Dr. Charlie Runyan has spent more than 20 years helping students and families navigate education and the path to college. His career has spanned college admission, college counseling, and university student success. Through these experiences, Charlie has developed a deeply held belief that college counseling should begin with knowing the student. He takes time to understand each student's interests and experiences, what they hope to gain from college, and the type of community in which they are most likely to thrive.

Charlie brings a unique perspective from working with students throughout their journey to and through college. He began his career in undergraduate admission at George Mason University and The Ohio State University before moving into college counseling. He served as Associate Director of College Counseling at Fort Worth Country Day and then The Hockaday School in Texas, guiding students and families through the college research and application process. His experience also extends beyond admission. At Washington University in St. Louis, Charlie supported students as they transitioned to college, and most recently, he led a university-wide student success program serving nearly 500 students as Director of Tartan Scholars at Carnegie Mellon University. He also worked in college access with I Know I Can in Columbus, Ohio. These experiences help Charlie guide students to think beyond where they can gain admission and consider where they will be happy and successful.

Charlie has remained actively involved in the larger college admission and counseling profession throughout his career. He has held leadership roles with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC), and Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC). He has also presented at state and national conferences and served on counselor advisory boards for several universities. His contributions to the profession have been recognized with TACAC's Rising Star Award and OACAC's M. Jeanne Talley Human Relations Award.

Charlie earned degrees from The Ohio State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Dayton before earning his Doctor of Education in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His doctoral research examined students' experiences with school belonging, a topic closely connected to his belief that a successful college search is about much more than the name on a sweatshirt. Charlie wants students to learn more about themselves throughout the process and ultimately choose a college where they can envision building a life and community.

As a first-generation college student raised in a small mining community along the Ohio River in Appalachia, Charlie knows firsthand the transformative power of education. His mother instilled in him an unwavering belief that he would go to college, even when the path to getting there was not always clear. Her belief continues to shape Charlie's commitment to ensuring that students feel known and supported as they make decisions about their futures.

Outside of work, Charlie lives in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood with his husband, Kaleb, their three dogs, Amelia, Davie, and Zephyr, and their cat, Mr. Frodo Baggins. He enjoys hiking and kayaking, college football, and theater. Charlie also loves traveling, trying new foods, and playing video games.