Photo Credit: Event Photography of North America Corporation
Bio
Dr. Angel B. Pérez is CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In this role, he represents more than 25,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide committed to postsecondary access and success. He is the primary voice of the association to government, media, and global partners. Pérez is recognized as a national thought leader and is a sought-after speaker on issues of educational equity, access, and success in American education.
Throughout the course of his career, Dr. Pérez has worked to realize his belief that diversity and academic excellence go hand-in-hand, and that every young person who aspires to higher education should have the opportunity to achieve. His work echoes his own story. Growing up poor in Puerto Rico and the South Bronx, he was the first in his family to graduate from college, and went on to become a leader in higher education. Recognized nationally on issues of equity and access in American education, Dr. Pérez is a tireless champion for underrepresented communities and a creative advocate for reform. Named by a Forbes article in 2019 as the most influential voice in college admissions, he strives to build an educational ecosystem that better represents today’s society.
Prior to joining NACAC in July of 2020, Dr. Pérez served in secondary and higher education leadership positions across America, most recently, as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College in Connecticut where his work was described as transformative. Since his arrival at NACAC, he has steered the organization through significant change as it strives to evolve to meet the needs of today's college admission profession. His leadership approach has been featured in several outlets, including the American Society for Association Executives.
Dr. Pérez's passion for teaching led him to serve as a faculty member at Trinity’s Educational Studies Department, UCLA’s College Counseling Certification Program, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In addition, he was a visiting international faculty member at Rikkyo University in Japan. He has served as a Trustee at the Berkshire School (MA), United World College in Costa Rica, Hartford Youth Scholars (CT), Tuition Exchange (DC), and was elected the youngest Chair of Diversity in the history of Skidmore College’s alumni association. He currently serves as a steering committee member for the Washington Higher Education Secretariat.
Dr. Pérez’s expertise has been sought by key policy influencers. In 2016, the Governor of Connecticut appointed him to the New England Board of Higher Education, and he was chosen by the Gates Foundation and NASFAA to serve on Forward50, a group of higher education leaders presenting solutions to Congress. He is a frequent contributor and commentator in media outlets, including the Washington Post, NPR, Forbes, The Atlantic, CBS Evening News, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
He holds a B.S. from Skidmore College, an M.A. from Columbia University, a PhD from Claremont Graduate University, and a Teaching Certification in Higher Education Pedagogy from the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University.

Thought Leadership
Dr. Angel B. Pérez is frequently called upon by academic and media outlets to lend his voice on issues of higher education, college access, and success. Below you will find a brief selection of his articles, interviews and quotes.
Publications
Navigating the College Search: NACAC's Expert Insights
Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine
Employers Benefited from Affirmative Action. It’s Time to Step Up.
The New York Times
One CEO's Story of Executive Burnout
The Center for Association Leadership
New Leaders Face a Daunting Foe: Themselves
Inside Higher Ed
The Ripple Effect of Optimism in Higher Education
AwareNow: Issue 30
NACAC Chief Executive Announces a New Mission and Vision Statement
Higher Dive
The Perverse Consequences of the NCAA Ruling
The Atlantic
Inequity in College Admissions is a Threat to US Prosperity
The Hill
A New CEOs Strategy for Building the Plane While Flying It
American Society of Association Executives
What's At Stake for College Admissions In This Election?
Forbes
4 Steps to Improving College Access
Education Dive
Is the SAT Really Necessary to Get Into College?
Miami Herald
What Is a Chief Enrollment Officer?
Inside Higher Ed
Four Keys to Staying Employed in the Future
Hartford Courant
How to Make Our Institutions More Accessible
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education
Reexamining Our Approach to College Access
The New England Journal of Higher Education
It’s not just about jobs. Colleges must help students find their passions
The Washington Post
The New England Journal of Higher Education
Heading to College? Let’s Make Sure You Graduate
The Huffington Post: College
The ‘Best and The Brightest’ Aren’t Always Obvious
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed
Want to Get Into College? Learn To Fail
Education Week
College Admissions’ Wrenching Ins and Outs
The Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
Self-care for counselors, leaders, and professionals in helping roles
Why Colleges Are Leaving The U.S. News Rankings
College Admissions and Race, Student Debt Ruling, Actors Union Negotiations
The Truth About Burnout and Finding Joy Again
Supreme Court Ruling On Student-Athlete Compensation Could Lead To Further Inequity
Get Schooled by Reeves and Ford
The Admissions Leadership Podcast
Media
Four things students need to know after the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action
NBC News
Can Colleges Be Racially Diverse Without Affirmative Action? Experience Suggests No
Wall Street Journal
There’s Only One College Rankings List That Matters
New York Times
PBS News interviews Angel B.Pérez
PBS News
Inequity in College Admissions is a Threat to US Prosperity
The Hill
NBC News
2019 College Admission Influencers
Forbes
Is Your Child Struggling During the First Year of College?
WTNH News 8
What College Admissions Officers Really Want
The New York Times
One on One with Admissions Leadership
The Admissions Leadership Podcast
WNPR Radio Interview
New Study Questions Value of College Entrance Exams
CBS Evening News Interview
Surprising Hartford Students with a Full Scholarship to Trinity College
FOX 61
Amid Funding Crunch, CT Colleges Look to Diversify Revenue Streams
Hartford Business Journal Interview
Photo Credit: Maureen Grabowski. Dr. Pérez with students in his Design Thinking course at Trinity College
Speaking Events
National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
U.S. Department of Education
July 26, 2023
SXSW EDU 2023
Austin Convention Center
The Landscape of College Admission in Higher Education
Susquehanna University
November 1, 2021
The Future of College Admissions
The Atlantic Education Summit
October 26, 2021
State of the Association
National Association for College Admission Counseling Conference
Seattle, WA
September 25, 2021
A Conversation with Journalist Soledad O’Brien
National Association for College Admission Counseling Conference
Seattle, WA
September 24, 2021
A World Without Tests
ASU-GSV Conference, San Diego, CA
August 10, 2021
Effects of the Supreme Court Ruling on the NCAA
Brian Lehrer Show (WNYC), NYC
July 23, 2021
Industry Leaders
State Department: Education USA, Washington DC
July 21, 2021
Student Success for a New Generation
National Partnership for Educational Access Conference - Boston, MA
April 17, 2020
Anticipating Student Demographic Shifts
Association of Governing Boards - Washington DC
April 7, 2020
Bending the Arc of Human Potential
ASU & Global Silicon Valley Summit - San Diego, CA
April 1, 2020
The Future of Education and Human Capital
Arizona State University - Phoenix, AZ
January 14, 2020
The Journey to Higher Education
Cambridge School of Westin - Boston, MA
January 6, 2020
Hack the Gates: A Conversation with Paul Tough
National Education Association - Washington, DC
November 8, 2019
Social Mobility Through Education: A Conversation with Paul Tough
Trinity College - Hartford, CT
November 5, 2019
Cultivating Student Access and Success for a New Generation
Reach Higher Conference, Bridgewater State University - Bridgewater, MA
August 19, 2019
American Higher Education: An Industry & Nation at a Crossroads
Higher Education Consultants Association - Warwick, RI
June 19, 2019
The Future of Affirmative Action
Yale University Leadership Conference - New Haven, CT
April 5, 2019
The Future of Work
United World College, Singapore
March 18, 2019
The Challenges Facing Private Colleges
Inside Higher Ed Leadership Series - Washington DC
November 15, 2018
The University in Modern Society
Global Liberal Arts Program of Rikkyo University - Tokyo, Japan
August 2018
Designing Student Success for a New Generation
Penn State University - Lemont Furnace, PA
June 7, 2018
Liberal Arts: Education for a Global Future
Office of Education USA/Fulbright - Kathmandu, Nepal
April 4, 2018

Photo Credit: The New York Times. Speaking about affirmative action in higher education at The New York Times.
Gallery
Contact Angel
To contact Dr. Pérez regarding inquiries or speaking requests, please use the form below. We will respond shortly.
"All of my years working with students from all over the globe have taught me that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Education and political leaders must ensure that all students are given opportunities to succeed. This isn't a social justice issue, it's an issue of international prosperity. Any time a nation leaves some of its citizens behind, we all lose."
(Quote from Pérez Keynote Speech at the Consortium on High Achievement and Success)