Promising Future -- Susan Makowski Earns Acclaim from Admissions Professional Organization
Susan Makowski, a senior assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions, recently earned the Promising Professional Award from the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), an honor that recognized her as an up-and-coming admissions professional “who exemplifies excellence and dedication to serving the needs of students in the transition from high school to college.”
In nominating her, NJACAC President Claire Cafaro wrote that to see Makowski interact with students is to appreciate her dedication to the process. “Just watch Susan take charge at a college fair,” she declared in her nomination. “She delivers information about Rider University with an energy and optimism that is contagious and she encourages students to be out there exploring other programs and finding what they need.”
Although she is proud to be honored by an organization she enjoys and respects, Makowski eschews the individual spotlight, choosing instead to deflect it to her entire office. “We work as a team that I’d hold up against anyone else in the admissions and enrollment profession,” she said. “I can’t imagine anyone working as well as we do together.”
She cited the leadership of Bill Larrousse, director of Undergraduate Admission; Sue Christian, dean of Enrollment; and Jamie O’Hara, vice president of Enrollment Management, in particular as vital to the esprit de corps in the office. “They truly do support us and stand up to make it an atmosphere for the students,” Makowski said. “It’s not about achieving ‘X’ number, but putting together the best group of students we can. To have what we have here, you have to be willing to do that.”
