The University of Oklahoma has a new director of admissions: Cotter’s own Jeff Blahnik.

Blahnik was recently hired by OU and will be leaving his post at UW-Whitewater to embark on the next phase of an already distinguished career.

One person who is not surprised by Jeff’s success is his mother, longtime Winona Area Catholic Schools teacher, Sheila Blahnik.

“I knew when Jeff went into admissions that he would do his best because he always did his best.  I was Jeff’s teacher for two years when he attended WACS as a child. What struck me at that time was that from the first day of class until the last day of class he always did his best.  When he decided to go into admissions I knew that he would give everything that he could to succeed,” said Mrs. Blahnik.

“People that have worked with Jeff would probably tell you that he is very sincere, loyal and honest.  No matter what the job is he follows through with whatever needs to be done.  This new job will expect him to lead many others and I know that he will lead by example,”said Mrs. Blahnik, speaking to the traits that have helped Jeff shine.

“I feel that God is calling Jeff to bring his family to a new home and use his God-given talents.  The University of Oklahoma will be happy that they chose him.  He will go beyond their expectations,”  added Mrs. Blahnik.

Cotter’s admissions director, Mr. Will Gibson, is a classmate and friend of Blahnik’s and sees many of the same qualities that Mrs. Blahnik mentioned, and added one other characteristic.

“Everyone could always agree about Jeff’s exceptional height.  He was always the tallest student in every grade, and today stands at 6’7″ at least.  That height matched his high-mindedness, in the very best use of that term.  Jeff is a noble, kind, and exceptional person.  Taking after his parents, he always displayed reverence for his teachers, and is a devout Catholic.  His passionate support of Rambler athletics carried over into his time at Marquette and UW-Whitewater, and I am sure will continue in Oklahoma,” said Mr. Gibson.

We had the chance to interview Jeff and these qualities came through his answers, even leaving us with inspirational messages about his classmates that have passed on and some thoughts for current Ramblers.

Can you tell me about your education and how you got into admissions work?

After Cotter, I attended Marquette University in Milwaukee and earned both my bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate.  Growing up, I always thought I would practice law.  My dad was a successful lawyer in Winona, I admired him a great deal, and I felt my strengths matched a career in law.  While in college and law school, I had the opportunity to be employed in leadership roles in Residence Life and discovered that I had a real passion for assisting college students at a critical point in their development.  I decided to finish my law degree and switch my career focus to higher education where I could be of service to future generations of college students.  I started out for a year working in financial aid at UW-Milwaukee, and then moved back to Marquette where I found a perfect career fit in admissions.

 How long were you at Marquette?  At Whitewater? 

I worked for Marquette Admissions for more than seven years, first as an admissions counselor and then as assistant dean.  While there, I recruited students nationally (Southern California, Ohio, Georgia, and many other locations), made many admission and scholarship decisions, chaired scholarship and scholar program committees, worked as a liaison to the Athletics department and planned and participated in yield events.  I enjoyed my time at Marquette Admissions immensely and it was a privilege to work for my beloved alma mater.  I came to UW-Whitewater about 2 ½ years ago as director of admissions.  It has been a really excellent experience, and Whitewater is a great school.  I currently lead the undergraduate recruitment strategy and admission review processes.  We’ve had a great deal of enrollment success here at Whitewater and I’m very proud of my great team of 13 professionals who make our department run at a high level.

What are the challenges in admissions today?

Prospective students and parents express many concerns to me, but primary among these is the current cost of attending college.  The decision to attend college has really become a family (and not just individual) commitment and this has affected both the student’s college selection process and the way in which universities budget and discount tuition to stay fiscally viable.  The proliferation nationally of for-profit proprietary degree options has also challenged traditional not-for-profit institutions to express the value and outcomes of the education provided to students more than ever before.  Finally, in this “new media” age we live in, colleges have to stay extremely nimble and market to and dynamically engage students in dialogue through various modes(website, social media, print, etc.) throughout the college selection process.  Long gone are the days when colleges could simply mail out admissions view books and assume students would come to their campuses.  Particularly in the upper Midwest, where the number of traditional college-aged students has been shrinking, universities have to be especially proactive and responsive to students’ needs.

How will Oklahoma be different than your previous jobs?

Both of the other institutions I have worked for in Admissions have been mid-sized, and OU is a large, flagship university.  That said, Oklahoma is very dedicated to the concept of “the OU family,” and I sense the same level of emphasis placed on serving each individual student, which is very important to me.  From an office standpoint, I will have a very large admissions team to work with to accomplish our goals.  The strong national reputation in academic quality and the national brand that Oklahoma provides are things I am looking forward to also.  Oklahoma leads the nation among public schools in National Merit Finalists and is near the top in Rhodes Scholars.  The scope of my new job will encompass not only undergraduate admission, but also international and graduate admission as well.  I’ve been fortunate to work at some top shelf institutions.

What  do you like best about working in admissions?

I love working with students at this very delicate and dramatic point in their lives as they embark upon adulthood.  The selection of post-secondary educational plans is a major life decision, and I view the job of the admissions professional to counsel students through the selection process and help students find the right fit academically, socially and financially.  I also love the camaraderie of working with others in my department, and across campus, to reach the same goals for the university.  Finally, I really have enjoyed getting to know student workers in the offices I’ve worked in.  It is enjoyable to follow the life of the university through the experiences of the current student, and to help with advice and a listening ear as you can.  College admissions is an extremely rewarding career!

Did you feel like Cotter prepared you for college and later life?

Without a doubt, Cotter prepared me greatly for the rest of my life.  I was challenged academically by some excellent teachers during high school and felt really prepared to handle the rigors of a school like Marquette, as well as Marquette Law and in my career.  I was very involved at Cotter in music, athletics, and service, and I felt that the discipline these activities taught me have been invaluable.  I had many great teachers at Cotter but my favorite was Cathy Snyder, who instilled a love of and appreciation for music but also was someone who inspired me to have confidence in myself to achieve my very best in whatever I attempted in life.  Cotter is a special place and  I’m thankful for my experiences there.

All the universities you have worked at are known as strong sports schools?  Are you a sports fan and how does that play into your job?

I love attending sporting events; I would estimate that I’ve attended almost 300 Marquette basketball games since my freshman year, have sung Ring Out Ahoya tens of thousands of times, and have lived and died with that program over the years.  UW-Whitewater is arguably the top school nationally in terms of Division III athletic success, so that has also been a lot of fun.  Oklahoma has one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases, and is one of the most storied programs in the history of Division I athletics.  You can feel the energy and pride associated with the athletics program the moment you step onto campus or when you hear the fight song, Boomer Sooner.  Although it is hard to quantify, I have found that having successful athletics programs is a big admissions advantage as students want to be a part of the attendant school spirit and excitement.

Can you tell us about your family?

My wife, Ruthy, is originally from Alaska and we met while undergrads at Marquette.  We celebrated our ten year anniversary this past year.  Ruthy is extremely talented and is an incredible spouse and mother; my life’s journey took a very positive turn when she agreed to marry me!  She currently works as the director of a Boys and Girls Club site in Milwaukee, and she thoroughly enjoys working with at-risk youths.  Ruthy is definitely the better (and better looking) half of our relationship. 

We have been blessed with two beautiful children: Molly is 3 ½ and Charlie just turned 1. They both fill our lives with so much joy and laughter.  It has been very fun to watch their personalities develop.  Molly is so creative and has an incredible imagination and a very sweet and loving disposition.  Charlie is extremely active and physical.  He’s built like a smaller version of Shaq and rarely stops moving except to eat (which he thoroughly enjoys doing) and sleep.  He’s full of love and laughter also.  Getting married and having children have been my biggest life accomplishments by far.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to mention two former classmates at Cotter, Joe Vogel and Jenny Tremain Olson, who both battled cancer with such grace, courage and positivity.  They also became strong voices for cancer research and for supporting those whose families are afflicted with this disease.  I know the class of 1996 is so very proud of both of them and that we have gained so much inspiration from their example.  Joe and Jenny were great people and their memory will continue to live on.  I am blessed to have known them.

For the current Cotter students, please enjoy the great opportunities you have at that special school.  Do your best in your classes, but make sure to get involved and have a lot of fun and make your Cotter experience memorable.  Also, I strongly recommend that you start investigating career options.  You will likely spend the majority of the rest of your life working, so find something you are passionate doing.  Go Ramblers!