Our Admissions Committe profile series has reached our penultimate entry, an introduction to our longest tenured member, Sherryl Fletcher.
Name: Sherryl A. (Seavitt) Fletcher
Territory: Midwest States of Michigan, Illinois and Ohio
Education (College - Major / Minor): Albion College, Albion, MI - Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in Education and Studio Art. Master of Arts with high honors in Higher Education College Admninistration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Johns Hopkins Start Date: September 1996
Years in Admissions: 23 years - My Admissions experience includes 13 years at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor leaving as the Associate Director of Admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions followed by 10 years in my present position at Johns Hopkins University. To some this may seem to be a long time to be in one career area within a University!
Why did you choose to enter the profession of College Admissions?: I imagine this is a bit of a long story to help you understand why I have invested 23 years in this profession! My admissions interest began in 1975 when I joined a group of sorority sisters as campus tour guides for the Admissions Office at Albion College. Many of us have had a career in Admissions following that experience with Dean Bonta. I formally joined the Admissions profession in 1983 when Dr. Lance Erickson and Dr. Cliff Sjogren, two extraordinary leaders in the national field of college admissions, asked if I might be interested in joining their staff of Admissions Counselors at the University of Michigan while I began my MA and PhD program coursework in Higher Education. The high level of learning and energy with such esteemed colleagues and friends convinced me that this career was worth the investment of time, thought and high levels of enthusiasm to recruit and select students for the University that three generations of my family had attended. It also helped that I had the great support of tremendous mentors including: Ted Spencer, Rob Seltzer, Mike Donahue, Monique Washington and Marilyn McKinney, highly regarded experts in the field of college admissions.
Favorite Animal?: A Wolverine!
Why did you choose to work for Johns Hopkins?: We relocated as a family to the Annapolis / Baltimore area for my husband’s career which provided me the opportunity to join a private research university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions to complement my admissions experience in a flagship public research university.
What do you enjoy most about your job?: Everything you could imagine is enjoyable for me in this profession!
How do you approach reading an application?: I have the reading style of synthesizing and visualizing quantitative and qualitative information as I read each piece of information that reflects the proven ability and potential of each applicant. I think a good deal about the decisions I make about each individual student.
When not reading applications, what do you do for fun?: We have two sons, an 11th grader and an 8th grader, so our days and weeks are very full with their events. Travel and active sports are great favorites for all of us.
What are your Admissions pet peeves? (What drives you crazy?): Probably what bothers me is the shortage of time to meet, read about and make admissions decisions about students. I always want to know more about our applicants.
Favorite College Essay?: Anything that is creative is a favorite of mine when I think about the many essays I have read over the years.
What three things would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?: First, the island would need to be in Lake Michigan and somewhat close to the Straits of Mackinaw and Wilderness State Park, where I camped every summer with my family as I grew up. We would need the following three things: family, friends and a tennis racket for everyone!
One last profile, and it will be an interesting one. Check back Friday...
Hi Sherryl, Don and I are now semi-retired and we spend our winters in the Houston, Texas area. (Our grandchildren & family are here.) We think of you periodically and wanted you to know how much we have enjoyed working with the University of Michigan for 27 to 30 years. We are still working with Freshmen applicants. You taught us how to do it and we have always remembered your enthusiasm and do our best to pass it on. I put your name in google and it brought me here. It was meant to be that we would find you. Best wishes to you and your family. Sincerely, The Kriegers Judy '64, Don '65
Posted by: Judy and Don Krieger of Gaylord, Michigan | April 27, 2008 at 12:56 AM