Phil Moreno: Finding Stillness in Motion

Phil Moreno—Associate Director of College Counseling at the Nueva School and Board Chair for the National Association for College Admission Counseling—joins this episode of The ALP to talk about what it means to lead leaders in challenging times, why gratitude and handwritten notes matter, and how he’s learned to “stay on the bike” while also carving out intentional moments of stillness and renewal. He shares the practices—from solo retreats to time outdoors under dark skies—that help him restore his energy and model balance for others in a profession that asks us to give constantly.

Come for the insights, stay for the velvety voice of a professionally trained broadcaster (the guest; not the host).

Highlights

• 00:00 – Introduction: Phil introduces himself, his role at Nueva, and his work as NACAC Board Chair.
• 03:36 – The Nueva School: Founded on Nobel laureates’ vision, Nueva emphasizes curiosity, design thinking, and social-emotional learning.
• 06:45 – Switching sides: Why Phil left college admissions after nearly 20 years to counsel students at the secondary level.
• 09:06 – Relationships first: The mentors, associations, and small invitations that shaped his career—and why he now works to extend those same invitations to others.
• 13:36 – Leading in challenging times: Guiding NACAC through political attacks on DEI, and reflecting on past moments of crisis leadership.
• 16:47 – A unifying role: How Phil sees himself as a bridge-builder and “leader of leaders,” making space for every voice at the table while keeping the group focused on action.
• 21:31 – NACAC as family: Why he views conference season as a chance to check in on colleagues and carry their lived challenges into board decision-making.
• 24:15 – Self-care (perhaps Ken's favorite part of the episode): Phil’s philosophy of “staying in motion” and the importance of intentional pauses. He describes finding renewal through stillness, solo getaways, and immersion in art and nature.
• 28:17 – Reset moments: From visiting Michael Heizer’s vast desert installation City to hiking remote trails and camping under dark skies, Phil explains how solitude outdoors restores his perspective.
• 36:55 – College Horizons: Why he commits time each year to this extraordinary program (run by ALP alumna, Carmen Lopez) serving Native students, and how it reinvigorates his sense of purpose.
• 39:16 – Leadership qualities: Gratitude, lifting others up, modeling behavior through action, and the power of living authentically.
• 43:43 – Rapid Descent.

The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment