Cory Espensen, Blackhawk Technical College’s new Student Enrollment and Retention Manager, comes to Blackhawk from Rockford University in Rockford, Illinois, where he was the Registrar.

Espensen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-Marketing from Rockford University and a Master of Science in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

After starting his higher education career at VCU, Espensen followed that with a stint at the University of Richmond. Both positions were in the athletic department in multimedia, public relations, and video services. After moving with his wife back to the Rockford area, he was hired at Rockford University in the admissions department, where he has spent over holding various roles across campus. 

“I have always enjoyed a college setting. My father was a college professor for over 30 years, so I guess growing up on a college campus planted this seed,” Espensen said. “Being on a campus and being exposed to people pursuing their career passions is invigorating. As I have grown in this industry, being able to impact and mentor students on the path to accomplishing their goals is my ‘why.’”

With experience in advising, sports management, coaching, multimedia services, Espensen worked at Rockford University from 2005 to 2015 and again from 2017 until this new opportunity at Blackhawk drew him away. In between those stints, he worked for Rockford Public Schools. The flexible learning model and the guided pathway framework brought him to Blackhawk.

“Now that I have started at Blackhawk, I am very impressed with the campus culture. Everyone has been very welcoming to me, and I am particularly impressed with the supportive environment in Student Services and the impressive staff that put the students first,” he said. “With enrollment challenges evident across the landscape of higher ed, Blackhawk has been able to be successful when many others have not.”

Outside of work, Espensen and his wife have two adult sons, ages 23 and 21, and a 5-year-old golden retriever.