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Candidates for Council Team Director – Postsecondary 2013-2014

Jason SwannJason Swann Shawn WochnerShawn Wochner

 

 

Jason Swann

Jason Swann

Dean of Admissions & Enrollment Management, Rend Lake College

Education:
B.A., Blackburn College;
M.A., McKendree University

IACAC Member: 8 years

Previous Employment:
Illinois Supreme Court (2000–2003);
Blackburn College Admissions (2003–2005)

IACAC Activities:
Project Reach Tri-Chair (2010);
Government Relations Committee (2012–present);
Annual Conference: Presenter (2009–2011), Mentorship Committee, Registration Committee, First-Timers Committee;
Middle Management Institute;
Southern District Seminar Committee Member (2005–present);
District Seminar presenter;
ICE Fair Coordinator (2006–present)

NACAC Activities:
Member (2005–present);
Guiding the Way to Inclusion Conference (2008)

Other Professional Activities:
MOACAC Member (2005–2006);
Member of Workforce Investment Youth Council (Serve governing board of Alternative Education in Southern Illinois) (2011–present);
Employee Leadership Institute at Rend Lake College (2006–2007)

Candidate Statement:
I remember standing in the basement of the Michael J. Howlett building in Springfield, Ill., cite-checking a law brief for local attorney Ed Coleman, when it hit me—“I have to get out of here,” and I wasn’t only referring to the basement. This desire for a change and the need to be around like-minded people, along with the “nudge” from someone upstairs, led me to a new career in admissions and I haven’t looked back!

My admissions career began by zooming through every high school from beautiful Galena, Ill., to the banks of Lake Michigan at the Navy Pier (and everywhere else above I-80 for that matter) for Blackburn College. It was during this first year that I realized that I finally had the opportunity to give back to so many people simply by offering them an opportunity, and this quickly became my passion. I worked northern Illinois territory for three years for Blackburn while building great relationships with students, families, and guidance staff. Those first few years in admissions opened the doors to a new and amazing career, ultimately resulting in the chance to become Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management at Rend Lake College.

Prior to becoming a dean, I served for about eight years as Director of Recruitment and Dual Credit at RLC, a rural community college in Southern Illinois. During this time I was given the freedom to be involved with IACAC in a myriad of ways, such as assisting committees, tri-chairing Project Reach (with Cindy Rodkin and Marie Feehan), and presenting at different seminars and conferences. Most importantly, I have been blessed to work so many amazing people within this organization. The passion is obvious when attending any IACAC event, and this is what I think of most fondly when I reflect on the roots of this organization, and more importantly, where it is destined to be. It is this passion, shared by our members, which fuels our desire to push ourselves to the limits to create higher education opportunities for our youth.

It is with a humble enthusiasm that I accept the nomination of Post-Secondary Council Team Director. If elected I will serve the IACAC Executive Board and the members of this amazing organization to the best of my ability.

 

Shawn WochnerShawn Wochner

Admissions Counselor, Western Illinois University

Education:
B.A., Western Illinois University (2001);
M.B.A., American Intercontinental University (2007)

IACAC Member: 5 years

Previous Employment:
Western Illinois University, Admissions Counselor (2008–present);
Colorado Technical University, Training Manager (2006–2008)

IACAC Activities:
Annual Conference: Registration Committee (2010–2011), Social Media Committee (2010), On-Site Committee Co-Chair (2012), First Timers Committee Co-Chair (2013), Presenter (2011–2013);
Summer Institute Committee Co-Chair (2010–2011)
Mentorship Committee (2011–2012)
Credentials Committee (2011–2012)
Mentorship Committee Co-Chair (2012–2013)
Summer Institute Committee (2012–2013)
Government Relations Committee (2012–2013)
ICE Calendar Committee (2012–2013)
IACAC Advocacy Day on the Hill (2013)

NACAC Activities:
Member (2011–present)
CARR (Chicago Area Regional Reps) (2008–present), Secretary (2011–present)

Candidate Statement:
It is both an honor and a privilege to have been nominated as a candidate for the position of IACAC Post-Secondary Council Team Director. IACAC is an organization that means the world to me. I owe much of my professional development to this association. I had no idea when I accepted my position at Western Illinois University that I would make so many great connections and friendships through my involvement with this association. IACAC is a family and that is what I love about it.

I am a strong candidate for the position of IACAC Post-Secondary Council Team Director because I have a deep commitment to this profession and want to advance the opportunities of students throughout the state. If elected, I will bring fresh ideas and perspectives, a team orientated and goal driven mentality, and a strong work ethic to help provide opportunities to all students in Illinois.

Serving as a member of the 2011–12 IACAC Credentials Committee has made the greatest impact on my IACAC journey thus far. As a member of the committee, serving alongside several Past Presidents and other influential members and mentors of the association, I had the opportunity to ask some thought-provoking questions to ensure that every member of IACAC was able to gain benefits from the changes that the Ad-Hoc Committee on Board Structure brought forth. Being a part of this historic process was humbling and has contributed to the professional I am today.

I want to serve in this position because I have a strong passion for college counseling and wish to continue to give back to IACAC by serving on the IACAC Board. I am adaptable, able to multi-task successfully and driven to see things through to completion. I also feel that being able to connect and build relationships with the leaders and members of this organization will help me to become a better leader, understand more of the larger scope beyond our state boarders and prepare me for the next step of my involvement with IACAC and NACAC.

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