Speaker Bios

Mr. Eric Maguire, Vice President for Enrollment, Wake Forest University                        

Eric Maguire joined Wake Forest as vice president of enrollment in July 2019, the first to hold the new position overseeing both undergraduate admissions and financial aid offices. He previously served as vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at Franklin & Marshall College. During his tenure, F&M enrolled its most inclusive and selective classes in its history and set institutional records for applications and enrollment of low-income and minority students. He is the author of a chapter on test-optional admissions in the book Measuring Success: Testing, Grades, and the Future of College Admissions and has been a conference presenter at the National Association of College Admission Counseling. He holds a B.A. in psychology from Muhlenberg College and a M.A. in higher education administration from Indiana University.

Tom Walter, Head Baseball Coach, Wake Forest University                                                  

A proven program builder and player developer, Tom Walter finished his 13th season as the head coach of Wake Forest baseball in 2022. With 366 wins as the Demon Deacon skipper, he sits as the second-winningest coach in program history, trailing only George Greer (608 wins). Additionally, Walter is one of just two active head coaches in the country to lead three different programs to the NCAA Division I Tournament, becoming just the seventh coach all-time to do so. He joins the ranks of Larry Cochell, Augie Garrido, Sunny Golloway, Andy Lopez, Ron Polk and Jack Stallings, while Randy Mazey joined that group after Walter. On April 10, 2022, Walter picked up the 350th win at the helm of the Demon Deacon baseball program as Wake Forest swept Big Four rival Duke for the first time since 2008. Walter has helped 44 players get drafted or sign pro contracts over the last eight years, including six Deacs drafted among the top 50 picks and back-to-back first rounders in 2021 (Ryan Cusick) and 2020 (Jared Shuster):

Kathleen Walker, M.S. College Counselor, The Fletcher School                                             

Kathleen Walker joined The Fletcher School professional community at the start of the 2020-2021 school year where she currently serves as the College Counselor. Serving students with learning and attention difficulties has been a passion of Kathleen's for many years and she greatly enjoys supporting students and their families throughout the college preparation process. Among other accomplishments during her first year at Fletcher, the 2021 Senior Class was awarded more than $3 million in merit scholarships – a record for a Fletcher graduating class. Kathleen previously served as the K-12 School Counselor at The John Crosland School. Kathleen graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Villanova University. In previous years, Kathleen worked as a college and career counselor for high school students in low-income schools, an experience she later used to present at the TEDx Villanova Conference. In recent years she presented at the NCAIS Diverse Learners Conference, served as a panelist for the International Dyslexia Association, and published an article for Charlotte Smarty Pants entitled “Parents Supporting Transitions- Life After Graduation.”

Dr. Michael Shuman, Director, Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success Wake Forest University                                                                                                               

Michael joined the CLASS staff in 1997. He received a BA in French and Music from Furman University, an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition to directing and supervising the operations of CLASS, Michael provides academic coaching to WFU students and specializes in the needs of students with physical, visual, and hearing impairments. His research interests include college student athletes and academic motivation. He enjoys reading, running, music, and spending time with his wife and sons.

Brennan Barnard Director of College Counseling Khan Lab School & Director of College Counseling for the College Guidance Network

Brennan Barnard, M.Ed is the Director of College Counseling and Outreach at Khan Lab School, CA and the Director of College Counseling for the College Guidance Network. He also serves as the College Admissions Program Advisor with the Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
A native of suburban Philadelphia and practicing Quaker, he is a graduate of Westtown Friends School. Brennan earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from The University of Vermont. This father of two lives in Hopkinton, New Hampshire where he is a volunteer firefighter.

Dawn Calhoun, Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Wake Forest University

Dawn Calhoun is the Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and member of the Enrollment Leadership Team at Wake Forest University. Dawn has been a member of the WFU admissions staff since 1999. She completed a double major at Wake Forest University in 1999 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Honorary. Dawn also earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wake Forest University in 2007 and is a member of Chi Sigma Iota Honorary and is a National Certified Counselor. In her role, she enjoys creating a memorable on-campus and virtual visit experience and collaborating with campus colleagues. By serving on the admissions committee, she appreciates the distinct opportunity to get to know prospective Demon Deacons. Dawn shares her experience and knowledge through panels and presentations at the local, regional, and national level.

Megan Tyler, Director of Admissions, Wofford University

Megan joined the college’s admission staff as a counselor in 2015, and for the past year she has served as senior associate director of admission. Tyler has directed the Wofford Scholars Program and has been the admission liaison to the First Year Orientation team, the Bonner Scholars Program and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is a graduate of Wofford College and Columbia College.

 

 

 

Bridget Gwinnett, MC, LCMHCS, Counselor, Greensboro Day School 

Bridget Gwinnett began working with children as a Child and Adolescent Therapist in a clinical mental health setting, and then in private practice. As the Upper School Counselor and Department Chair at Greensboro Day School, she seeks to support students in the hard work of being a teenager, provide parents with tools for handling the everyday experience of raising adolescents, and supply teachers with the resources to deliver challenging quality instruction while recognizing the developmental and emotional needs of their students. In addition to counseling, Bridget works with students in Health and Wellness and teaches AP Psychology. Bridget holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology; is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor; and is a licensed trainer in Restorative Practice.

Michael Russell, Regional Director for the College Funding Coach

Michael was born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he attended Chapel Hill High School. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Michael joined The College Funding Coach® team in 2017. His focus is on helping parents find ways to finance a college education without hindering their own retirement savings. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, basketball, and cheering on his UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers. 

 

Ulisa E. Bowles, MPA, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Division of Academic Affairs, University of North Carolina System

Ulisa E. Bowles, a native of Roanoke, Virginia, graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in political science and history. She holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University and is presently enrolled in the Leadership Studies Doctoral Program at North Carolina A&T. Ulisa has worked for nearly 30 years at various institutions, including Oglethorpe University, Spelman College, Hollins University, Bennett College, and Fayetteville State University. Presently, she is the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at the NC UNC System office, where she has leadership responsibility for enrollment-related issues for the 17 constituent institutions. As a longtime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ulisa has participated in and chaired many community-wide initiatives. Additionally, she loves reading, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.