Chris Zwicker: Bringing the Student Perspective to Admissions

As a first-generation college student, Chris Zwicker relied on Keiser University’s one-class-at-a-time format to earn his bachelor’s degree while working and raising his son. Today, as an Admissions Counselor at the New Port Richey campus, he uses that experience to help other students take the same first step.

For Chris Zwicker, earning a bachelor’s degree was not a straightforward path.

As a first-generation college student, he was balancing multiple jobs, raising his son, and navigating a difficult personal situation when he began looking for a way to continue his education. Keiser University’s one-class-at-a-time format gave him an option that fit his circumstances.

Today, Zwicker is on the other side of the process. After graduating from Keiser University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, concentrated in Management, and a 4.0 GPA as valedictorian, he now works as an Admissions Counselor at the New Port Richey campus.

His experience as a student has shaped how he approaches his work.

One Class at a Time

When Zwicker began considering where to pursue his bachelor’s degree, Keiser University’s one-class-at-a-time format stood out immediately.

At the time, he worked multiple jobs and raised his son. He was managing several courses and Keiser format allowed him to focus on one subject at a time while continuing to manage his responsibilities outside the classroom.

“If it weren’t for the one class at a time, I feel I may not have gotten my bachelor’s,” Zwicker said.

For Zwicker, school eventually became more than a place to earn a degree. It provided an environment where he could focus on moving forward.

“School was my safe space and gave me the strength to leave what wasn’t good for me in the past,” he said.

His son was another important source of motivation.

“I’m always striving to show him how to persevere even when times get tough.”

A First-Generation Graduate

Zwicker graduated from Keiser University in 2024 as a first-generation college graduate and valedictorian. Maintaining that academic standard while working and managing his responsibilities was demanding, but he remained committed to his goal.

“I’ve always strived to do my best, it is just built into my DNA,” Zwicker said. “Balancing was exhausting at times, but I refused to settle for anything less than a 4.0 GPA.”

His time as a student also helped him develop skills that would later become important in his professional career, particularly communication and interpersonal skills.

Those skills became especially relevant when he moved from being a student to working directly with prospective students.

“I truly believe my success as an admissions counselor comes from my development of interpersonal skills, which we spoke heavily on in the business program,” he said.

But his education gave him another perspective that could not be learned solely from a textbook.

“I also put myself in the seat of the student when speaking to them.”

From Student to Admissions Counselor

Zwicker’s decision to pursue a career in higher education was influenced by his own experience at Keiser.

He remembers the faculty making him feel welcomed and supported throughout his program. His former admissions counselor, Michelle Ludwig, also left an impression on him.

“She truly has a passion for admissions and makes work fun,” Zwicker said.

After graduating, Zwicker eventually joined Keiser as an Admissions Counselor, giving him the opportunity to experience the university from another perspective.

That dual experience—first as a student and now as an employee—has shaped the way he interacts with prospective students.

“I feel being on both sides of the university has been advantageous because I know what the prospective students are feeling and the excitement and nervousness they feel when walking through the doors for the first time.”

For Zwicker, that understanding is particularly important when working with people who may be uncertain about returning to school.

“I really enjoy helping them get back on track and build the confidence in themselves again to achieve their goals.”

The Students Behind the Conversations

The students Zwicker meets through his work have different circumstances, goals and reasons for returning to school.

Some of their stories have stayed with him.

He recalls a prospective student who was living in her car while pregnant and recovering from addiction. Zwicker helped her enroll in a Medical Billing and Coding program.

Another student, December, had been working long hours as a Burger King supervisor before beginning her education. Zwicker watched her transition from working to exhaustion to building a career at Keiser. Her experience eventually encouraged her significant other to consider returning to school as well.

He also remembers working with a grandmother who was advocating for her granddaughter after the young woman had been abandoned by her parents and was considering her next steps.

For Zwicker, these individual experiences illustrate what can happen when students have someone helping them navigate the process.

“These are just some of the many stories that have really made what I do worth it,” he said.

Having experienced that decision himself, he knows that prospective students may arrive with questions about whether they can balance school with work, family and other responsibilities.

His role, he says, is to make the process easier to navigate.

“Going into higher education can be an exciting, nerve-wracking, and huge decision,” Zwicker said. “I enjoy being able to make the process more enjoyable and less stressful as possible.”

He describes that work as helping remove barriers between students and their educational goals.

“Bridging gaps to allow students to succeed is a wonderful experience. I enjoy giving back to the community in such a way.”

His experience helps him understand the uncertainty that can accompany that decision because he has felt it himself.

And his advice to students who are hesitant to take that first step is straightforward:

“Don’t let self-doubt get in the way. Successful people don’t make excuses. Just take the leap and watch how your life changes tenfold.”

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University offers more than 100 degree programs from the associate to doctoral level. The University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report in 2023.