SHU Hires Undergraduate Admissions Executive Director

Lexie Galan will provide prospective students tools to make their college decision

Sacred Heart University has hired alum Lexie Galan ’14, MA ’15 as executive director of undergraduate admissions. With experience working in SHU’s admissions office early in her career and a background in high school guidance, she is uniquely qualified for the job.

Galan earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Sacred Heart and a master’s degree in school counseling from Long Island University in New York. She is certified in New York as a school counselor.

The SHU alum first joined the University staff in 2015 as part of the undergraduate admissions and enrollment management team, serving as the primary liaison to the campus community by collaborating with student life cohort managers and teaching a first-year experience course. She supervised the New York and New Jersey recruitment territories while developing professional relationships with high school guidance departments.

Galan most recently worked as a school counselor and assistant director of college counseling at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington, NY. Her experience, perspective and ability to connect with key internal and external stakeholders is an asset to SHU’s admissions office.

“Lexie’s combined experience in college admissions and high school counseling invaluable to SHU’s admissions office,” said Pamela Pillo, assistant vice president of undergraduate admissions. “We are thrilled to have her back at Sacred Heart and look forward to having her expertise on our team.”

In a question-and-answer interview, Galan shared why she is excited to continue her career at her alma mater.

After several years away from Sacred Heart, what made you return?

The decision to return to SHU was easy. Although I am from Long Island, Sacred Heart has always felt like home. It is where I grew up: I went from being a teenager starting freshman year to someone holding a leadership role as vice president of Phi Sigma Sigma. Then I was a young adult completing several internships, getting a master’s degree and my first job at SHU, which has now turned into my passion and career.

From the professors to the faculty and staff, Sacred Heart has played a tremendous role in my growth as a human and a professional. I was offered opportunities and experiences that have undoubtedly made me into the individual I am today, and I feel so fortunate to be part of the Sacred Heart community. It truly is like no other.

What are your main goals as executive director of undergraduate admissions?

One of my main goals as I begin this new role is to maintain strong, collaborative relationships with University stakeholders and provide prospective students and families with the necessary tools to help them make a well-informed college decision. I also will facilitate the continued growth and the collaborative, creative atmosphere within the undergraduate admissions team.

How will your previous position as a school counselor and assistant director of college counseling at St. Anthony’s High School benefit you at SHU?

I am so thankful to have been part of the St. Anthony’s community and experience the high school side of the college application process. The experience gave me an entirely new level of respect and appreciation for school counselors and the college counseling field. The college search is a complex and often anxious time for high school students and their families. I am looking forward to helping them navigate the process with the intention of bringing back the excitement that goes along with a college search.

How would you pitch Sacred Heart to a prospective student?

There is something for everyone at Sacred Heart, and there is an overwhelming sense of unity created by eager students coming together to help each other. I have never experienced a more welcoming, collaborative community than at Sacred Heart. I encourage prospective students to visit campus and see all the opportunities and challenges Sacred Heart has to offer.