BRIDGEWATER, Va. – On Friday morning, Jason Newell steps into Yount Hall, bag in hand and a smile on his face. As Bridgewater College’s new Assistant Director of Admissions for Campus Visits he’s already preparing for a busy day of tours, student meetings, and coordinating with professors to make sure prospective students see what Bridgewater is really like.
“College is the home away from home and we want to show that this is definitely a place for that,” Newell said.
Collaborative leadership
Newell’s leadership philosophy is simple: collaboration and clear communication.
“Our piece can’t work without the other and vice versa,” he said, “Professors need students to teach, but we need great professors to bring students in.”
According to research done at the University of Pennsylvania, effective communication is vital to leadership because it generates rapport, trust, and collaboration towards a common goal.
This is reflected in the way Newell interacts with his peers every day. The Receptionist and Data Entry Clerk for Bridgewater admissions, Diana Rossbach, known as Miss Diana in the office, describes Newell as approachable, steady, and supportive.
“He’s a breath of fresh air.” Rossbach said. “This is a high-intensity job, and we’ve had bosses in the past who were just running around like a chicken with its head cut off… He’s got it together. He understands the job, and he brings expertise from where he’s been before. It makes a big difference.”
From campus life to campus visits
Newell began working in higher education in 2020 while earning his master’s degree at Lincoln Memorial University. His experience spans residence life, student activities. Athletics, and campus recreation.
“I’ve worked in many different fields of higher ed, so I understand how each works alongside each other,” Newell said.
During his time at Lincoln Memorial University, he served as a graduate resident advisor, oversaw campus recreation, and helped lead student events. He later served as Assistant Director of Residence Life and volunteer soccer coach of the men’s soccer team. After that he served as Residence Director at Carson Newman University before moving to Virginia.
“Bridgewater came up on my radar, especially the opportunity to work on campus visits, which kind of fits a lot into my event planning background and I came here, loved the team, loved the staff, and I’m glad I’m here.” Newell said.
Shaping the visit experience
As Assistant Director of Admissions for Campus Visits, Newell manages nearly every part of what prospective students experience when they come to Bridgewater College. His goal is to make each campus visit seamless and personal.
“Making sure we have ambassadors to give tours, making sure there’s a counselor to talk to them. If they want to go sit in a classroom, I’ll go talk to professors and see if we can get them in those classes. If they want to talk to a coach, I’ll be talking to the teams,” Newell said.
From coordinating with student ambassadors and professors to arranging classroom visits or meetings with coaches, Newell wants to show prospects Bridgewater is not just about the buildings and programs, it’s about the conversations, energy, and real experience on campus.
In addition to daily tours, Newell organizes larger admissions events like open houses, group visits, and Admitted Students Days. He is in charge of coordinating with large groups and schools to see what they’re hoping to get out of their experience.
While his role focuses on the day-to-day visit experience, Newell works closely with Director of Admissions Jarrett Smith, who focuses on the strategy and structure of the admissions process, to align his efforts with broader admissions goals.
“Jarrett’s a great boss,” Newell said. “Making sure that from start to finish, a student has all they need to enroll.”
The two collaborate closely to ensure Bridgewater’s daily admissions work supports its long-term recruitment goals. They meet at least weekly to discuss events and how they can see growth in attendance and overall experience.
Building connections
Since joining the admissions team, Newell has focused on the responsibility of keeping the campus visit experience personal, something he believes is key to helping students find their fit.
“Over 80% of students that choose the school they go to is because of the interactions they have with the other students,” Newell said.
He uses this statistic to emphasize the importance of student-led tours through the student ambassador program and classroom visits.
According to researchers in Education Marketing Solutions, well-run student ambassador programs do more than just guide tours. Successful programs put student voices directly into a college’s brand and recruitment strategy, sharing insights that go beyond brochures and websites.
Hannah Barnes, a senior and student ambassador coordinator helps Newell to lead those efforts. Barnes describes the ambassadors as “someone who gives tours to prospective students and gives their perspective about campus and daily life.”
Barnes believes that visitors most remember “the ambassador’s story,” emphasizing the impact of personal and authentic experiences shared during tours.
“It’s not like when we send a mass message where you can’t connect, but when they get to meet a person and have those conversations, that’s where it gets authentic,” Newell said.
Developing future leaders
During his time, Newell hopes to grow the student ambassador program, not only as a recruitment tool, but as a developmental opportunity for students themselves.
“I don’t expect every person who comes as a student ambassador is going to be like, ‘I want to work in admissions for the rest of my life.’ But there’s skills that we can help develop within you for no matter what grad school or career path you want,” Newell said.
Barnes, though she doesn’t plan to pursue admissions work, says the job has strengthened her ability to connect with others.
“It’s definitely helped me in ways of connecting with different people, with my staff, along with how to really talk to people that you may not have ever experienced what they’re going through,” Barnes said.
Newell’s hope is that students that are part of the ambassador program will walk away with experience, communication skills, and professional confidence.
A culture of connection and communication
Newell looks to create an environment for ambassadors, coworkers, and visitors that is collaborative and transparent. He leads alongside his team, setting a tone of teamwork and mutual respect.
“We communicate well. He keeps everyone informed and is always available,” Rossbach said. “Our lines of communication are horizontal, just the way they should be. We’re constantly keeping each other in cahoots with our schedules and what’s going on. That kind of communication is irreplaceable for what we do.”
Sitting in his office, Newell sends out the daily schedule to student ambassadors, excited to draw in new students who will feel at home. Through meaningful relationships and genuine engagement he coordinates with the admissions team, finding the next generation of students while fueling the existing student body with purpose and professionalism.
Students interested in joining the Student Ambassador team can apply online here.
