WACAC Membership Meeting
May 21, 2026
Thank You To Our Lincoln Sponsor
Thank You To Our Lincoln Sponsor
Thank You To Our Additional Sponsors
Conference Mobile App Sponsor
Thank You To Our Additional Sponsors
Full Conference Scholarship Sponsor
Thank You To Our Additional Sponsors
Agenda
NACAC Update
Phil Moreno
Associate Director of College Counseling
The Nueva School
NACAC Board, Immediate Past Chair
Let’s Get Down to Business
Approving September Membership Meeting Minutes
Please take a few moments to review the September Membership Meeting minutes
Share if there are any updates that need to be made
Access the Membership Meeting documents by scanning the QR code
WACAC 2025-2026 Recap
Current Landscape
& Impact Discussion
Community College
Advocacy Committee
First Nevada SLC
NACAC Ohio Membership
WACAC SIGs Building Community
Slate Ad Hoc
Treasurer’s Report
Another Interesting Year
Strong Financial Underpinning
Moderately Conservative Investment Policy
Continued Commitment to Responsible Financial Management
Future Goals
2026-2027 Planned Budget
Committee Reports
Admission Practices
Read the Guide
(it is only 17 pages)
Need support with an ethical dilemma or have a question?
Contact
WACACAP@WACAC.org
College Fairs
Fall 2026
Los Angeles - Saturday, September 12
Las Vegas - Thursday, October 15
Reno - Sunday, October 18
Spring 2027
Sonoma - Tuesday, April 27
Marin - Wednesday, April 28
East Bay - Saturday, May 1
Pending:
Los Angeles
San Diego
Inland Empire
Conference
Thank You Conference Committee!
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Aarón Garcia Amanda Marsh Casey Shubin Chloe Wirtner Chris O’Sullivan Claudia Carroll David Altman Deanna Kilgour Ivery Marquez Jack Josellis Joe Beltran |
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Joyee Lin Julio Mata Karly Brockett Kelly Pjesky Kenny Tran Kiarah Hewitt Laura Stratton Mackenzie Johnson Maggie Landeros Maria Woodruff Mariesa Negosanti |
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Molly Ingram Myra Castro Patrick Lorenzo Peggy Hock Rob Purper Steele Viverette Theresa Asuncion |
Development
THANK YOU to this year’s 31 donors who have contributed $1328 to WACAC (so far)!
Want to get involved? Join us as a committee member!
Eager to contribute? Love this year’s conference logo?
GRAC
2026 Sacramento Legislative Conference
Legislative/Voting Landscape
New and Improved Webpage & Resources!
Inter-Association
College Counseling Education Program (CCEP)
WACAC Wednesdays
Camp College
Membership
Thank YOU for being a member of WACAC
Get ready for membership renewal on July 1st
for the 2026-2027 membership cycle!!
Membership
Thank you to the Membership Committee
and SIG Leaders!
Membership Benefits to come:
We want to do member spotlights, involve SIGs to share their expertise, show people how to get involved, host future virtual onboarding sessions, etc.
If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, please email wacacmembership@wacac.org to express interest in becoming a part of the Membership Committee!
Professional Development
Leadership Development Institute 2026- Next class will be held in 2028.
Thanks you Mount Saint Mary’s University for hosting!
Huge appreciation to Erasmo Fuentes (Rolling Hills Prep School) & Jamie Groff (ICL Academy), LDI Program Chairs.
Mentors
Erica Delgado, University of San Francisco�Chris Ferguson, University of the Pacific�Jamilla Jamison, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo�Robin Hamilton Meryl, Occidental College�David Mills, The Bishop’s School�Michael Nation, Oaks Christian School�Robert Penman, UC Davis�Lauren Popkowski, Sage Hill School�Lara Sandora, TIDE Academy�Eli Shavalian, Milken Community School
Mentees
Lexi Aguayo, Pepperdine University�Sebastian Brown, University of Oregon�Katie Engle, University of San Diego�Cassie Fuenmayor, Sage Hill School�Landy Gutierrez, Green Dot Public High School�Jennifer Lim, La Canada High School�Jonatan Miranda, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools�Mariesa Negosanti, Worcester Polytechnic Institute�Melanie Pio, University of the Pacific�Carolyn Siegel, Pinewood School
Summer Admission Institute (SAI)
Professional Development cont.
Share, Learn and Connect
Thank You 2026 Host Campuses & Co-Chairs!
Soka University, Pepperdine University, Nevada State University,
Santa Clara University and Revolution Prep
Special thanks to the 1st SLC Chair, Rhiannon Killian (ContigoED)!
Thank you, Site Co-Chairs
Jenica Blohm (Soka University)
Devon M Bohart (University of the Pacific)
Jessica Burke (Bishop Manogue Catholic HS)
Lorenzo Gamboa (Santa Clara University)
Chad Gregorius (Nevada State University)
Ivery Marquez (Pepperdine University)�Gregg Murray (Revolution Prep)
Melanie Pio (University of the Pacific)
Laura Rodriguez-Martinez (Mount Saint Mary’s University)
Casey Shubin (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
Jake Sisco (Sacred Heart San Francisco)
Brooke Tomilin (Pepperdine University)
Matt Villongco (Occidental College)
Steele Viverette (Chapman University)
Herbie Walker (Faith Lutheran)
Professional Development cont.
Summer Admission Institute (SAI)
We need your help & feedback about past programs! Want to be a part of change, reach out to wacacpd@wacac.org.
Special thanks to the SAI planning Chair, Ed Devine (Hampden-Sydney College)
�WACAC Awards
Special Recognitions
Ed Devine Summer Institute Award
Cristina Inboden
Admission Counselor
Chapman University
Ned Tibby Award
Red Kwenza
Admission Counselor
Gonzaga University
Retirement Recognition
Lynda McGee - Downtown Magnets High School
25 years as a counselor (+14 years as a teacher)
WACAC Special Recognition�Award
This award is presented to an individual in gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding support given to members
of WACAC.
This year, we felt it necessary to recognize a group that we believe provided outstanding support to all students and counselors in California.
WACAC Special Recognition�Award
Riverside County Office of Education
for their efforts in piloting the CSU Direct Admission program
Steve Hankins New High School Counselor Award
Steve Hankins came to California in the early 1980’s from Michigan to become the Dean of Admission at the University of Redlands and was a pivotal leader in the development of WACAC. His enthusiasm and warmth were legendary. Steve was the organizer who brought NACAC and WACAC Fairs to California, “voluntelling” young professionals into leadership roles for those fairs and was President of WACAC in 1985-86. He was known for his welcome of all, as he went around at out of state college fairs to make sure all the Californian admission officers were doing well and taking them to dinner. He was also known for his warmth and support of high school counselors throughout the country. Steve passed away in 1990 and left a huge hole in our hearts and our experience.
This award is presented to a high school or CBO counselor who has been in the field less than five years and has shown promise as an emerging professional.
Steve Hankins New High School Counselor Award
Desiree Lopez Mendieta
College Counselor
University High School Charter
Joseph P. Allen Human Relations Award
Joe Allen was clearly a role model for many of us . . . his heart, his intelligence, his kindness and his mentorship is legendary and many of us in this room benefited from his energy and support while he was with us. Serving his alma mater UC Santa Cruz for many years, Joe became the chief admission officer at USC. He lent his considerable talents to efforts involving Duncan Murdoch in others in the transformation of that institution in the 1990s. Joe was taken from us much too young and those of us who knew him miss him terribly and can only imagine what comments and directions he might take in the challenges facing us today. He was a voice for the underserved, for the traditional and non-traditional student, and always when Joe talked, we listened.
This award is presented to a WACAC member who has shown compassion and advocacy in support of the human rights of our students and professionals.
Joseph P. Allen Human Relations Award
Erika Viramontes
Director, School Counseling Program
Green Dot Public Schools
Juel Lee Mentorship Award
Some may wonder about the origins of the Regional Admission Counselors of California. Juel Lee was the role model for regionals in California as that organization began, and he was the cheerleader, information provider and support system for many of us when we started out. A long-time admission leader at UC Irvine, in his “retirement”, Juel was an outstanding representative for Northern Arizona University . . . he was usually the oldest college admission officer at the fair, but always had the energy, warmth and inviting smile that drew prospective students and their families to him. Juel was also a tireless and important resource for public high school counselors while he was at UCI and at NAU. While Juel is no longer with us, we know that his spirit is with the RACCers and all those who help young people reach their dreams.
This award is presented to a WACAC member who has served as an outstanding mentor to our professionals.
Juel Lee Mentorship Award
Kat Delgado
Regional Director of Admission -
Southern California
Texas Christian University
Murdoch-Finks New Admission Counselor Award
Duncan Murdoch came to California from Indiana and served as the admissions dean at Harvey Mudd College and at the University of Southern California for over 20 years, before leaving our fair state to become the founding Dean at the Franklin Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts. Duncan has been an important mentor to many in this room and is quite vocal on the issue that we are admission officers, not reps! Duncan is retired and living in Southern California.
Certainly many here knew Deren Finks, proud U of LaVerne alumnus and admission officer who went across town to Harvey Mudd and served as the chief admission officer there for years. Deren served for years on the College Board’s faculty for new admission officers (Rookie Camp) and has the warmth and personality that welcomed each and every person he met. He has was an important mentor to many of us. Deren served as Director of College Counseling at Cranbrook Kingswood and the Kiski School before he passed away in 2023.
This award is presented to a college admission officer with fewer than 5 years in the field who shows promise in their contributions to our profession.
Murdoch-Finks New Admission Counselor Award
Melanie Pio
Senior Assistant Director of Admission
University of the Pacific
Katy Murphy Service Award
The WACAC Service Award was renamed the Katy Murphy Service Award in 2012. Katy has been a stalwart in the planning and operation of the Orange County and Los Angeles NACAC Fairs as well as the Bay Area Share, Learn and Connect program, and served as the Chair of the NACAC College Fair Committee. She also served as President of WACAC twice and was elected to the Presidency of NACAC. Katy is a tireless supporter of public high school and transfer counselors and has been a mentor to many in her years in admissions and college counseling. She has brought many young professionals into our organization.
This award is presented to a WACAC member who has gone “above and beyond” in supporting WACAC’s mission and activities.
Katy Murphy Service Award
Maureen Ruiz-Sundstrom
Senior Associate Dean of Admission
Claremont McKenna College
Arthur Arzola Scholarship
Arthur Arzola Jr. was a Los Angeles based Outreach Counselor for Humboldt State. In 2012, he organized two buses of student from the LA area to drive up to Humboldt for an Admissions Open House. During that trip, the bus was struck head-on by a truck, and Arthur lost his life in service to these students.
This scholarship is awarded to an admission or counseling professional who has shown particular interest and support for underserved students.
Arthur Arzola Scholarship
Johana Nuñez
Student Advisor
Options for Youth
NACAC Rising Star Award
This award is presented to individuals who are striving to make a difference in WACAC through their work in volunteer committees, who have been in the profession no more than five years, and are members of both NACAC and WACAC. They will be recognized at the 2026 NACAC Conference in Minneapolis, MN.
NACAC Rising Star Award
Katie Engle
Associate Director of Admission
University of San Diego
Presidential Award
Karly Brockett
WACAC President 2025 - 2026
Deputy Director of Undergraduate Admission
University of California, Los Angeles
�Presidential Oath of Office
Presidential Oath of Office
Dr. Margarita Landeros
Assistant Professor
School and College Counseling Department
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Join us at the Conference Social tonight at 6 PM!
Location: Castle Green
99 S Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA