Brandon Lagana
NIU has chosen Brandon T. Lagana as the university’s new director of admissions.
Lagana comes to NIU from the University of Maine at Farmington, where he has served as the director of admissions for the past three years. His first day is Monday, Nov. 16.
He has spent his entire professional career in college admissions, including positions as director in Maine, senior assistant director of admissions, Early Outreach Programs counselor and admissions counselor at Ball State University and as admissions counselor at Albright College.
Lagana has worked with diverse student populations and created programming for TRIO program participants. He has presented on technology in admissions, adult learning strategies, managing stress and developing professionally among student affairs professionals, and on pathways to college success.
In addition, he has been published in the NASPA Journal and other professional publications related to college admissions. Lagana also has served as an adult learning consultant with the living history museum, Conner Prairie in Fishers, Ind.
Lagana earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, and a master’s in student personnel administration in higher education and Ed.D. in higher education/cognate: adult education from Ball State University. His doctoral dissertation related to student affairs and readiness for professional development.
He succeeds Bob Burk, who will retire at the end of the fall semester. Burk began at NIU in 1986 as associate director of admissions, and has served as director since 1995.