Miller voted president of national organization

10/11/2009
By Nikky Farmakes

The University of Wisconsin-Superior has a new president in its midst; the president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, that is. 

Jim Miller, the University’s Coordinator of Institutional Research, became the president-elect of NACAC in Baltimore, Maryland at the organization’s 65th annual conference held September 23-26.  Miller was nominated last spring after being a member of the organization for the duration of his 30 year career in admissions. 

“A lot don’t run because they might lose,” said Miller regarding his nomination. “The hardest thing to do is say ‘yes.’”

Throughout the summer, Miller had to write multiple articles and give a six-minute speech to his peers before being elected. The election was between two nominees, but Miller didn’t sweat it, stating, “If I lost, I was voted second out of 11,000 people! That is not so terrible.”

The National Association for College Admission Counseling was founded in 1937 as College Field Workers to assist students in achieving their goals of entering into higher education. Since 1937, the organization has grown to encompass over 11,000 members worldwide. NACAC is a fusion of college admissions counselors and high school admission counselors working together to ease the transition from high school to college.

According to Miller, the main job for the organization is to “make sure students have a positive experience, pick the right college, and help high school counselors assist” when it comes to choosing schools. Especially with the economy being down, Miller explains that it creates a greater challenge for admission offices.

“When colleges are stressed for enrollment, it is tempting for an admissions office to focus on selling the college, not make a match,” said Miller. 

With nearly every four-year college nationwide, and an equal number of high schools having membership, NACAC runs College Fairs across the nation, the nearest being in Minneapolis. Nearly 800,000 students a year go to a NACAC sponsored College Fair, creating a wide network of information for students and counselors alike to find the right fit.

As president, it will be Jim Miller’s responsibility to uphold NACAC’s policies and initiatives and be the organization’s spokesperson.  He will also be working in Washington to help influence laws and public policies like Financial Aid in favor of students.  Miller will preside over the organizations board of directors for a year and will serve on the board for another two.  It will be Miller’s responsibility to also oversee the organization’s CEO, who supervises a staff of forty-two members in Arlington, Virginia.