Patricia Peek, Ph.D., may be the new leader of Fordham’s admissions team, but she is hardly new to Fordham.
Photo by Michael Dames
Peek, the newly appointed director of undergraduate admission, has seen every aspect of the University, having been an undergraduate, master’s student, doctoral student, faculty member, alumna, and administrator.
“My undergraduate years were terrific,” said Peek, FCRH ’90, GSAS ’92, GSAS ’07. “I was taught and mentored by wonderful professors, some of whom I still work with today. I had an excellent student worker experience, and learned to navigate New York City through my internship at a publishing firm.”
After completing a master’s degree in English, Peek worked as an instructor at a community college and later as an administrator for a culinary and hospitality school.
It wasn’t long, though, before she returned to her alma mater. She began in admissions in 1998 as senior associate director of admission and associate director of the Lincoln Center Enrollment Group. In 2000, she was promoted to associate director of admission and director of the Lincoln Center Enrollment Group, and in 2012 became associate dean of admission.
During this time, she obtained a doctorate in English, specializing in the British Romantic period and the works of Mary Shelley.
“I have taught several classes at Fordham over the years,” Peek said. “It has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me at Fordham. Our students are intellectually curious, sincere, and well-rounded.”
In addition to various academic accomplishments—she has published two book reviews and presented her research at various conferences—Peek is involved with several professional organizations, including the New York State Association of College Admission Counseling, the College Board, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, and ACE, Women in Leadership.
Nevertheless, her passion remains the college admission process.
“College admission is such an important time in students’ lives,” she said. “It is not something we take lightly, and assisting students in finding the right college fit is at the core of what we do. For many of us, it is more than a job or a career—it is akin to a vocation. Especially at Fordham, where care for the student from the moment they meet us as visitors to their lives as alumni is central to our mission.”
As director, Peek said she would work to develop a new publication campaign and redesign the office’s Web presence. Her primary goal, though, is to help prospective students understand what a Fordham education offers both students and alumni—a mission she considers deeply personal.
“Fordham has been part of my life for over 25 years,” Peek said. “I have always felt cared for and cared about at the institution. There is a deep-rooted sense of community. It is a place that challenges you to grow and encourages you to reach.”
