Mary Smith

Mary Smith is a proud Gettysburg College graduate who has spent more than 25 years in admission at her alma mater, where she now serves as Dean of Admission. She oversees territory management, application review and selection, and campus visit programming, and works closely with senior leadership on strategic planning. Her previous responsibilities include recruitment coordination for the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, management of the alumni and parent admission volunteer programs, and staff professional development and training. Mary’s travel has taken her across the country, but she now recruits closer to home in Delaware and Washington, D.C., as she balances work with three very busy children, including a college sophomore.

Mary has presented at several NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) conferences, many PACAC (Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling) conferences, numerous professional development workshops across the Commonwealth and virtually, and countless high school events. Her topics have included highly selective admission, conservatory auditions, admission case studies, holistic review, college access, working with volunteers, essay and interview preparation, and staff training and development. She has also worked with several summer programs as an advisor and college prep curriculum developer. Mary is proud to be an active member of PACAC, where she has served in a variety of leadership roles, including President (2018–21 presidential cycle) and Coordinator of the Enrollment and Middle Management Institute (EMMI). In addition, she currently serves on the Common App’s Programming and Events Advisory Committee.

Mary’s studies at Gettysburg spanned business management, music, and elementary education, and music remains an important part of her life. She serves her local community as a soprano cantor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, where she was previously Music Director for 20 years.