Kelly Farmer, Candidate for President-Elect
Explain how your background, training, experience, and/or personal qualities support your candidacy for
the position you seek on the board.
Ten years ago I followed the same path to the admissions profession as many of my fellow
PCACAC members and admissions colleagues – that of a tour guide. I spent most of my undergraduate
years at the University of Maryland working for admissions and I loved it. As a first-generation college
student, I had a keen awareness that a lot of kids with my background had an uphill battle to make it to
college not because they weren’t smart enough but because they didn’t have the right support or
advice. By the end of my sophomore year I realized that while I enjoyed the journalism and public
relations classes I was taking for my major, I was more interested in how those of us fortunate enough
to be in those classes had gotten there and how I could ensure that opportunity for others. That
realization combined with the advice of my early mentors made me comfortable in my decision to
pursue a career in admissions – a career I am grateful to love.
I arrived at Stevenson University (then Villa Julie College) in 2002 with a lot of naïve confidence
and a desire to prove myself. At the time I never thought I’d still be here ten years later. I was
encouraged to get involved with PCACAC from the start and the people I have met in this organization
have trained me and sustained me. My first PCACAC conference was in Richmond in 2003 and I haven’t
missed once since. I certainly don’t remember what sessions I attended that first year, but I do
remember learning that PCACAC was an organization of “huggers” and that I was inspired enough by
what I experienced to fill out a volunteer form to get more involved.
A few conference planning committees later I had the opportunity to run for college delegate to
the national assembly. During my three-year term from 2008-2011 I attended all of PCACAC’s board
meetings and learned about the inner workings of the organization as well as the role state and regional
affiliates play at the national level. I also served on the Local Arrangements Committee for NACAC 2009
in Baltimore. Currently I’m part of PCACAC’s Professional Development Committee having served on
faculty for the most recent Summer Institute as well as for a PCACAC inservice day for Howard County
(Md.) public school counselors.
Given the amazing professionals I’ve known as leaders of this organization, I’m truly humbled to
even be considered equal to the task of entering the presidential cycle. My motivation to do so is the
same as that which initially brought me to this profession – to guide others and give back. What
separates PCACAC, NACAC, and our active members from all other professional organizations I’ve
encountered is our grounding in a set of ethical guidelines governing college admissions. If we are to be
taken seriously and by extension restore the confidence of the public in the value of a college degree,
we must hold fast to these principles. I care deeply about seeing new admissions officers develop a
moral compass rather than just a business mindset and new school counselors an aptitude for college
counseling along with the rest of their myriad responsibilities. As one of the strongest affiliates in terms
of human and fiscal capital, PCACAC is uniquely positioned to provide that support and spread NACAC’s
message. I look forward to being able to serve this wonderful organization in a new capacity and would
be grateful for your support.