Editor’s Note: Meet Bob Clagett, Colorado Academy’s Interim Co-Director of College Counseling, who started at CA in August. Here, he answers some of the most frequent questions that he gets from students and parents:
What compelled you to come to CA and Colorado?
How could I pass up the opportunity to work with [CA College Office counselors and staff members] Cathy, Sara, and Cyd? But seriously, having visited and read applications from CA in my former admissions life, I have always had the highest opinion of the school. Although I have never lived here before, I have pretty deep family roots of my own in Colorado, so I already feel very much at home.
What have you been doing prior to landing here?
Immediately prior to my move to Denver, I was the Director of College Counseling at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX [also the school where Dr. Davis worked before coming to CA]. Before that, I was Head of Admissions at Middlebury College for six years, and before that, I did admissions and financial aid work at Harvard for 21 years. My first job out of college was as a German and history teacher, and later as a college counselor at two secondary schools: one in Massachusetts and one in Hamburg, Germany.
What has struck you after your first month on the job here at CA?
I am really impressed by the positive energy that seems to pervade CA, and how supportive of each other the students seem to be. And the faculty and staff here are clearly a dedicated and interesting group of people who care deeply about the students.
What do you like about being a college counselor?
The best part of this work is developing more meaningful relationships with students and families than is normally possible as a college admission officer, and feeling like we can make a difference in helping students determine the next steps in their educational careers.
How do you spend your free time?
I love hiking, biking, and skiing (both downhill and XC), so Colorado is a perfect place to pursue all three. Music has also always been an important part of my life, and I enjoy singing in choruses and playing my upright bass in jazz combos. I hope to do some of both while I am here in Denver.