From the Frisbee field to the admissions office, Michael Massad ’14 continues to embody the Carleton liberal arts spirit. As a political science major at Carleton, he served as a TRIO/SSS (Student Support Services) peer leader and played for the Gods of Plastic, aka GOP (now called Carleton’s House of Pancakes, aka CHOP) D-III Ultimate Frisbee team. After he graduated, he stayed with CHOP as a coach and was named Ultiworld’s D-III men’s coach of the year in 2018 and was first runner-up in 2019; the team tied for third place in the nation each year.
Massad has stayed in higher education, completing a year of AmeriCorps service as a college completion coach at College Forward (now College Possible Texas) and at Southwestern University as an admissions counselor before returning to Northfield to join Carleton’s admissions office as assistant dean of admissions. In all these capacities, he provided expert support to young students, assisted with financial aid, conducted nationwide recruitment efforts, and advocated for an inclusive liberal arts experience. With these experiences and skills under his belt, Massad accepted a position in 2021 with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, where he is currently the director of admissions.
At the Humphrey School, he is noted for leading enrollment efforts for a nationally recognized graduate school, collaborating with offices across campus to reinforce admissions-specific initiatives, working with faculty members, and connecting with students. During his tenure, the school has thrived as a premier institution of public policy, attracting top-tier students and fostering the development of future leaders in the field.
Massad holds a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University. He and his wife, Katin Liphart Massad ’17, live in Minneapolis.