Member Spotlight: September 2020
This month’s Member Spotlight features Brian Hodges, Senior Associate Director of Recruitment & Outreach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
How long have you worked in counseling?
15 years
How did you get into counseling?
I started in counseling like most of us started, by accident. I completed 2 years as a recruiting graduate assistant in football and I needed a job. I got my first counseling job at the University of Illinois Springfield as a Visiting Recruitment Coordinator in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. My ultimate goal was to get into athletics. Little did I know this was the start of my career.
How long have you been an IACAC member?
9 years
How have you been involved in IACAC?
Since 2011, if I have been asked to help I say yes (Thank you, Anne Kremer). I have been involved in the following IACAC committees:
- IACAC Executive Board (Council Team Director, currently Delegate Director-Postsecondary)
- Conference
- Summer Institute
- College Awareness & Preparation
- Transfer Advisory
- Credentials
- Nominating
- District Seminar
- National College Fair
What do you love most about your job?
I love meeting and helping families on this college search journey. My job is to recruit and yield students to my institution. But I think the most important and fulfilling part of my job is educating and advocating for students, especially students that need that extra help. The most satisfying experience is when a student realizes the power they have when choosing their next step after high school. Even if they don’t attend my school, I feel I’ve done my job.
What is the most common college process concern you see among your students today?
Demystifying the application process. Colleges do not make it easy on students since we all have a different way to apply to our campuses. When the process is difficult in general, it is really difficult for underserved populations. It is important that we advocate for and educate students on the variety of options they have so they can make the best decision for themselves in the college search process.
