As prospective families submitted their admissions and financial aid applications to the school on Jan. 10, the Admissions Office was also preparing for a different future next year. After five years working as the director of enrollment management, Jorge DelgadoannouncedinJanuarythat he plans to leave the school in June. Although his work is generally out of students’ views, his role encompasses far more than leading the admissions team.
“I always describe my job as being an ambassador for our school community,” Mr. Delgado said.
His work has included promoting the school’s values by engaging with potential families, popularizing the well-known “knight” puns alongside Head of School Jennifer Price, and remodelling the website to appeal to more applicants. He is also behind the school’s transition to Veracross, the application platform prospective families use.
One of Mr. Delgado’s most important contributions has been the unification of the admissions team, he said. Prior to his arrival, the offices worked as three separate departments: Lower, Middle, and Upper School (US) Admissions. Now, the team of 14 functions as one unit.
“The team is much more cohesive and works more collaboratively than ever before,” he said.
Mr. Delgado said he is extremely proud of the school’s increased diversity levels during his tenure.
Since his arrival in 2020, financial aid grants have increased by more than $3 million across all three campuses. Last year, nearly $11.8 million was given in tuition grants along with an additional $250,000 toward other expenses, made possible by the $6.54 million contributed by the Class of 2024 parents. In 2019-2020, just over $8.6 million was given to financial aid. The school has increased financial aid spending by 0.3% since 2020. Structured around grants rather than loans, the school’s system supports the 28% of US students who receive some form of financial aid, with over $47,000 going to each student on average.
At the end of this school year, Mr. Delgado plans to take a road trip with his partner and their dog, Juno, as they make the move to California. He said his excitement for the future is bittersweet, but he knows he will remain connected to the school community. After his departure at the end of this academic year, he will miss “the people—that’s easy,” he said.
“While I am leaving my role, I think the connections in the relationships I’ve made will last way beyond my time here,” Mr. Delgado said.
The role of teacher and student input in admissions has also increased under Mr. Delgado’s guidance. The Student Admissions Board (SAB), a pre-existing program that allowed select US students to help with the admissions process, was expanded. This process has made enrollment more efficient and incorporated the school’s values, he said.
Hale McGivern ’25 said she has enjoyed learning from Mr. Delgado on the SAB.
“What makes Mr. Delgado so different from other faculty members at BB&N is that he treats students as his equals. I feel like every time I talk to him, he really listens to what I have to say and values my experiences.”
According to colleague and Director of Financial Aid Genieve Rankel P ’26 ’28, Mr. Delgado is “incredible” to work with. The two of them bounce ideas off of one another frequently, she said.
“He is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. He’s got an eye to see beyond what’s visible right now, to see what could be; he is able to implement changes so that we can get to a new place even if it’s going to be difficult and not easy getting there.”
In recent years, the Admissions Office has increased the school’s diversity in many aspects: racially, socioeconomically, and geographically, among others. Around 47% of US students identify as people of color, an all-time high, the and the student body comes from 85 to 90 different cities. These numbers, which are still growing, show the school’s goal of exposing students to many life perspectives, Mrs. Rankel said.
“If we can have a community of learners that is a microcosm of the world you students are going to step into, then we are doing our jobs.”
Mrs. Rankel is sure that just as Geordie Mitchell, the former director of enrollment management, did for them, Mr. Delgado has created a strong foundation for future admissions teams, she said.
“His genius is going to be missed.”
