Dr. Angel B. Pérez is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, dedicated to expanding access, equity, and student success. As CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, he represents more than 28,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide, serving as the association’s chief voice to government, media, and global partners. Since joining NACAC in 2020, Pérez has led a bold transformation agenda - navigating the organization through a global pandemic, redefining its mission and governance, doubling membership, overhauling federal policy initiatives, creating new programs to cultivate future leaders, and securing the largest philanthropic gifts in its history. In September of 2023, he announced the creation of the Center for Innovation in College Admission. Pérez’s passion for educational equity is deeply personal. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in poverty in the South Bronx, he was the first in his family to graduate from college—an experience that fuels his lifelong commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to pursue higher education. Before joining NACAC, he served as a leader at several institutions of higher education, most recently as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College, where his visionary leadership transformed enrollment, retention, student success, and career development. A sought-after speaker, writer, and policy advisor, Pérez has helped shaped national conversations on the future of higher education. His insights have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, PBS NewsHour, CBS Evening News, and more. He has advised the Biden-Harris administration on college access and affordability, testified before the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, and served on Forward50, a coalition of higher education leaders offering policy solutions to Congress. Appointed by the Governor of Connecticut to the New England Board of Higher Education, he continues to influence higher education policy across the nation. In 2024, he was invited to join the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, a network of business and policy leaders shaping the future of leadership and innovation. A dedicated educator, Pérez has taught at Trinity College, UCLA, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Rikkyo University in Japan. He has also served on the boards of Scholarship America, Tuition Exchange, Hartford Youth Scholars, Berkshire School, United World College in Costa Rica, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Washington Higher Education Secretariat. In recognition of his impact, the Kresge Foundation recently appointed him to its Thrive Leaders Network. Pérez is the recipient of numerous awards for his leadership and advocacy, including Skidmore College’s highest honor for diversity leadership. He is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Hottest Seat on Campus: A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admission, to be published by Harvard Education Press in September 2025. A Fulbright Scholar, he holds a B.S. from Skidmore College, M.A. from Columbia University, Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University, and a certification in higher education pedagogy from Harvard University’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.