Angelica Melendez
San Antonio,TX
Summary
Dedicated and student-focused college counseling professional with a proven track record of building and fostering college-going cultures. Bringing over two decades of experience in guiding students through the complexities of the college application process, financial aid, and postsecondary readiness. Known for compassionate leadership, data-driven decision-making, and successful collaboration with faculty and staff. Adept at coordinating events, facilitating workshops, and tracking relevant data to ensure student success. Demonstrated commitment to creating equitable education opportunities for all students.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
College Bound Advisor
San Antonio Independent School District
07.2021 - Current
- Build college-going culture based on postsecondary awareness, readiness, access and success
- Managed senior caseload of 300
- Knowledge of college and financial aid application and enrollment process
- Awareness of local, state and national polices relating to postsecondary access
- Familiarity with high school graduation requirements
- Provide college application and financial aid workshops
- Facilitate college admission presentations
- Coordinate events on campus
- Advise students through application process and decision making
- Track data related to college applications, financial aid completion, scholarship funds
- Collaborate with faculty and staff to support students' goals.
- Helped students develop organizational, time management and study skills.
- Advocated for students to access available resources.
- Assisted students in exploring and selecting career paths.
- Advised students on educational, career and social opportunities.
- Oversaw career and job fairs to connect students with area schools and employers
- Educated students on college admissions process and scholarship requirements
- Collaborated with parents and teachers to help students reach potential
- Monitored student progress to drive successful academic outcomes
- Advised students individually and in groups on academic programs for individual interests
College & Financial Aid Specialist
South San Antonio High School
06.2013 - 07.2021
- Responsible for creating and developing college going culture
- Managed a caseload of 475 seniors
- Develop college application completion drives with Alamo Colleges
- Developed on the spot admission day for seniors
- Assist students with essay writing and application workshop; scholarship searches; and financial aid
- Coordinate and host annual college fair with a budget of $1000
- Serve as dual credit liaison with Palo Alto College
- Serve at TSI Site Administrator
- Serve as AP Coordinator on campus
- Serve as Site Supervisor for ACT test administrations.
- Explained very technical financial information to applicants in easy to understand language.
- Monitored pipelines to track and log status of loans.
- Created strategies to develop and expand existing customer sales, resulting in increase in annual sales.
- Helped college students obtain financial aid through loan programs.
- Counseled students and parents about financial aid options and program details
College Readiness Coordinator
Lytle High School
07.2007 - 06.2013
- Responsible for creating and developing college going culture
- Manage caseload of 250 juniors and seniors
- Assist students with essay writing and application workshop; scholarship searches; and financial aid
- Coordinate and host annual college fair
- Serve as dual credit liaison with Palo Alto College
- Serve as Career and Technical Education campus coordinator
- Serve on Teacher Advancement Program Leadership Team
- Create and maintain four-year graduation plans for all students
- Assist counselor with TAKS testing
- Serve as AP Coordinator on campus
- Serve as Site Supervisor for ACT and SAT test administrations
- Graduation coordinator.
- Planned grade-specific events for parents to address specific needs of academic year
- Built and maintained relationships with college admissions offices
Counselor/Advisor
Coastal Bend College
01.2007 - 07.2007
- Responsible for recruitment & advisement of students in San Antonio & Coastal Bend area
- Member of Administrative Team on campus
- Advise students with degree plans
- Registration & Graduation Coordinator
- Administer and analyze Accuplacer results.
- Developed individualized counseling plans for clients to incorporate short-term and long-term goals.
- Implemented and developed core counseling programs to meet each individual's specific and varying needs.
- Adapted counseling techniques to best suit individual needs of each client.
Regional Recruitment Coordinator
Texas Tech University
09.2004 - 01.2007
- Responsible for marketing and recruitment of prospective freshman and transfer students from varied counties throughout Central and South Texas including San Antonio and Corpus Christi
- Develop and foster relationships with local scholastic community based organizations such as Upward Bound and Gear Up
- Coordinate and budget recruitment events for students, counselors and alumni in assigned counties
- Supervise daily operations of office coordinator and maintain office budget
- Create new recruitment programming for students including application workshops, financial aid transmittal events and Texas 3-step
- Develop training manual for newly hired regional recruitment coordinators.
- Controlled recruitment program by creating marketing materials, deploying recruitment tactics and building external relationships.
- Supported job fairs, open houses and recruiting events.
- Developed and implemented onboarding and orientation programs for new employees.
- Supported job fairs, open houses and recruiting events
- Assisted with onboarding and orientation of new hires to expedite acclimatization process
- Improved office efficiency by effectively managing internal communications and correspondence
Recruiter/Advisor
Palo Alto College
09.2003 - 08.2004
- Responsible for recruitment & advisement of students in South San Antonio area
- Advise students with degree plans in liberal arts and career
- Proctor ASSET test
- Analyze ASSET testing scores for advisement
- Provide financial aid information to parents, counselors and students in individual or group setting.
San Antonio Regional Admissions Coordinator
Texas A&M University
09.2000 - 07.2003
- Responsible for marketing, recruitment, advisement, presentations and receptions for prospective students in San Antonio and surrounding area
- Travel within state of Texas to provide students, parents and counselors updated with admissions criteria and information
- Maintain contact with prospective students during admissions process; advise students with regard to admissions criteria, financial aid, student life and admissions rejection
- Coordinator for Aggie Connection and Aggieland 101, Admissions Counseling programs for over five hundred students which included budget set up, allocation, and scheduling intra university communication
- Created training guide and scholarship retention plan
- Developed recruitment budgets for fiscal year 2003.
- Collaborated with admissions team to develop and implement strategies to improve admissions process.
- Managed admissions processes for incoming students, promptly collecting and processing necessary documents.
- Handled inquiries from prospective students to provide detailed information regarding admissions process.
- Compiled and analyzed data to track admissions trends and make recommendations for improvements.
- Contacted prospective students via email and phone calls.
- Assisted with creation of marketing plans to attract prospective students.
- Coordinated open house events for prospective students, providing detailed information about programs and answering questions.
- Managed admissions processes for incoming students, promptly collecting and processing necessary documents
- Contacted prospective students via email and phone calls
- Reviewed applications and transcripts to verify student eligibility and compliance with admissions criteria
- Assisted with creation of marketing plans to attract prospective students
- Established and maintained relationships with high schools and community organizations to increase awareness of admissions process
Education
MA Higher Education Administration - Adult And Higher Education
University of Texas-San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas05.2006
Bachelor of Arts - History
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas05.2000
Skills
- College Admission Counseling
- Academic Counseling
- Presentations and Public Speaking
- Relationship Building
- Strategic Planning
- School Programs Development
- Administration Collaboration
- Decision-Making
- Staff Supervision
- Career Event Planning
- Cultural Competency
- Budget development and evaluation
Accomplishments
2023 National Association for College Admission Counseling Chair
2022 National Association for College Admission Counseling Chair-elect
2021 Texas Association for College Admission Counseling William W. Fleming Award
Affiliations
- Texas Association for College Admissions Counseling, 09/2000, 07/2003
- Texas Association for College Admissions Counseling, 09/2004, present
- National Association for College Admission Counseling, 09/2006, present
Leadership
TACAC, 2018, President TACAC, 2017, President-Elect TACAC, 2016, Community Service Project Co-Chair ACCI Faculty, 2015, TACAC Card Swap Co-Chair NACAC, 2014, Delegate TACAC, 2014, Conference Coordinator TACAC, 2014, Executive Board Member NACAC, 2013, Delegate TACAC, 2013, Conference Coordinator TACAC, 2013, Executive Board Member NACAC, 2012, Delegate TACAC, 2012, Conference Coordinator TACAC, 2012, Executive Board Member TACAC, 2011, Conference Committee Member TACAC, 2010, Secretary TACAC, 2009, Secretary TACAC, 2009, Conference Committee Silent Auction Co-Chair NACAC, 2009, Conference Attendee ACT College Readiness Symposium, 2009, Attendee TACAC, 2008, Professional Development Chair TACAC, 2008, Conference Committee Silent Auction Chair TACAC & Region 20 College Readiness Workshop, 2008, Co-Coordinator ACT College Readiness Symposium, 2008, Attendee TACAC, 2007, Professional Development Chair NACAC, 2007, Conference Attendee TACAC, 2006, Professional Development Chair NACAC, 2006, Conference Attendee Admissions Professional Empowerment Seminar-Enrollment Management, 2006, Co-Coordinator Conference Planning Committee, 2006 National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2006
Professional Affiliations
2018 TACAC President
2017 TACAC President-Elect
2016 TACAC Community Service Project Co-Chair 2015 ACCI Faculty; TACAC Card Swap Co-Chair
2014 NACAC Delegate; TACAC Conference Coordinator; TACAC Executive Board Member 2013 NACAC Delegate; TACAC Conference Coordinator; TACAC Executive Board Member 2012 NACAC Delegate; TACAC Conference Coordinator; TACAC Executive Board Member 2011 TACAC Conference Committee Member
2010 TACAC Secretary
2009 TACAC Secretary; TACAC Conference Committee Silent Auction Co-Chair; National Association for College Admissions Counseling Conference Attendee (Baltimore); ACT College Readiness Symposium Attendee (Dallas)
2008 TACAC Professional Development Chair; TACAC Conference Committee Silent Auction Chair; TACAC & Region 20 College Readiness Workshop Co-Coordinator ACT College Readiness Symposium Attendee (San Antonio)
2007 TACAC Professional Development Chair; National Association for College Admissions Counseling Conference Attendee (Austin)
2006 TACAC Professional Development Chair; National Association for College Admissions Counseling Conference Attendee (Pittsburgh) Admissions Professional Empowerment Seminar-Enrollment Management Co-Coordinator Conference Planning Committee
National Association for College Admission Counseling September 2006-present2023-2024 Chair
2022-2023 Chair Elect
2019-2022 Board Director
2021-2022 Planning Committee Chair
Timeline
College Bound Advisor
San Antonio Independent School District
07.2021 - Current
College & Financial Aid Specialist
South San Antonio High School
06.2013 - 07.2021
College Readiness Coordinator
Lytle High School
07.2007 - 06.2013
Counselor/Advisor
Coastal Bend College
01.2007 - 07.2007
Regional Recruitment Coordinator
Texas Tech University
09.2004 - 01.2007
Recruiter/Advisor
Palo Alto College
09.2003 - 08.2004
San Antonio Regional Admissions Coordinator
Texas A&M University
09.2000 - 07.2003
MA Higher Education Administration - Adult And Higher Education
University of Texas-San Antonio
Bachelor of Arts - History
Texas A&M University