Admissions Director Q&A
Clear Admit’s exclusive interviews with admissions directors at the world’s leading MBA programs.
Admissions Director Q&A: Louise-Marie Fischer-Dallée of Imperial
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we are back in the UK to meet Louise-Marie Fischer-Dallée, Recruitment & Admissions Director at the Imperial Business School in London. Louise-Marie oversees recruitment strategy and admissions operations across the Full-Time, Global, Weekend and Executive MBA programmes. Her career has been shaped by a deep passion for higher education and, more specifically, for the transformative power of MBA programmes. Prior to joining Imperial, she held the role of Admissions Director at HEC Paris, and earlier gained entrepreneurial experience co-founding two startups, one
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Admissions Director Q&A: Ali Elyassari of emlyon
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we meet Ali Elyassari, Recruitment Manager for the International MBA at emlyon business school. While emlyon hosts six campuses, including Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Paris, Shanghai, Bhubaneswar and Mumbai, the business school is located in Lyon, France. Read on for Ali’s insight into the admissions process and highlights of the emlyon MBA program. Ali Elyassari, Recruitment Manager for the International MBA, emlyon business school Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about? Ali Elyassari: What truly defines
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Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Tricia Baione of CBS
As part of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Tricia Baione, Assistant Dean of Admissions for Columbia Business School (CBS), for a special podcast episode. Tricia Baione, Assistant Dean of Admissions, CBS As Assistant Dean of Admissions for CBS since 2023, Tricia provides strategic leadership, vision, and coordination of a centralized recruitment program and admissions office for the full-time MBA, Executive MBA, JD/MBA, Dual MBA/Executive MS: Engineering & Applied Science, specialized masters, PhD, and deferred-entry programs at CBS. Prior to Admissions, Tricia was the Executive Director of Career Education and Advising in
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Admissions Director Q&A: Lindsay Loyd of NYU Stern
We welcome back Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern, to share insights into the MBA program, application strategies and more in this Admissions Director Q&A. Lindsay leads the recruiting and admissions efforts for Stern’s Full-time MBA Programs, including the two-year Full-time MBA and focused one-year MBAs: the Andre Koo Technology & Entrepreneurship MBA and Luxury & Retail MBA. She joined NYU Stern in 2023 after a 20-year career in financial services, serving in roles of progressive responsibility in analytics, marketing, and strategy at Capital One and American Express.
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Admissions Director Q&A: Maria Pineda of the UMD Smith School of Business
We welcome back Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Pineda has been with UMD Smith for almost 20 years and manages the recruiting efforts for the MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. Read on as Pineda shares what to expect from the admissions process at UMD Smith, the value of the MBA program, and how to prepare for your interview. Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at Maryland Smith Clear Admit: What is one aspect of
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Admissions Director Q&A: Becky Gallagher of the University of Bath School of Management
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Becky Gallagher, Head of MBA Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Bath School of Management in the U.K. Becky has worked within the University for over 20 years, spending time in the Students’ Union where she oversaw student development and leadership programs. She has worked in the role of Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions since January 2021 and has built an impressive network of connections globally. Becky loves nothing more than taking a student through the journey from pre-applicant stage right through
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Admissions Director Q&A: David Simpson of LBS
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we are back with David Simpson, the Recruitment and Admissions Director for the MBA and Masters in Finance (MiF) programs at London Business School (LBS). David is one of London Business School’s most experienced professional staff. Starting in admissions, moving through various roles in marketing and business development, he jumped at the chance to return to admissions. His undergraduate degree is in business, majoring in international marketing. In his time at London Business School, he has enjoyed travelling the world to meet prospective
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Admissions Director Q&A: Dr. Naz Erenguc of Florida Warrington
In this edition of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series, we hear again from Director of Admissions for the University of Florida (UF) Warrington College of Business Dr. Naz Erenguc. Dr. Naz has nearly two decades of experience in higher education. Combining her passion for inclusive excellence with business, academic and global health expertise, Dr. Naz is one of the most versatile voices in graduate education today. During Naz’s tenure at UF, she has worked as an undergraduate academic advisor for both the College of Health and Human Performance and the College
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Admissions Director Q&A: Chris Jones of Toronto Rotman
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we meet Chris Jones, the Assistant Director, Recruitment for all MBA Programs at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. With an extensive background in graduate recruitment and career education, Chris currently manages the entire professional MBA portfolio. Originally from the UK, he graduated from the University of Nottingham and has worked almost exclusively in the graduate recruitment and higher education field with multinational organizations like Deloitte, Sun Life Financial and currently with the University of Toronto. Chris is a keen runner,
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Admissions Director Q&A: Allison Jamison of Duke Fuqua
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we connect with Allison Jamison, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Duke University Fuqua School of Business, to learn about the ins and outs of admissions. Allison loves working closely with Fuqua’s prospective students each year. She collaborates with the Fuqua Admissions team to find the best ways to meet and engage with individuals considering a graduate business education, and she says it is truly a pleasure for her to get to know the applicants. Allison began working at Fuqua in
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Admissions Director Q&A: Patrik Wallén of IESE
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we visit Barcelona, Spain, to learn more about IESE Business School from Patrik Wallén, the school’s MBA Admissions Director. Prior to joining the Admissions team, Patrik spent several years leading IESE’s Career Development Center, where he supported MBA and MiM students in navigating their career paths and building relationships with global recruiters. Originally from Sweden, Patrik completed his MBA at IESE in 2007. He also holds executive coaching certifications (ORSCC, CPCC, ACC) and has been actively involved in IESE’s leadership and coaching programs.
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Admissions Director Q&A: Kara Tripi of Michigan State Broad College of Business
We are back again with Kara Tripi, Managing Director of MBA Admissions at Michigan State University Broad College of Business for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Kara oversees admissions for the Executive, Online, and Full-Time MBA programs. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oakland University. Over the past 13 years, Kara has built her career in higher education, with a strong commitment to supporting and advocating for students. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her wife and their
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Admissions Director Q&A: Anne Kilby of Georgetown McDonough
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Anne Kilby, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Georgetown McDonough in Washington, D.C. Kilby oversees admissions, sets the admissions strategy, and manages the scholarship budget for the Full-Time MBA, Flex MBA, and Flex MBA Online programs. She has spent 18 years in higher education, mainly in admissions and recruiting. Kilby has worked within a global scope by representing programs internationally at recruiting events and fairs, partnering with universities and clients abroad, and interviewing prospective candidates residing worldwide. Prior to Georgetown, she was the
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Admissions Director Q&A: Katy Radoll of UNC Kenan-Flagler
We welcome back Katy Radoll, Director of MBA Admissions at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. With roots in the Pacific Northwest, Katy has been part of the UNC Kenan-Flagler team as Director of MBA Admissions for the past two years. During her tenure, she has helped bring admissions back on the road to connect with candidates in their own communities, strengthened collaboration and shared purpose across the admissions team, and deepened relationships throughout the MBA admissions landscape. Her approach centers on
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Admissions Director Q&A: Rupal Gadhia of Harvard Business School
The Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard Business School, Rupal Gadhia, joins us for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Rupal Gadhia graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2004. Her post-HBS career began in brand management with Sara Lee and Campbell Soup Company, followed by a move to Booz & Co as a management consultant. Leveraging her passion for brand and consulting, she joined the Brand Union, managing North American strategy and research for consumer and corporate clients and was recruited to Interbrand
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Admission Director Q&A: J.R. McGrath of Carnegie Mellon Tepper
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back J.R. McGrath, Executive Director of Masters Admissions at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business. J.R. has been at the Tepper School for more than five years and accepted the role of Executive Director in October 2022. He has previously served in leadership roles at SMU Cox, TCU, and Syracuse. In addition to his professional responsibilities, J.R. and his wife have a young daughter that keeps them busy. J.R. also enjoys running, golf, and anything to do with Pittsburgh sports teams. Read on for
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Admissions Director Q&A: Charlotte Russell-Green of Cambridge Judge
We welcome back Charlotte Russell-Green, Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. After training in Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London, Charlotte transitioned into marketing and has now worked in the MBA sector for over a decade. She began her MBA career at QS, managing marketing for the World MBA Tour events across North America, before joining Cambridge Judge Business School, where she has held roles spanning marketing, recruitment, and admissions. As Head of MBA Recruitment and
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Admissions Director Q&A: Steve Thompson of Northwestern Kellogg
We take our Admissions Director Q&A to Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for a conversation with Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions. In his role, Steve Thompson leads talent acquisition strategy to draw the best and brightest candidates to Kellogg’s portfolio of eight Full-Time MBA programs. Prior to his current role, Steve gained broad experience across both student and academic experience at Kellogg, serving as Director of the Executive MBA Program on the Miami campus. Before joining Kellogg, he served as Executive Director of IE Business School’s International MBA Program. Keep reading
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Admissions Director Q&A: Denise Pu of CEIBS
Today we meet Denise Pu, Head of MBA Marketing and Admissions at CEIBS, who joins us to talk about admissions in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Denise Pu leads the same programme from which she graduated in 2012. She returns to the school after a career spanning banking and wealth management, entrepreneurship, and leadership advisory across the United States, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Shanghai. Denise holds a BSc in Management Science from the University of California, San Diego and an MBA from CEIBS. Read on for
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Admissions Director Q&A: Rebecca Mallen-Churchill of ASU W.P. Carey
We welcome back Rebecca Mallen-Churchill, Senior Director of Recruitment, Admission, and Financial Services for graduate programs at Arizona State University (ASU) W.P. Carey School of Business for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Rebecca Mallen-Churchill is the Senior Director of Recruitment, Admission, and Financial Services for graduate business programs at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. A proud ASU alumna, she first discovered her passion for higher education while working in graduate admissions as a student. Since joining W. P. Carey in 2013, she has helped prospective students from
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Admissions Director Q&A: Melissa Rapp of Emory Goizueta
We are excited to kick off our Admissions Director Q&A series for the 2026-2027 admissions season! To start, we welcome back Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions for Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Melissa Rapp leads strategy, recruitment, and enrollment across MBA and Specialized Master’s programs. She brings more than 20 years of experience in graduate management education and enrollment leadership. Prior to joining Goizueta, Melissa held leadership roles at several top institutions, including serving as Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA and MSMS programs at
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Published: April 16, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Anne Kilby of Georgetown McDonough
Sponsored Content Anne Kilby, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions, Georgetown McDonough In this special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, we welcome Anne Kilby, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Georgetown McDonough School of Business, for a deep dive into the application process, the MBA program and more. Kilby oversees the operations, recruitment and events, and marketing verticals for the Full-Time MBA, Flex MBA, and Flex MBA Online programs. She has spent 18 years in higher education, mainly in admissions and recruiting. Kilby has worked within a global scope by representing programs
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Published: December 15, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Bruce DelMonico of the Yale School of Management
Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the Yale School of Management, is back for another installment of our MBA Admissions Director Q&A series. Bruce joined Yale SOM in October 2004 and has led the Admissions Office since November 2006. Before joining Yale, Bruce was an attorney focused on First Amendment, white collar, and commercial litigation. Bruce holds a BA in Honors English from Brown University, an MA in Literature from the University of Texas at Austin, and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. Read our Q&A below for
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Published: September 24, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Becky Gallagher of the University of Bath School of Management
Welcome back to the U.K.’s University of Bath School of Management. We are once again joined by Becky Gallagher, Head of MBA Admissions and Recruitment, for this Admissions Director Q&A. Becky has worked within the University for over 20 years, spending time in the Students’ Union where she oversaw student development and leadership programs. She has worked in the role of Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions since January 2021 and has built an impressive network of connections globally. Becky loves nothing more than taking a student through the journey from pre-applicant stage right through to
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Published: September 17, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Ivone Foisy of the University of Rochester Simon Business School
We are back at the University of Rochester Simon Business School, this time with Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management, Ivone Foisy, in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Ivone has over 20 years of enrollment management experience. In her current role as assistant dean of enrollment management at Simon, she oversees recruitment strategy, enrollment marketing, and financial aid for full-time, part-time, and online MS and MBA programs. As Simon expands its offerings to include the DBA and certificate options, she will oversee enrollment for those programs as well. Ivone is inspired
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