAC has done for me.
Goals I would set for myself in this office
- Goal 1:Respectful and positive advocacy on behalf of IECs that can help foster stronger relationships between WACAC, IECs, and members at large
- Goal 2:Focus on building attendance at Share, Learn, Connect events specifically for local public high school counselors, especially in underserved, high-need districts
- Goal 3:Have a better understanding of pressing higher ed issues and how they affect various constituents, so I can better advocate on their behalf
Corinne Schell, Marist College
My WACAC Experience
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:NACAC Conference (San Diego) WACAC Volunteer
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Presenter for WACAC Conferences
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Volunteer-SLC programs/Presenter
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Volunteer-WACAC Conferences
My Related Experience
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: RACC-Treasurer (2014-2017)
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service:Coordinate RACC Case Studies and College Fairs in Southern California
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Presenter for San Diego NACAC College Fair
My qualifications for this office
Over 30 years of both Financial Aid and Admission experience
Goals I would set for myself in this office
- Goal 1:Mentor young professionals
- Goal 2:Increase WACAC Membership
- Goal 3:Serve on WACAC Committees
Samantha Schreiber, Pomona College
My WACAC Experience
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Communications Committee member, 3 yrs
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Communications Committee Chair, yr
My Related Experience
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Univ Southern California, 5 yrs, admission office
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Pomona College, 3 mos, admission office
My qualifications for this office
Well versed in WACAC and higher ed, emerging trends and helping colleagues
Goals I would set for myself in this office
- Goal 1:Better understand higher education at the macro level across the US and abroad
- Goal 2:Get to know influencers at a national level instead of just regional
- Goal 3:Influence future impact of NACAC by serving on the board
Ilana Israel Samuels, California State University East Bay
My WACAC Experience
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:WACAC SLC Bay Area, 2014 and 2016, Speaker for CSU Overview
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:WACAC SLC Bay Area 2015, Deans/Directors panel session
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:WACAC fair at St. Mary's, workshop speaker, 2014-2016
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:WACAC fair at CSUEB, organizer, 2013-2016
My Related Experience
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Transfer Days/College Nights Subcommittee (ICC), 2014-Current, representative of the CSU North and serving on the Evaluation, Data and Accountability subgroup
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: UC Berkeley Extension, 2 times per year since 2013, College Counseling Certificate class, guest speaker.
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Diversity and Student Inclusion Center, CSUEB, 2013-Current; CSUEB safe zone ally training leader
My qualifications for this office
I attained a Masters in Education after starting a family, and it was not until a bit later in my career that I found my passion- college admissions. In my nearly 10 years in the field, I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with a wide-range of students- high school age, transfers, career changers, first-generation to college students and marginalized youth from under-served communities. Providing them and their families with the information they need to find their pathway to higher education is my passion. I have a sustained commitment to college access and that everyone has a path they can follow to better themselves through higher education. In the last 4 years at Cal State East Bay, I have not only been a WACAC and NACAC member, but have been an integral partner with WACAC leaders. I look forward to the opportunity to serve WACAC and the work that they do to serve students and provide resources for the college counselors who support those students.
Goals I would set for myself in this office
- Goal 1:Increase focus on the importance and value of understanding the needs of LGBTQ youth in the college admission process.
- Goal 2:Create additional communication pathways between the WACAC board and the CSU Directors of Outreach.
- Goal 3:Set goals for increasing the number of counselors/advisors from low-income schools who take advantage of WACAC resources.
Kris Zavoli, College Board, retired; Trustee, Notre Dame de Namur University
My WACAC Experience
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Chair, Government Relations. 13 years
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Chair Professional Development 1980s. Served six years first under Linda Conti and then as chair.
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Numerous program planning committees for annual conference.
- Committee, Time of Service, Type of Service:Won WACAC service award in 1989
My Related Experience
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: NACAC Professional Development Committee early 90s
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: College Board staff to multiple elected committees including Guidance and Admissions (regional and national) and Regional Council
- Organization, Time of Service, Type of Service: Worked for College Board 28 years, across the West and Nationally. Began as Associate Director of Admission and Guidance Services; 2 years as Interim VP and 6 years as Senior Director Government Relations, West and Nationally
My qualifications for this office
Many years in admissions profession followed by a great variety of positions at the College Board. Well connected. Passion for and belief in NACAC/WACAC goals. Ability to get things done.
Goals I would set for myself in this office
- Goal 1:Work on draft legislation in CA to obtain grant funding for more counselors serving underrepresented schools
- Goal 2:Rally participants to testify in support of the above bill
- Goal 3:Continue to serve on Government Relations Committee