Admissions Director Q&A
Clear Admit’s exclusive interviews with admissions directors at the world’s leading MBA programs.
Published: August 11, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Steve Thompson of Northwestern Kellogg
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, we are back again with Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. As the leader of Full-Time admissions, Steve is focused on attracting the best and brightest candidates to Kellogg’s portfolio of Full-Time MBA programs. Steve has played a critical leadership role at Kellogg since January 2018, when he first joined the team as director of the Executive MBA Program. Prior to Kellogg, Steve worked at IE Business School as the
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Published: August 6, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Jelena Pejic of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we meet Jelena Pejic, Associate Director, Graduate Recruitment & Admissions at the Boston College Carroll School of Management. In her role, Jelena manages the MBA program portfolio. With over 13 years of experience recruiting and advising graduate applicants and students, she is an international higher education professional who is motivated to meaningfully influence students at a pivotal time in their lives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University. Jelena grew up in the former Yugoslavia and relocated to
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Published: August 4, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Rodrigo Malta of Texas McCombs
In this edition of our MBA Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of MBA Marketing, Recruiting & Admissions at the Texas McCombs School of Business. Rodrigo is originally from Brazil and immigrated to the United States during high school. He earned his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business in 2007, and his bachelor’s degree in management from Missouri State University in 2000. Before and after his MBA, Rodrigo worked for Fortune 100 companies in internal audit and marketing within the telecom and technology industries. One of
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Admissions Director Q&A: Andrea McHale of Michigan Ross
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Andrea McHale, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time and Global MBA Programs at University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Before transitioning to higher education, Andrea spent 10 years in marketing, sales, and supply chain management within the healthcare and automotive industries. In 2013, she moved into education administration and is currently the Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program at Ross. Previously, Andrea served as the Director of Admissions for Michigan State University’s Broad
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Admission Director Q&A: J.R. McGrath of Carnegie Mellon Tepper
We welcome back J.R. McGrath, Executive Director of Masters Admissions at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business, for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. 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
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Admissions Director Q&A: Rupal Gadhia of Harvard Business School
We welcome back Rupal Gadhia, Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard Business School, for our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series. 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 to lead the
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Admissions Director Q&A: Maria Pineda of the UMD Smith School of Business
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we’re back in College Park, Maryland, with Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Pineda has been with UMD Smith for almost 20 years and manages the recruiting efforts for the MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. Keep reading for her advice on navigating the admissions process, what’s unique about the UMD Smith MBA, and her favorite aspects of the program. Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at The University of Maryland Clear Admit: What is the
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Admissions Director Q&A: Shelly Heinrich of SMU Cox
We are back in Texas at the SMU Cox School of Business in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series with Shelly Heinrich, Senior Assistant Dean, Graduate Admissions and Career Management Center. Heinrich brings 20 years of experience in the higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, with direct experience working in five business schools. Her responsibilities have included admissions, recruitment, marketing, employer/business development, and career services, among others. Heinrich manages a team of 40, leading the strategic direction and oversight of Graduate Admissions (recruitment, marketing, and admissions)
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Admissions Director Q&A: Mohammad Salhia of Toronto Rotman
For this Admissions Director Q&A we welcome back Mohammad Salhia, the Managing Director, Recruitment, Admissions and Business Development at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. Prior to joining Rotman, Mohammad spent his career working in healthcare, predominantly focusing on education strategy and operations in the health professions. He was previously a Director of Continuing Education. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education, both from the University of Toronto. Mohammad is currently a PhD student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, also at the University of Toronto.
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Admissions Director Q&A: Paul North of Ohio State Fisher
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome Paul North, the Executive Director of the Graduate Programs Office at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Paul has served in leadership roles at both public and private universities, bringing deep expertise across a range of graduate business programs—including MBA, MS, executive, and dual degree formats. In his current role, Paul leads strategic direction for the Graduate Programs Office, overseeing recruitment and marketing, admissions and
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Admissions Director Q&A: Melissa Rapp of Emory Goizueta
Get an insider’s take on MBA admissions at Goizueta Business School at Emory University with Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Melissa leads strategy, recruitment, and enrollment across a portfolio of MBA and Specialized Master’s programs. A respected voice in graduate education, she brings over 20 years of experience designing admissions systems that are effective, inclusive, and human-centered. Her career includes leadership roles at top institutions, including Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where she served as Director of Admissions for the
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Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth
Get an insider’s view of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs, in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Donna is a longtime Chicago resident and has been at Booth since 1997. She joined the Office of Admissions in 2005 and has seen the admissions process at Booth from practically every angle over the course of her tenure serving in several roles including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her current position as Associate
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Admissions Director Q&A: Rebecca Mallen-Churchill of ASU W.P. Carey
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, 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. Mallen-Churchill graduated from ASU in 2005; while earning her degree in theatre and Italian, she also discovered her love for higher education while working for the Graduate Admissions office. After gaining work experience in the hospitality industry and traveling the world, Rebecca returned to Arizona and joined W. P. Carey in 2013. In her time working with the graduate program’s
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Admissions Director Q&A: Shari Hubert of Duke Fuqua
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Shari Hubert. Hubert’s role is overseeing recruitment and admissions for the school’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Before Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Evening MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Hubert has extensive experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and entered higher education after working for the Peace Corps as director of recruitment within the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection. Her work is
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Admissions Director Q&A: Katy Radoll of UNC Kenan-Flagler
We welcome back Katy Radoll, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Katy was thrilled to join the UNC Kenan-Flagler team as the Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program in the summer of 2024. Prior to UNC Kenan-Flagler, she led Associate Recruiting at McKinsey in Atlanta and, before that, held several different roles at MIT Sloan, where she was part of the team that established The Asia School of Business in Collaboration with MIT Sloan (ASB) and
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Admissions Director Q&A: Dr. Naz Erenguc of University of Florida Warrington College of Business
We welcome back Dr. Naz Erenguc, Director of Admissions for the University of Florida (UF) Warrington College of Business, in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A. Combining her passion for equity with business, academic, and global health expertise, Dr. Naz Erenguc is one of the most versatile voices in graduate education today. In her role as a professor of global health or as director of admissions for UF’s top-ranked MBA program, “Dr. Naz” helps makes sure everyone has a seat at the table. During her tenure at UF, she
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Admissions Director Q&A: Anne Kilby, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Georgetown McDonough
Anne Kilby, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Georgetown McDonough in Washington, D.C., joins us for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. 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 17 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 Director of MPA
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Admissions Director Q&A: Lindsay Loyd of NYU Stern
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we catch up with Lindsay Loyd, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern, as the school celebrates its 125th anniversary. 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
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Admissions Director Q&A: Kara Tripi of Michigan State Broad College of Business
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Kara Tripi, Director of Admissions and Enrollment at the Michigan State University Broad College of Business MBA program. With over a decade of higher education experience, Kara is passionate about guiding students toward academic success. In her current role, she oversees recruitment and admissions while contributing to program development. Her diverse background in education provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s students. Read below
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Admissions Director Q&A: Brent Nagamine of University of Washington Foster School of Business
We welcome back Brent Nagamine, Director of Admissions at the University of Washington Foster School of Business for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Brent oversees marketing, recruitment, selection, and scholarships for the Full-Time, Evening, and Global MBA programs. He has been working in the higher education sphere since 2013 when he graduated from the University of Washington. He started his career working in undergraduate admissions and eventually pursued his M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania. After joining the Foster MBA admissions team in 2019, he was also drawn to pursue his own
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Admissions Director Q&A: Charlotte Russell-Green of Cambridge Judge
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we head to the UK with Charlotte Russell-Green, Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School. After training in Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths in London, Charlotte transitioned into marketing after graduation and has now worked in the MBA market for over 10 years. She started her MBA career at QS, managing the marketing for the World MBA Tour events in North America and has worked in marketing, recruitment and admissions at Cambridge ever since. Her passions at work include
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Admissions Director Q&A: Stephanie Kluth of ESMT Berlin
Looking ahead to the next admissions season of 2025-2026, we are excited to kick off our Admissions Director Q&A series today. In this edition, Stephanie Kluth, the Director of Admissions for Degree Programs at ESMT Berlin, is back to shed light on the MBA program. Stephanie holds over 20 years of experience in higher education and academic administration. Since joining ESMT in 2005, she has contributed to the development and internationalization of the school’s MBA and Master’s programs. Prior to joining ESMT Berlin, she worked at the Aspen Institute Berlin
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Published: February 19, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Christine Drummy of Babson College Olin
Our Admissions Director Q&A series continues with a visit to the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College to meet Christine Drummy, Director of Graduate Admissions. With over a decade of experience in higher education admissions, Christine is an accomplished and results-driven professional currently serving as the Director of Graduate Admissions at Babson College. Since July 2023, she has been responsible for leading the development and execution of comprehensive admissions strategies that foster student engagement and maximize enrollment success. Christine has held various key roles in Graduate Admissions at Babson
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Published: February 17, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Teresa Peiro-Camaro of INSEAD
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Teresa Peiro-Camaro, Associate Director of Global Admissions at INSEAD. Based in Fontainebleau, France, she leads the Admissions Office team, which oversees the admissions process for Degree Programmes and is responsible for the class composition for Executive Degrees and MBAs. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring that each INSEAD cohort brings together people, cultures, and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society. Teresa and her team accompany candidates along the entire application journey, helping them explore their driving motivation
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Published: December 16, 2024
Admissions Director Q&A: Bruce DelMonico of the Yale School of Management
Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the Yale School of Management In this MBA Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the Yale School of Management for insights into MBA admissions, the program and more. 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
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