Rachel Loeb
Editor-in-Chief
This year, Barrack is welcoming a new Director of College Counseling Joe Maybloom! Joe is on campus on Fridays and will be joining full-time this summer. For this edition, Chronicle, was able to interview Joe on his new position - the following are his responses.
What is your position?
I am the new Director of College Counseling. I'll be leading the College Counseling Office and working with students and their families to help navigate the college search process.
What did you do before coming to Barrack?
Most recently I served as the Chief Enrollment Officer and Associate Dean of Student Success at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City. In my work I oversaw admissions to JTS's five undergraduate and graduate programs, including List College, the dual-degree program with Columbia University and Barnard College. I also advised first-year undergraduate students (including some Barrack alumni!).
What are you most looking forward to in this position?
I am most looking forward to getting to work with students at this pivotal moment in your lives! The college admissions process can be a stressful time, but it is also a time to envision your future success and learn more about who you are and who you would like to become. There are opportunities to find joy throughout the college admissions process, and I am here to help you find those moments!
Also, one of the perks of coming from a college that puts Jewish life at its center is that I understand how much that can influence the college process. I'm thrilled to be working with students that are considering the multitude of ways you can be Jewish in college. There is no singular college experience, and there is no singular Jewish college experience. I'm excited to work with each of you to figure out what that experience looks like for YOU.
Do you have any specific ideas/goals? If yes, what are they?
I've seen first-hand how successful the College Counseling Office is from many years of working with Barrack students, and I look forward to partnering with everyone here to continue that stretch of success.
My first goal is to immerse myself in the Barrack community, learning all I can about the curriculum and student experience. I am a detail-oriented person, so I enjoy being in the weeds and gaining information from the ground up. The more I understand students' experiences, the better I can advise on what comes next!
Two of my main areas of expertise at JTS were student success and financial aid. I am excited about bringing both of these things to my work at Barrack as well. We are currently seeing sweeping changes to the federal aid system, combined with an increase in college costs. Helping students and families maximize college affordability, especially when making decisions about where to attend, is something I hope to champion in my work.
Additionally, part of what I formerly did was help new college students manage the transition from high school to college. That first semester is an important adjustment period, and helping Barrack students to be more prepared for that change when building college lists and deciding where to attend is important to college success!
What is something non-academic within the school year that you are looking forward to?
- As a theatre person, I am excited to see the student-directed shows at Barrack. I've also heard such great things about the Upper School Shabbaton. I love to see those moments where our community comes together!
What are your hobbies?
I majored in Theatre at college, so discovering new shows--especially obscure, off-Broadway/regional shows--is a big hobby of mine.
I also love exploring new places. In every city I've lived in I've enjoyed finding hidden gems (especially bookstores!) and contributing to the local community. Moving to Philadelphia gives me a lot of new ground to cover!
What are your favorite TV shows/movies?
I am a big fan of TV shows that are comedies with a deeper side: The Office, Schitt's Creek, and (more recently) Derry Girls are top of my list. On the movie side, I will always love the early 2000s: The Devil Wears Prada, Mean Girls (the original!), and the first Harry Potter movie are on constant repeat.
In which Hogwarts house would you be sorted and why?
I am a Ravenclaw through and through. I am an avid reader, truly believe in the power of education, would consider myself a life-long learner, and love to pull out random facts in conversation.
Anything else you would like us to know?
I am currently here at Barrack on Fridays for the rest of the school year, so stop by and say hello! I'm excited to get to know you, learn more about your goals for the future, and help you achieve them!