Meet our Admission Officers
Seth Allen, Vice President & Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Territories
Alternative contact for Asia and Europe
About Seth
Seth arrived at Pomona in July of 2011 as the college’s new Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. More than 20 years ago Seth started in admissions at Johns Hopkins University, filing applications, opening and processing mail, and tackling any and all other duties as assigned. Initially just a temporary job, admissions work turned into a career.
After 8 years at Hopkins, which included work in both admissions and enrollment research and technology, he moved on to oversee admissions at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania for another 8 years. Prior to coming to Pomona he was the Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Grinnell College in Iowa for 4 years. Seth served on the Board of Directors of The Common Application for 5 years and was President from 2008-2009. He has served on the advisory committee of the National Student Clearinghouse, the Midwest Regional Council of The College Board, and currently serves as Chair of NACAC’s Member Relations Committee and as a member of The College Board’s Guidance and Admissions Assembly.
During his time in admissions he has overseen recruitment in New England, New York City, New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, Asia and Europe. Seth holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics as well as a master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. In addition to his work in admissions, he has also been a business owner and a consultant.
Art Rodriguez, Senior Associate Dean & Director of Admissions
Territories
Boston Area, Hawaii, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina
California: City of San Francisco, San Mateo, Los Altos
About Art
Art arrived at Pomona in July 2000, as an Assistant Dean and Coordinator of Latino Student Recruitment. Over his time at the College, Art has also served as a Senior Assistant, Associate, and Acting Dean of Admissions, with responsibilities ranging from managing the day-to-day activities of the Office of Admissions to developing and implementing admissions policy for the College. As a first-generation to college student, Art's interest in admissions pertains to college access and affordability. He also has interests in issues related to admissions policy and practices, student diversity, and trends in college admissions.
Prior to arriving at Pomona, Art served as Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and of the Pre-Freshman Math & Science Program, a summer bridge program for underrepresented, first-generation, and low-incomes students, at Carleton College in Northfield, MN.
Art received a bachelor’s degree from Carleton and a master’s degree from Harvard University.
David Brunk, Associate Dean of Admissions
Territories
Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, All International Applicants not otherwise assigned
About David
David enters his sixth year at Pomona College and his sixteenth year in college admissions. He has bewildered his colleagues by eschewing Claremont's Mediterranean climate and instead settling among the seasons and snows of the San Bernardino mountains - perhaps as a nod to his native homeland of upstate New York. He used to enjoy contemplating the wry musings of Italo Calvino and Paul Auster while accompanied by a musical backdrop of The Moody Blues or classic new wave synth pop in his spare time. Since he and his wife welcomed their first child in January 2011, however, he no longer has any spare time. Although it has been years since he cleared a hurdle, he remains an active runner and follows professional cycling and Burnley FC. David received his A.B. from Hamilton College in 1996.
Tamina Mencin, Associate Dean of Admissions
Territories
Colorado, Delaware, Illinois (Chicago and North Chicago suburbs), Pennsylvania
California: San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County
About Tamina
Tamina Mencin was brought up in an international family as the daughter of high school educators. Tamina grew up in five different states and three countries, and continues to love world travel having spent time in 20 different countries. Finally settling in Philadelphia, Tamina attended Haverford College where she majored in English and got her first taste of working in higher education as the Multicultural Intern in Haverford’s admissions office. While in that role, she developed her interest in access for underrepresented students in higher education, which she has continued to pursue at Pomona as a member of the Pomona College Diversity Committee.
Since arriving at Pomona, she has worn many hats, including coordinating Early Decision & Regular Decision committees, supervising the senior interviewer program, and acting as a liaison for the Arts and Science departments. Tamina most enjoys the simple pleasures in life: a Starbucks coffee in the morning, an episode of the Colbert Report at night, reading books on ancient history, and making serious people laugh.
Joel Hart, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions
Territories
New York
California: West Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Ontario, San Bernardino County, North Riverside County, Sacramento, Marin County, Sonoma County, Napa County
SE Asia and Eastern Europe
Transfer Admissions
About Joel
Joel finds it easier just to tell people he grew up in “The South,” rather than listing out the four states he lived in there at one time or another. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a double major in political science and religious studies and a minor in European history. After stints in the admissions offices of his alma mater and the University of Pennsylvania, Joel moved to beautiful Southern California to join Pomona College and to pursue a master’s in education at the University of Southern California. In his spare time, Joel’s interests can be summed up with “good food, black coffee, and world travel.” He lives in Los Angeles with his partner Morgan and a retired racing greyhound named Olivia.
Alaina Dunn, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions
Territories
Minnesota, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Indiana
California: San Jose, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County
About Alaina
Alaina grew up in beautiful Olympia, Washington, and still occasionally misses the rain (but not too much!). She attended Western Washington University where she received a BA in Journalism and minor in Art History, and then headed to the mountains for two years and received her MEd from Northern Arizona University in Counseling with a focus on Higher Education. After spending a few years at the University of Redlands, she moved to Pomona College in 2011 where she now coordinates the Office of Admissions website and publications. Her professional interests include the use of social media in college admissions, improving college preparedness in public high schools, and communicating the value of the liberal arts in the modern world.
When she's not at work, she might be at home with her two slightly neurotic and destructive cats, trying out new "healthy" experimental recipes on her reluctant friends (ask her about cauliflower pizza), or enjoying a tall Americano with heavy cream.
Conor O'Rourke '03, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Territories
Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, Oregon, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Missouri, Dallas Area, West Virginia, Nebraska
California: Pasadena, Glendale
About Conor
Originally, from Oregon, by way of Alaska, Conor is a Pomona graduate from the Class of 2003. After graduation, Conor headed to New England where he worked for an educational enrichment program based out of Boston before heading back to school for his master’s in Higher Education Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut. Upon completion, he opted for a temporary hiatus from higher education to pursue his interest in gourmet coffee roasting by moving to a small town in Western Australia and working at a small coffee shop located just a few steps from the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. After perfecting his roasting skills, he headed back to U.S. where he worked as a middle school history teacher at an all-girls school in Los Angeles before finally making it back home to Pomona College and joining the Admissions staff in 2010.
In his spare time, Conor continues to search for the perfect LA coffee shop where he keeps the U.S. Postal Service in business by hand-writing letters to friends, family, and noteworthy figures (he’s sent over 600 in the last three years). Conor also claims to own not a single pair of plain white or black socks and opts instead for the wildly colorful variety. His favorite is his green penguin pair.
Will Torres, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Territories
Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, South Dakota
California: Los Angeles, South Central Los Angeles, Long Beach, Coastal Orange County
About Will
Will joined the Office of Admissions at Pomona College in 2010. A proud Ohioan, Will grew up in Lorain, Ohio where he attended a large public high school. After graduating, he attended the College of Wooster where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in both Black Studies and English. At Wooster, worked in the Office of Admissions as a Tour Guide and Receptionist. After graduating from The College of Wooster, Will worked with students and families to help them gain access to college, financial aid, and scholarships as College Counselor of Oberlin City School District. Will also worked as Assistant Director of the Ninde Scholars Program, where he gained experience in grant writing, fundraising, and event planning. After five years of working with high school students and families, Will came to Pomona College to learn about “the other side of the desk” through the Office of Admissions.
At Pomona, Will works closely with the MSAP Program (diversity recruitment), overseeing Advisory Board Meetings and Overnight Hosting. He is also responsible for the Email and Email intern position as well as a program that encourages current students to share their experiences in their hometowns called Take Pomona Home. Will is also the point person for Athletics recruitment in the Office. In the summer, Will enjoys working with the students of Pomona Academy for Youth Success (PAYS). Will also has interest in better utilizing Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) in Pomona College’s recruitment efforts.
In his spare time, Will enjoys Skyping, visiting, and spoiling his many nieces in Ohio. He also spends many hours discussing and revisiting what he calls "the Classics" (Funk music and favorite books), trying new restaurants in Los Angeles, and volunteering. As a former athlete, Will tries hard to play pick up basketball with students, run themed 5K's, and surf Malibu a few times a year.
Looking forward, Will hopes to continue work in the areas of education, counseling, and/or philanthropy in the future.
Jonathan Peterson '09, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Territories
Arizona, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kentucky
California: Imperial County, Eastern Riverside County, High Desert, Imperial Valley, Central Valley, all counties north and east of Napa County South America
About Jonathan
Jonathan started at Pomona in August 2010. Jonathan grew up in Kelseyville, California, which is known for its delicious pears and an emerging destination in the wine industry. He graduated from Lower Lake High School before attending Pomona College, where he received his B.A. in Politics & Public Policy Analysis with a minor in Spanish. Before joining the Admissions Office, Jonathan traveled to Venezuela with a Fulbright Grant for English Teaching and Education Research. His passion for college admissions stems from a keen interest in education policy that developed from research at Pomona and an internship with the LAUSD school board. He enjoys his work in admissions because it allows him to positively influence how people access higher education. His interests outside the office include baseball past and present, most notably anything having to do with the San Francisco Giants. In a free afternoon, you'll find him working on his golf game at his favorite southern California course, Oak Quarry Golf Club.
Will Hummel '12, Admissions Officer
Territories
Utah, Nevada, Texas (Dallas)
California: East Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Oakland, Alameda County
About Will
Following a brief, four-year stint at Pomona as a student, Will joined the admissions team in the fall of 2012. Originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago, he decided to abandon his dream of being a stormchaser in favor of the endless summers of Southern California. While at Pomona, Will worked as a tour guide, photographer, senior interviewer, and innertube water polo hired gun. He graduated with a B.A. in environmental analysis, and a minor in philosophy.
When he’s not busy dislocating his shoulder, Will likes to take advantage of California’s unique geography by rock climbing, backpacking, and eating donuts.
Frances Nan '12, Admissions Officer
Territories
Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, New York (Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens)
California: San Diego County
About Frances
Frances joined the Admissions Office in the fall of 2012, too. After living 15 years in Sunnyvale, California, Frances moved to Beijing, China, where she attended an international high school and narrowly missed the Olympics so she could make it to her freshman orientation at Pomona. She received her B.A. in English and Philosophy-Politics-Economics (PPE), and her favorite memories from college involve her sponsor groups (including, hooray, transfers!), work at the Writing Center, and backpacking trips with the outdoors club. After graduating, she spent a brief summer in the southwest of Houston, TX, teaching 4th grade, learning to fix bicycles, and trying new ethnic cuisines every Friday night. Outside of exploring the mountains, valleys, beaches, forests, and deserts near Claremont, Frances loves bursts of laughter, avocados, and reading blogs.
Our admissions staff does a bit of everything! From visiting high schools to reading applications, officers help build each year's incoming class, and are happy to assist you with any part of the application process. Please select your admissions officer by your high school location.