PERSONALIZE RECRUITMENT
EFFORTS AND NETWORKING THROUGH
Building Relationships!
Personable and charismatic speaker on building relationships to increase enrollment and maximize interpersonal communication
Learn how familiarity, authenticity, curiosity, and elasticity connect people from different backgrounds, which ultimately fosters community
Meet Jen
Professional Speaker | Higher Education Admissions and Enrollment
Jen’s passion for speaking started when she was 3 years young. One of her core memories is attempting to communicate with a teacher in preschool, but not being able to due to a stuttering impediment. After years of speech therapy and even modeling and acting classes to gain confidence, one would never know Jen stuttered in the first place. This formative time in her life shaped her into someone who does not take speaking for granted. She especially loves to speak because of the time when she could not speak, and she is a performer at heart.
Jen was first inspired to pursue a professional speaking career when she was 14 years young. She attended a youth conference where she listened to professional speakers motivate the audience with a call to action. She felt so inspired as an audience member that she instinctively knew she wanted to make a positive impact on others as a professional speaker someday. In other words, she wanted to be on stage with the microphone and inspirational stories to share.
In her early twenties, Jen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, minor in Theatre Arts, and Certificate in Journalism from Loyola Marymount University. Although she still yearned to be a professional speaker, she wanted to gain more life experience before pursuing this path. One month after graduation, she met a high school counselor at a wedding who inspired her to begin a career in college admissions because it combined everything she loved to do in one job: traveling, event planning, counseling, and public speaking of course. She spent over eight years as a Regional Admissions Counselor – first for Virginia Commonwealth University and then The American University of Paris – before resigning in May 2023 to focus on her next career move.
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In November 2023, Jen began to read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Reading this book, journaling daily, and going on “artist dates” reminded her of her desire to become a professional speaker. This creative calling of hers was an endeavor she had not yet pursued as a full-time career. In the middle of reading The Artist’s Way, she reconnected with a colleague from LMU who is now a professional speaker. Talk about synchronicity! This colleague inspired her to join National Speakers Association Southern California and the Speakers Academy to learn the business of speaking.
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Jen’s career as an admissions counselor was invaluable as she had hundreds of opportunities to give presentations: facilitating case studies with rooms full of students and parents, updating high school and independent counselors at luncheons, and collaborating with fellow international admissions counselors at national conferences. Along with public speaking, she values building relationships with others from a wide variety of generations and perspectives. Maximizing networking opportunities resulted in an increase of enrollment numbers. Her career in college admissions created public speaking opportunities to get that life experience she desired as a recent college graduate, and this ultimately led her to find purpose in her career through building relationships and networking. In her next endeavor, she is once more combining what she loves to do into one job, but this time, her title is Professional Speaker.
Kindness from Colleagues
"I had the pleasure of working alongside Jen for quite a few years, and I can safely say that her public speaking abilities, incomparable energy, and presence make her one of the most dynamic presenters that I've encountered. Apart from her sterling communication skills, she has the unique ability to connect with a broad and diverse cross section of stakeholders in a way that seems entirely natural and downright entertaining. It's for all of these reasons and more that I consider Jen a natural public speaker and, of course, a delight to work with."
Chris O'Sullivan
Assistant Director of Admissions
University of Iowa
"I have had the pleasure of presenting alongside Jen over the years in our roles as college admissions professionals, often involving public speaking to a wide variety of age ranges and number of people. I have witnessed Jen speaking about her own university, present on general college admissions topics, and we have facilitated numerous mock admissions case study programs together. No matter the format or setting, Jen always knows her audience, finding ways to engage the crowd in the topic, and is excellent at communicating a clear, concise, and relatable message, whether she has 90 seconds to give an elevator-pitch or an hour to share stories and a presentation. Jen is an organized professional, whose warmth and empathy shines through in all she does, and I believe public speaking is her way of empowering others around her. I could not more highly recommend Jen!"
Nicholas Albanese
Regional Associate Director, Admissions
University of Rochester
"I have had the pleasure of witnessing Jen's public speaking skills firsthand over the many years that I have known her both personally and professionally, and I have always been thoroughly impressed. Her ability to captivate an audience with her eloquence, confidence, and engaging delivery is truly remarkable. Jen has a natural talent for connecting with listeners, effortlessly conveying complex ideas with clarity and passion. Her dynamic presence and impeccable articulation make her a standout speaker, leaving a lasting impression on all who have the privilege of hearing her speak. I would highly recommend Jen as a speaker for any event or occasion."
Amy Mitchell
Director of Regional Recruitment
Emerson College
"Jen Fitzgerald is one of the best public speakers I have had the pleasure to know and present with, who is clear, articulate, eloquent, and welcoming. Knowledgeable about her topic, Jen brings humor, and professionalism to her topics."
Corinne Schell
Director of Alumni/Admissions Programs
Marist College
“Jen is a fantastic public speaker. From small groups to entire schools, she is able to capture and engage an audience. Over many years of working alongside Jen, I’ve been able to see her speak to groups of varying ages and topics. I highly recommend her.”
Michael Taylor
Assistant Director of US Admissions
The American University of Rome
"For 7 years, I worked alongside Jen in college admissions, presenting together at high schools throughout Southern California. I witnessed firsthand her incredible magnetism as she gave countless presentations on the college application process, ranging from admissions to the art of writing the personal statement. Jen delivers information clearly and with compassion, making her audiences feel confident and empowered as a result of what she shared. If you are lucky enough to work with Jen, you are sure to receive a high performance presentation."
Sung Ahn
Senior Regional Recruitment Manager
Ohio University
"Jen is a naturally talented and captivating speaker, with a charismatic ability to engage the audience confidently and eloquently. She presents herself in a professional manner and adapts well to the tone of the room. Jen and I worked together in the higher education recruitment sector and her speaking skills always stood out, benefiting both the reputation of our professional group and our audience."
Ashley Monaghan
Regional Manager - North America
University of Auckland
"Jen is a polished speaker, but she always manages to extend a feeling of warmth and charm to her audience. The skill of connecting with people is something she has in abundance."
Camille Crites
Associate Director
Syracuse University
"Over the past few years, I've worked alongside Jen in the international higher education industry, I've been lucky to be in the audience to listen to her exceptional public speaking skills. I've seen Jen speak in front of a large audience and I can attest to her genuine and captivating presence on stage. She has the confidence, eloquence, and charisma that sets her apart as a professional public speaker in the industry. Jen engages the audience of students, counselors or parents well and definitely convinced many to study in Paris! I thoroughly enjoy listening to Jen speak! Her passion for her work shines through and she is very clear and concise with her words. I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire and empower audiences wherever her speaking engagements may take her."
Emma Schwartz
Senior Regional Manager, Americas
James Cook University, Australia
"As an admissions counselor, I have had the opportunity to present with Jen multiple times throughout the years. Jen is a naturally poised and exceptional speaker. Her ability to articulate complex information clearly and persuasively makes her a standout in her field. Whether presenting to prospective students or engaging with parents and faculty, Jen's confident demeanor and polished delivery inspire trust and confidence in her audience.
Janet Recchia
Assistant Director
Syracuse University
