New Authors Answer the Call for C&U’s Centennial

By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO

A century of College & University represents generations of professionals willing to document what they have learned, question established practices, and contribute ideas that move the field forward. That legacy continued during the C&U 100th Anniversary/100 Authors campaign, which invited members of the AACRAO community to help mark 100 years by adding their own voices to the record.

Cultivating 100 new authors is a testament to C&U’s enduring role in the profession and the strength of a community built on sharing knowledge with one another.

As part of the campaign, the first 10 authors who signed up and successfully published an article were entered to receive a complimentary registration to the 112th AACRAO Annual Meeting in 2027. We’re proud to recognize Jacob Henry, MSEd, Senior Transfer Admission Counselor, Office of Admissions, University of Colorado Boulder, as the recipient—and to celebrate all 10 early participants and the articles they contributed:

• Nicole DeCapua, “Admission and Academic Viewpoints from the Front Seat of a Merger” (C&U 101-1)
• Jordanna Maziarz, “Admission and Academic Viewpoints from the Front Seat of a Merger” (C&U 101-1)
• Courtney O. Brown, “Review of: How Colleges Use Data” (C&U 101-1)
• Ann Themistocleous, “Review of: Strategies and Insights for Women Leaders in Higher Education” (C&U 101-2)
• Joe Tate, “Evaluating Academic Policy to Drive Student Success” (C&U 101-2)
• Jacob Henry, “Assets and Liabilities of Utilizing AI in the Admissions Process” (C&U 101-2) (Prize Winner)
• Lesa Beals, “Interview with Laura Perna” (C&U 101-3)
• Erin Collins, “Hiring Practices That Promote Access and Equity: Strategies for Expanding Opportunity and Reducing Barriers in Human Resources” (C&U 101-3)
• Regina Middleton, “Empowering Career Success: Building Strategic Campus Partnerships for Micro-Credentialing at Texas Christian University” (C&U 101-3)
• Crystal Marie Hotchkiss, “Review of: Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You” (C&U 101-3)

“Congratulations to Jacob, who wrote a piece on the assets and liabilities of AI in admissions—a timely topic in higher education,” said Heather Zimar, Managing Editor at AACRAO. “And thanks to all of our contributors for helping us launch this campaign. It’s a privilege to celebrate a century of this work alongside people so clearly committed to the future of this profession.”

The campaign also demonstrated the energy that new voices can bring to the journal. 

“I was thrilled so many AACRAO members were interested in writing,” shared Christopher Tremblay, C&U Editor-in-Chief. “And even better were the first-time authors who put themselves out there to get started.  This is exactly what our call for 100 authors was intended to do—inspire people to share their thoughts/ideas!”

This momentum also creates an opportunity for experienced colleagues to help bring even more first-time authors into the conversation.

“In the same way that I was first published in C&U with a commentary, I want my colleagues to feel encouraged and supported to contribute to our body of literature by sharing best practices, pearls of wisdom, and research that advances our field,” added Tremblay.

Below, our prize winner shares more about their professional journey, writing interests, accomplishments, and what they hope to pursue next. 

Can you tell us a bit about your professional background and what led you to this field?

Henry: As a first-generation student, I had no idea working professionally in higher education could be a career. My first entry into the field was as a student employee for both residence life and admissions. I found that supporting students through this crucially developmental phase of their lives provided me with meaning in my work. I have worked for the last 10 years in higher education through college admissions and student life. I found my passion with helping students find the institution that would help them pursue their dreams.

What inspired you to write for C&U?

Henry: When I was attending the AACRAO Annual Meeting, I found the session regarding the College & University 100th Anniversary/100 Authors campaign. I greatly enjoyed writing when I was pursuing my graduate degree and was fortunate enough to be published several times. I attended the session and the editors sharing the various topics they were looking for publication on interested me. I wanted to help contribute to the extensive research being done by the contributors of C&U, and to continue my own interests in said research as well. Plus, I just missed the world of academic writing!

Is there another piece of writing—for C&U or elsewhere—that you’re especially proud of, and why?

Henry: I am very proud of a publication I had in the Association of College Unions International’s Bulletin. While I was pursuing my master’s degree, I was fortunate enough to work as a graduate intern for the Association and reached out to the editor regarding my interest in the centralization of cultural centers in student unions. It was my first publication through an outside organization from my graduate institution, and the first time working with professional editors. I found the experience very educational, and I was happy to include interviews from professionals working within student unions across the country. If you are interested in learning more, you can find it at the ACUI Bulletin archive titled, Cultural Centers: Bringing a Presence to the Union.

What topics do you enjoy writing about?

Henry: I enjoy writing about innovative practices being done in the field currently to better support students pursuing higher education, especially the creation of new institutional or regional policies in this effort. Some examples would include test-optional admissions policies, pre-collegiate program implementation, and automatic acceptance programs. I also really enjoy connecting with professionals in leadership roles and how the history of their careers has impacted their perspectives.

Do you have any writing tips or advice for other professionals who may be interested in submitting articles for AACRAO or other publications but aren’t sure how to start?

Henry: I would recommend reading some of the current publications through AACRAO to begin with. Keeping up to date on current practices and the styles of other authors can help to begin an understanding on how you may want to begin writing. Start with what you know. Write about your own professional experiences or those of your close colleagues. I also think interviews are an easy approach to begin with. Just sit down with someone you admire, have a cup of coffee and ask some questions about their experiences or opinions. You can wait around for a while hoping you will eventually start writing, or you can just start. Trust yourself.