Tela McEwen Herring
Associate Director, Strategic Outreach and Recruitment
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
To understand my passion for the work is to know my story. As a senior in high school, I had no desire to attend college. Neither of my parents went to school, making me a first-generation college student. My father worked three jobs to provide for his family. To alleviate some of the household financial burdens, I began working part-time 25-30 hours a week. During the second semester of senior year, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer and could not work for an extended period of time. I watched my mother attempt to get a quality paying job, but because of her lack of education she was looked over for positions and often settled for lower paid work.

Seeing this happen to my family broke my heart and made me determined to shift gears and seek guidance on furthering my education by attending college. Unfortunately, I received no help from my school’s counselor as she uttered these words that I will never forget, “Oh, you are too late. You might as well continue working your little job at the mall.” At that very moment, a fire was ignited inside of me. I was determined more than ever, to figure out how to go to college. That following Sunday at church, I was introduced to a man that worked as an admissions representative at a small school in Memphis that had less than 500 students. He took the time to explain everything from taking the ACT (which I had never taken) to applying and accepting financial aid award packages. A month later, I graduated high school and on the same day I received my high school diploma, the admissions representative came and personally delivered my college acceptance letter. This was the beginning of what would be my destiny.

After successfully completing my freshman year of college, I transferred schools and worked full-time as the youngest university employee at Christian Brothers University (TN) as a secretary and admissions coordinator for the department of education. This position exposed me to the innerworkings of postsecondary education, undergraduate admissions, student life and development, academic advising, and financial aid counseling. I gained this experience while pursuing and obtaining a dual bachelor’s degree with honors.

Now, more than 20 years later, I have worked in the field of education (both secondary and postsecondary) focusing on school leadership, college admissions, career counseling, and student/family outreach and development. In the process, I have gained extensive knowledge of higher education practices. I have created yield programs for universities, developed college counseling programs throughout the community, and even helped start a high school from the ground up. Through these experiences, I have learned how to become an effective leader while still being mission-driven. I made a promise to my 17-year-old self that I would never forget someone who helped and advocated for me to advance in life, and I vowed to be that person in the lives of others — both personally and professionally.

What is your favorite part of the job?
I love having the ability to introduce options for postsecondary education to students and families. For so many students, I am the first person they have ever encountered with knowledge on how to attend college. To so many I represent a future that could never have been imagined otherwise. That matters so much to me.

How has NACAC played a role in your career?
Through NACAC I have been able to connect with so many colleagues around the globe that not only look like me but share the same joys, frustrations, and concerns that I have. As co-leader for NACAC’s Black and African Diaspora Special Interest Group, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to create spaces for those of us who are typically underrepresented in the field of college admissions. What once was a small meeting every year has turned into a significant support group with programming that expands to members and nonmembers. I guess you could say NACAC provided a platform and we decided to stand tall on it.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today? 
The biggest challenge that I see facing our profession would have to be the decline in college-going culture that we will see coming soon. We are going to have to work so much harder to make sure that students and families understand the value of higher education but also figure out ways to remove the barriers that make it such a challenge for all students to receive a college degree. First, we must want to see this happen and then do the work to make it happen. This may mean a change to what has been the norm for so many years. But if it works, then it’s time to start a new norm.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
I am always working! 🙂 But when I do have time off I enjoy hanging with my family and friends; singing and directing at church; making custom earrings for my small business; and during football season, cheering on my team – the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Dedicated. Achiever. Positive. Responsible. Change Agent.

 

Published April 1, 2024