Meet the Team
Angel B. Pérez, CEO
Interested in asking Dr. Pérez to speak at your event? Please visit our Speaking Engagement Form
Angel B. Pérez, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, dedicated to expanding access, equity, and student success. As CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, he represents more than 28,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide, serving as the association’s chief voice to government, media, and global partners. Since joining NACAC in 2020, Pérez has led a bold transformation agenda — navigating the organization through a pandemic, redefining its mission and governance, doubling membership, overhauling federal policy initiatives, creating new programs to cultivate future leaders, and securing the largest philanthropic gifts in its history. In September 2023, he announced the creation of the Center for Innovation in College Admission.
Pérez’s passion for educational equity is deeply personal. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in poverty in the South Bronx, he was the first in his family to graduate from college — an experience that fuels his lifelong commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to pursue higher education. Before joining NACAC, he served as a leader at several institutions of higher education, most recently as vice president for enrollment and student success at Trinity College, where his visionary leadership transformed enrollment, retention, student success, and career development.
A sought-after speaker, writer, and policy advisor, Pérez has helped shape national conversations on the future of higher education. His insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, PBS NewsHour, CBS Evening News, and more. He advised the Biden-Harris administration on college access and affordability, testified before the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, and served on Forward50, a coalition of higher education leaders who offer policy solutions to Congress. Appointed by the governor of Connecticut to the New England Board of Higher Education, he continues to influence higher education policy across the nation. In 2024, he was invited to join The Wall Street Journal CEO Council, a network of business and policy leaders shaping the future of leadership and innovation.
A dedicated educator, Pérez has taught at Trinity College, UCLA, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Rikkyo University in Japan. He also has served on the boards of Scholarship America, Tuition Exchange, Hartford Youth Scholars, Berkshire School, United World College in Costa Rica, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Washington Higher Education Secretariat. In recognition of his impact, the Kresge Foundation recently appointed him to its Thrive Leaders Network.
Pérez is the recipient of numerous awards for his leadership and advocacy, including Skidmore College’s highest honor for diversity leadership. He also is the author of the forthcoming book, The Hottest Seat on Campus: A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admission, to be published by Harvard Education Press in September 2025. A Fulbright Scholar, he holds a B.S. from Skidmore College, M.A. from Columbia University, Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University, and a certification in higher education pedagogy from Harvard University’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.
Interested in asking Dr. Pérez to speak at your event? Please visit our Speaking Engagement Form
Forthcoming Book
The Hottest Seat on Campus
A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admission
Coming September 2025
Details
Messages from the CEO
NACAC is with you and here for you
Message from NACAC CEO to Member Leaders About Federal Policy Changes
A Call to Action for the NACAC Community, from NACAC’s Board of Directors and CEO
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Shantel Goodman-Luckett
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David A. Hawkins
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Melanie Marquez Parra
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Ashley Perzyna
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Executive Office
Contact: ceo@nacacnet.org
Angel B. Pérez
Chief Executive Officer
Email | 703-299-6828
Ashley Perzyna
Chief Operating Officer
Email | 703-299-6821
Kara Lackmann
Associate Director, People Operations
Email | 703-299-6812
Helen Hernandez
Assistant Director, Executive & Board Relations
Email | 703-299-6841
Takia Hawkins
Coordinator, Workplace Experience
Email | 703-299-6801
Governance
Contact: governance@nacacnet.org
Heather McGhee
Director, Governance & Volunteer Relations
Email | 703-299-6835
Laura Fagan
Manager, Volunteer Relations
Email | 703-299-6813
Communications and Marketing
Contact: communications@nacacnet.org
Melanie Marquez Parra
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Email | 703-299-6827
Robert Purdy
Director, Sales and Marketing
Email | 703-299-6826
Ebony Maddox
Senior Manager, Social Media & Digital Content Strategy
Email | 703-299-6818
John Powers
Senior Manager, Websites & Digital Communications
Email | 703-299-6807
Sawsan Chalabi
Visual Communications Designer
Email | 703-299-6833
Rachel Williams
Content Editor and Writer
Email | 703-299-6834
Alex Korty
Digital Marketing Manager
Email | 703-299-6837
Kevin Durham
Digital Marketing Manager
Email | 703-299-6847
Finance and Accounting
Contact: accountspayable@nacacnet.org
Angie Stover
Controller
Email | 703-299-6803
Seyar Niaz
Manager, Finance & Accounting
Email | 703-299-6834
Alisa Zhou
Senior Accountant
Email | 703-299-6804
Information Systems
Contact: is@nacacnet.org
Khurram Bashir
Director of IT
Email | 703-299-6816
Michelle Lucas
Database Management & Integration Director
Email | 703-299-6814
Membership Experience
Contact: cxo@nacacnet.org and membership@nacacnet.org
Shantel Goodman-Luckett
Chief Experience Officer
Profile | Email | 703-836-2222
Murphy Miller
Director, Membership Experience and Global Engagement
Email | 703-299-6838
Victoria Balahutrak
Manager, Membership Experience
Email | 703-299-5279
Robin Taylor
Senior Coordinator, Experience & Education Projects
Email | 703-299-6817
Moni Huntington
Senior Specialist, Membership Experience
Email | 703-299-6824
Teesha Bailey
Senior Specialist, Membership Experience
Email | 703-299-6815
Kiarra Davis
Senior Specialist, Membership Experience
Email | 703-299-6819
Events and Meetings
Contact: collegefairs@nacacnet.org and conference@nacacnet.org
Pia Brown
Director, Events and Meetings
Email | 571-551-5277
Jason Smith
Associate Director, Events & Meetings
Email | 703-299-6856
Gracy Olmeda
Associate Director, Events & Meetings
Email | 703-299-6839
Bissi Woldemicael
Assistant Director, Events & Meetings
Email | 703-299-6832
Virginia Falgoust
Assistant Director, Events & Meetings
Email | 703-299-6844
Makini Johnson
Manager, Events and Meetings
Email | 703-299-6859
Lauren Zarbo
Manager, Events and Meetings
Email | 703-299-6850
Justine O’Connor
Manager, Events and Meetings
Email | 703-299-6853
Marissa Donahue
Manager, Events and Meetings
Email | 703-299-6843
Simyah Farrior-Moorman
Manager, Events and Meetings
Email | 703-299-9375
Kaitlyn Fennell
Senior Coordinator, Events & Meetings
Email | 703-299-6822
Educational Content and Policy
Contact: legislative@nacacnet.org
David A. Hawkins
Chief Education and Policy Officer
Profile | Email | 703-299-6809
Education and Training
Contact: pd@nacacnet.org
Sophia Chaale
Director of Education and Training
Email | 703-299-6849
Katie Maenz
Learning Experience Designer
Email | 703-299-6808
JH You
Assistant Director, Education & Training
Email | 703-299-6846
Frances Montevilla
Coordinator, Education and Training
Email
Research
Contact: research@nacacnet.org
Melissa E. Clinedinst
Director of Research Initiatives and Partnerships
Email | 703-299-6854
Cameron Hair
Assistant Director, Research Initiatives & Partnerships
Email | 703-299-5276
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
John S. Hollemon III
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Email | 703-299-6820
Philanthropy
Tommy Amal
Director of Philanthropy and Enterprise Development
Email | 773-818-9052
Dr. Jennifer Brown
Development Manager
Email | 703-299-6801
Neha Bhanot
Outreach Coordinator
Email | 703-299-6842
Advocacy
Sean Robins
Director of Advocacy
Email
Contact: legislative@nacacnet.org