ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast
Ken Anselment hosts a series of one-on-one conversations with people who have been climbing the leadership mountain in the world of college admissions. Some are nearing the summit. Some are already there. But how did they get there? And what can other climbers learn from their mindsets, habits, and experiences? © Ken Anselment 2024
ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast
Chris George: On Joy, Grit, Epic Runs and Organ Donation
Chris George—Associate Vice President for Enrollment at St. Olaf College—brings joy, grit, and a runner’s curiosity to this conversation that has less to do with enrollment leadership than it does with living life fully. We trace his path from student life to directing financial aid on day one; how the Lawlor Summer Seminar jump-started a lifelong habit of building a board of experts; and why he asks his team to buy two coffees a year with people outside their lane. We detour to Japan (the Shimanami Kaidō ride), a sunrise stair run inside Athens’ original Olympic stadium, and a family story that turns organ donation into triumph—culminating in a father–son-daughter triathlon three months post-transplant. (I'm not crying; you're crying.) We close with what Japan is doing about its own enrollment cliff and the best advice Chris ever got: understand why a process exists before you change it.
Inspired by Chris's story? Visit donatelife.net
00:00 — Cold open with the “most joyful person in admission.”
02:45 — From residence life to enrollment: the six-story Christmas Eve flood that changed everything.
05:05 — “Director on day one”: learning financial aid by building a network fast.
08:20 — Lawlor Summer Seminar → lifelong connectors; creating your board of experts.
11:55 — Internal networking: have two coffees a year outside your lane.
13:30 — Campus beat reporters example (disability services as cross-campus liaisons).
15:10 — Chris's approach to curating his social persona: runs, rides, and family.
16:15 — On how to truly arrive in a place. Chris's approach is to run in every city you sleep in (and what it reveals about place).
18:50 — Japan: solo ride on the Shimanami Kaidō; hospitality and arrival.
25:35 — Athens: alone inside the Panathenaic Stadium at sunrise—an all-timer.
27:55 — The arc of his son's post organ transplant journey: hospital hallway walks → stolen bases → a family triathlon.
32:05 — Call to action: become an organ donor (donatelife.net).
33:15 — Japan’s enrollment cliff: pathways to residency, international student strategy.
41:05 — Rapid Descent: walkout song, books, breakfast, and staying connected to Colorado sports.
45:25 — Best advice: understand the “why” before changing the “how.”
47:20 — Bucket list (Australia, Alaska, Ireland… and bring the family back to Greece).
The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment