Cornell B. LeSane II Elected to National Association for College Admission Counseling Board of Directors
Cornell B. LeSane II, senior vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions at Allegheny College, was elected to the board of directors of the National Association for College Admission Counseling at the association’s 75th national conference, held recently in Louisville, Kentucky. NACAC, founded in 1937, is an organization of more than 15,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education. The organization has remained committed to providing knowledge, networking, and ethical standards for college admission and counseling professionals.
“The Allegheny College community congratulates Cornell LeSane on his election to the NACAC Board of Directors, after a lengthy and broad selection process. This is a great honor for both Cornell and the College, and it is a reflection of Cornell’s expertise and achievements as well as the deep respect he has earned from colleagues from across the nation,” said Allegheny President Hilary L. Link. “We are so very grateful to Cornell for his dedicated service to Allegheny, his contributions to his profession and the remarkable work he does every day to help students take important steps on their paths toward a college education.”
Appointed dean of admissions at Allegheny College in 2014, and subsequently, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions, LeSane has over 19 years of experience working in higher education. Prior to Allegheny, he served in a progression of leadership roles at Carnegie Mellon University. He has developed and overseen the implementation of numerous initiatives designed to foster the mission of the institution and assist students and families in all aspects of college selection and beyond.
“Exemplifying a genuine dedication to students, the inclusive mission and vision of NACAC is one in which I wholeheartedly believe,” LeSane said. “It is an absolute honor to serve on the board of an organization with such a long-standing commitment to students and college admission professionals, and I am excited to embark on this journey with such an extraordinary group of colleagues. I’m very appreciative of the support I received from so many people throughout the process and beyond.
LeSane has been active both in professional associations and in the community, having served on the steering committee for the Pittsburgh Science and Technology School, a magnet school for 6th–12th graders; as a committee chair for College Success 101, an outreach program geared towards inner-city youth; and is on the board of directors for Meadville Medical Center. In addition, LeSane participated as a long-standing instructor for College Exploration Experience and College for Every Student, two programs designed to assist high school students as they prepare for and navigate the college search process. He also serves as a faculty member for the PACAC College Counselor Leadership Institute geared toward assisting those interested in becoming a director of college counseling. While at Carnegie Mellon, he was nominated for and received CMU’s Andy Award for outstanding commitment to students.