President's Welcome

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC). PACAC is a vibrant community of over 1,300 professionals, college admission counselors, secondary school counselors, CBO advisors, enrollment leaders, and education advocates. We are united in our mission to support students in finding their best post-secondary opportunities. I’m honored to begin my term as President, and I’m pleased to extend my gratitude to each of you for your unwavering commitment to this work across our Commonwealth. 

PACAC has experienced remarkable growth over the past several years; not just in membership, but in influence, innovation, and inclusiveness. We’ve expanded access to professional development, elevated new voices, and strengthened our advocacy across Pennsylvania and beyond. That momentum didn’t happen by accident; it happened because this community leans in. Experienced counselors are mentoring emerging professionals and college reps are going the extra mile. When volunteers lead they are shaping the future of PACAC and our constituents. 

We’re proud of this trajectory, but we are also honest about the challenges ahead. Financial stress is stretching higher education institutions and secondary schools. Many high school counseling offices remain understaffed and underfunded. Federal and state policy shifts, from FAFSA delays to K–12 funding freezes - are directly impacting the students and families we serve. On college campuses, recruitment strategies are being reimagined in real time as demographics shift, budgets tighten, and expectations grow. 

It is important to know. PACAC is not standing on the sidelines. As your President, I want you to know we’re paying attention. We’re engaging with NACAC, state leaders, and national conversations around topics that matter. AI in education, testing equity, transfer access, and counselor-to-student ratios. We are working to ensure that, even with uncertainty, you are never alone in the work you do. 

Our committees, such as Professional Development, Government Relations, Inclusion Access Success, School Counseling, and others, are poised to respond with the tools, training, and community to help you succeed.  That also now includes a new Artificial Intelligence Resource Page, designed to help all members understand, explore, and ethically integrate AI into their work. Rest assured, whether you're a first-year counselor, a veteran enrollment leader, or somewhere in between, we are here to support you. 

As we look ahead, if you’re new to PACAC I invite you to get involved. If you’re already a member, stay involved. Share your insights. Ask questions. Attend our events. Join a committee. PACAC thrives when our members speak up, step in, and collaborate. This affiliate is not just a network. It’s a movement where shared values turn into meaningful action. 

Together, let’s continue the work of building something bold and lasting: a professional community that believes in students, supports each other, and helps shape the future of education in Pennsylvania.

With appreciation and purpose,
Michael

Michael D. White
President
[email protected]