May 19, 2026
As assistant director of campus visits, Lupe Perez works to make every prospective student and family feel at home on campus. From leading large-scale programming to overseeing student tour guides and coordinating campus experiences, Lupe and the team are dedicated to creating a welcoming and memorable introduction to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
You are the assistant director of campus visits here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Can you talk a bit more about what this role entails?
I oversee our day-to-day visit experiences (Husker Weekdays and group visits). Husker Weekdays are half-day visits that include a welcome session, a 90-minute campus tour and an optional academic session for students. These half-day sessions are for high school juniors and seniors, transfer students, families and guests. Our group visits vary from hosting groups high schools across the country and different college programs.
A major component of my role is hiring, training and supervising our student tour guides. Our program includes about 60 students from across Nebraska and the United States such as Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland and California just to name a few! They all represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
While my role involves daily visits, I am part of a larger on-campus experience team. As a team, we create programming and connections that help thousands of prospective students and their families understand their place on campus.
Part of your role includes attending conferences across the country with students and staff members. Can you explain more about the impact of these events and how attendance and involvement strengthen the experience for students and family visiting Nebraska?
Attending conferences across the country has had a significant impact on both our staff and student development. These experiences have allowed us to connect with peers from other institutions, share best practices and bring back new ideas that elevate our student development and campus visits/events, which is huge for our team. Our students gain exposure to new perspectives, build confidence and develop skills that enhance how they engage with visiting families. There are also opportunities to present on our program, which we just successfully did this past year!
All in all, these conferences help us learn from other strong programs around the country. It has truly been a privilege to be awarded this type of student development, and we continue to indicate why it's needed. Additionally, traveling to different locations each year allows our students to experience new environments and cultures. This pushes them outside their comfort zones in a positive way and contributes to both their personal and professional development.
What inspired you to work in higher education, and specifically in the Office of Admissions at Nebraska?
My interest in higher education comes from my own experience as a student. My time at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, both as a student and staff member, had a big impact on me. I built strong connections with faculty and staff who supported me along the way. When I became a recruiter, I knew I had the opportunity to share my story and help other students see the value of going to college. Then, while completing my graduate program, I transitioned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Every day I gained a deeper appreciation for the opportunities that come with a larger, Big Ten university. Those experiences have continued to shape my passion for helping students find their place in higher education and showing them why Nebraska is such a special place.
What is your favorite part of working as the assistant director of campus visits?
My favorite part of this role is working with our students. I have the opportunity to hire and develop a large group of tour guides who bring their own unique stories and talents while representing the university within our expectations. The best part is seeing how our students stay motivated, confident and spirited. They are consistently demonstrating initiative and adaptability, especially when changes or challenges arise. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch them grow as they pursue their goals beyond the university as well! Our tour guides are some of the hardest-working students I have had the pleasure of working with, and I am proud they represent our office.
Additionally, I also enjoy welcoming so many different prospective students and families to campus. Whether it’s through a Husker Weekday visit or a large open house event, it’s always exciting to interact with our guests and hear positive feedback from visitors.
How do you prepare campus hosts to create a unique visit experience for students and their families?
Our tour guide program is centered around the motto “make it count.” We equip our students with a strong understanding of academics, campus and student resources, while also emphasizing the importance of personal connections. Ultimately, we know that we often have one opportunity to make a lasting impression and by “making it count,” the tour guides are able to help shape those experiences for our guests.
An additional key element of our training is peer learning. Tour guides learn from one another by sharing experiences and stories, which they can then incorporate into their own tours. This allows them to connect with a wide range of visitors, even if they don’t directly share the same academic or personal interests.
We also have a student leadership team that supports daily operations and helps match tour guides with visiting groups when possible. Their training ensures that, even when direct connections aren’t possible, tour guides can still share relevant and meaningful experiences that resonate with families.
We know that we often have one opportunity to make a lasting impression and by “making it count,” the tour guides are able to help shape those experiences for our guests.
What about our campus made you feel most at home as a graduate student, and now permeates through your professional role in campus visits?
What made Nebraska feel like home for me was the people and staff. As a graduate student, I experienced strong support from faculty who were not only experts in their fields, but also deeply invested in my success. That is something I strive to model in my role today. I want our students to know they can come to me for guidance, whether it’s academic, professional or personal. This supportive environment has helped contribute to strong student engagement and retention, and it’s something that I think our visitors can feel when they come to campus.
Is there anything people may not know, but would be interested to know about the behind-the-scenes of campus visits?
Campus visits are truly a collaborative effort. While our office coordinates most of the logistics, many campus partners — including academic colleges, student life and admissions — play a critical role in creating a meaningful experience. This shared trust and collaboration is essential to delivering an impactful visit for every student who attends an on-campus experience.
We also rely heavily on feedback from visiting families. Their insights help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. We take this feedback seriously and use it to refine our programming and strengthen our partnerships across campus.
What is one piece of advice you would give to an incoming student?
Be open to new experiences, weigh your options and take advantage of the resources available to you. It’s completely normal not to have everything figured out right away. Take the time to discover your true interests and find a path that aligns best with you. This will help you build confidence and prepare for a successful future.