Michael Barron has been a pillar of inspiration to professionals in the college enrollment industry. We all can take a page from his career..

I had the opportunity to speak with Michael at a coffee shop in Iowa City in February, where we discussed his passion for college enrollment — a passion that, as it turns out, began entirely by accident.

“For many in my generation, we fell into this by accident,” Michael told me with a smile.

Fresh out of college in 1969, he was on his way to interview for a student life position at his alma mater when the university registrar stopped him on campus and offered him a brand-new admissions role. On his very first day, he received an unexpected salary bump from $6,000 to $7,200.

“My first day on the job I got a 20 percent increase. This is the best career in the world,” he laughed.

That instinct proved right. Mike worked in admission at the University of Texas at Austin for several years, and eventually Iowa called. He spent 27 years, three months, two weeks, and one day at the University of Iowa, retiring as assistant provost for enrollment management and executive director of admissions.

When I asked what he would want a young professional entering this field to know, his answer was immediate and clear: fulfillment comes from the students, not the paycheck.

“You knew you were never going to be a millionaire working in our business,” he said, “but you were rich in experiences.”

He emphasized the importance of leaning into leadership opportunities — not by stepping over others, but by volunteering for the tough assignments, seeking roles in professional organizations and positioning yourself to grow. Staff development was central to Michael’s legacy. He insisted that every member of his team belong to professional organizations, pursue leadership roles at the state and national level and seek perspectives beyond the walls of their own office.

“You never stand in the way of someone who wants to work,” he said, borrowing wisdom from his father. “You set them up, and then you get out of their way.”

But what truly galvanized his commitment to this work happened early in his career at UT Austin, where he had earned a reputation as the “difficult student counselor” — the person the front desk called when nobody else could help. One day, a young veteran came in who had never finished high school. Rather than turning him away, Michael counseled him to earn his GED, attend community college and build a strong academic record. Years later, that same young man walked back into Michael’s office carrying a diploma and asked him to sign it.

“You’re the only one who cared enough to create a path that allowed me to get this degree,” the man told him.

Michael signed it. Somewhere in the world, his name is on a geology degree — and he couldn’t be prouder. In enrollment management you don’t always realize the impact you are making.

“You lay it all out on the line every time,” Michael reflected, “and sometimes, not just a flower grows, but a whole field.”

That philosophy is precisely why the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling presents the Michael Barron Impact Award to a counselor who goes above and beyond to serve a family and make a difference in their college journey. The award bears his name for good reason. Michael Barron didn’t just build a career in enrollment - he built countless futures, one student at a time.

Chevy Freiburger, Central College, serves on the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling Executive Board and is a Past-President.