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WILLARD M. DIX
1935 N. Fairfield Ave., #201 Chicago IL 60647
773-621-5424 collegeforall@gmail.com
Career Experience
Chicago Scholars: Consultant 2006-10; Full-time, Program Director, 2010-2014
 Curriculum and materials development (workshops, handbooks) for Chicago Scholars 2006-08
 Writer/editor of external communications, including the Chicago Scholars Profile
 Senior advisor to Chicago Scholars’ president
 Director of College Transitioning Programing/Program
o Developed and instituted recruitment processes for new Scholars
o Organized research and data projects
o Assisted with development of ties to colleges and universities, high schools and other organizations
o Supervised Launch/College Years Program team
o Developed strategies, programming, and execution methods for Launch and college years program
o Instituted and supervised development of new programs such as First Look career conference for
Scholars
o Created a unified and progressive five-year Chicago Scholars program (junior/senior year through
college)
o Developed and presented workshops, events, and activities for Scholars
 Staff writer/editor for all major documents; and reports, including several major successful grant applications
 Internal consultant for senior staff, program team, Chicago Scholars fellows, interns, and Scholar Associates
 Performed administrative/HR functions
o Staff evaluations, salary recommendations; directed hiring processes
o Developed strategic plans for staff and program growth
o Led staff professional development
 Interim head of day-to-day operations from March-October 2013
College Access Counseling, Ltd./Grassroots College Counseling:Director, 2007-current (self-employed)
 Creator & director of College for All program for Illinois Network of Charter Schools (counselor training)
 College process curriculum & handbook development for Chicago Scholars (formerly Scholarship Chicago)
 Consultant to I Have a Dream—North Chicago (scholarship fundraising & college advising)
 Independent college access projects with several Chicago charter schools
 College Advisor to community organizations in Chicago serving low-income and first generation-college youth
 Independent counselor, selected private clients
The Universityof Chicago Laboratory High School: College Counselor, 2001-07; Department Chair,
2005-07
 College Counselor, juniors and seniors: college research/planning, presentations, student and parent meetings,
etc.
 High School Admission Committee member; May Project Coordinator; Chair, Committee on the Senior Year;
Senior Instructional Leadership Corps Coordinator; All Schools Council Member; Curriculum Committee
Member; Chaired four department search committees
Lipman Hearne, Inc. (Chicago IL): Associate V.P., 1998-2000
 Consulted with colleges and private schools on admission and recruiting strategies
 Began and grew client base in private schools
 Researched, wrote, and project managed marketing materials for colleges and schools
Amherst College (MA): Assistant/Associate Dean of Admission, 1990-98
 Recruited students and evaluated applicants from the United States & abroad
 Represented Amherst nationally and internationally
 Directed international admission evaluations 1995-98
 Wrote & edited publications including viewbook, departmental descriptions and recruitment materials
 Researched and developed Internet and Web communications, including first Admission website
 Revived and ran the Alumni Admission Volunteer Program

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 Served as Admission Office liaison to the arts and athletic departments
Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge (LA): English Teacher/Fine Arts Department Chair 1989-90
 Taught full range of reading and writing skills, 9th –12th grades
 Chaired Fine Arts Department
 Directed and designed theatrical productions
The Hill School (Pottstown PA): Instructor of English and Theater; Head of Theater, 1982-89
 Taught British and American literature; grammar and writing; public speaking; theater, 9th-12th grades
 Revised and helped modernize the English Department’s curriculum, both content and implementation
 Developed a comprehensive performing arts program for this boys’ boarding school
 Produced and directed fourteen plays (several awards); advised writing/production of student work
 Helped design Hill’s $3.5 million arts center
 Served as sophomore dormitory hallmaster (five years)
 Coached squash and lacrosse (not very well)
Princeton University: Graduate Student/Teaching Assistant, 1980-82
 Taught Introductory Anthropology, ran precepts, designed and graded examinations
 Presented public lectures on fieldwork in Greece
Trinity Episcopal School (New Orleans LA): Instructor of English 1977-1980
 Taught 7th and 8th grade English and theater activities
 Directed annual 8th grade school play
 Helped develop comprehensive Upper School English curriculum
Education
BA, Anthropology, magna cum laude, Amherst College, Amherst MA
MA, Anthropology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ
MA, Theater, Northwestern University, Evanston IL
Honors and Awards
Amherst College Memorial Fellow, Princeton University
Stanley J. Seeger Fellow in Hellenic Studies, Princeton University
Klingenstein Summer Fellow, Columbia University
Oaklawn Foundation Faculty Fellow (The Hill School) at Northwestern University (two summers)
Summer Fellow, School of Speech, Northwestern University
Publications and Original Work (partial list)
“Take Charge of the College Essay” & “Not Everyone Gets In,” College Prep magazine; book reviews, Amherst
magazine, IACAC Newsbrief, NACAC Journal; Amherst Alumni Admission Volunteer Newsletter founder, writer, editor,
designer, publisher;
“Footsteps in the Hall,” Journal of College Admission, 2008; “At the Edge of Two Worlds,” IACAC Newsbrief, 2007;
Presentations at NACAC, IACAC; appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education, U.S. News, Newsweek, and the New
York Times; blog, College Counseling Culture (featured in NY Times, 9/21/09); blogger for Admitted (NACAC); blogger
on college issues for Forbes.com; chapter on writing the college application essay in The Handbook of College
Admission, Third Edition, 2013.
Personal Activities
Community: Citizenship tutor for Cambodian and Chinese refugees (Amherst area)
Crisis line volunteer & respite supervisor, National Runaway Switchboard/Safeline (1998-2013)
Interviewer/mentor of 8th grade applicants: Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation
Docent, Chicago Architecture Foundation (1998-99)
Volunteer college counselor, Perspectives Charter H.S
Tutor, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Professional: National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

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Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC)