Guided by the relationships that first drew him to campus as a high school student, Jaron Carter ’23 now helps guide others toward their own Bushnell University journeys. As a senior admissions counselor and assistant track and field coach, Carter occupies a unique space at the intersection of recruitment, mentorship, and community-building. Across his several roles, he walks alongside students during some of the most influential moments of their lives.
Carter’s connection to Bushnell began not behind a desk, but across a table at a college fair. “I was originally a student looking for schools,” he recalls. “I stumbled across Bushnell, and they just kept pursuing me and staying in contact.” That persistence led to a campus visit, a letter of intent to compete in track and field, and ultimately a decision that would shape both his education and vocation. Years later, Carter remains on campus, now serving the institution that once invested so intentionally in him.
We caught up with Carter to talk about his journey from Bushnell student to staff member, his passion for walking alongside students during pivotal seasons of discernment, and how his work in admissions and coaching allows him to invest meaningfully in students’ lives at every stage of their college experience.
Walking With Students at the Starting Line
In his role with undergraduate admissions, Carter spends much of his time on the road — visiting high schools, attending college fairs, and meeting students where they are. The work is dynamic, shifting daily between transcript reviews, application processing, campus visits, and conversations with prospective students and their families. Whatever the task, the heart of the work is consistently relational. “It’s really cool being able to go to a college fair, meet a student, and talk about their future and their lives,” he says. “Getting to see their next steps kind of laid out for them when they’re here has been really special.”
That long view is what sustains him. Carter has the rare opportunity to see the admissions process through to its conclusion, watching students he once recruited walk across the commencement stage. “Eventually seeing them graduate, it’s a really cool feeling,” he reflects. “To see the students that you recruited walk across that stage makes all of it worth it.”
Coaching, Community, and Calling
Alongside his admissions work, Carter serves as an assistant coach for Bushnell’s track and field program, a role that deepens his connection to students beyond the recruitment process. Coaching, he notes, is another avenue for community: “You’re building community through it all, which is a really big piece for me.”
Both roles place Carter in close proximity to students navigating uncertainty. “There are people that are looking up to you. There are people that are counting on you for their life and their next steps,” he highlights. Whether that’s a student anxious about applying to college or adjusting to the demands of collegiate athletics, Carter sees his presence as a steadying one. “Students in the admissions process can be scared, they can be terrified,” he explains, “and I get to be the person that assists them on their next steps.” That responsibility, he adds, extends to helping student-athletes grow not only in performance, but in character and confidence.
Carter’s philosophy is shaped by his own experience as a Bushnell student, when community played a defining role in his personal growth. The Morse Center remains a familiar gathering place, both during his undergraduate years and now as a staff member. Beyond campus, he has also found connection through the broader Eugene community, including a local dance studio where he takes classes several times a week. These spaces, he says, reinforce the importance of belonging, something he encourages students to seek intentionally during their time at Bushnell.
A Note for Students
That encouragement often takes the form of reflection on how brief and transformative the college years can be. “Your time in college is such a limited time,” Carter says. “Four years sounds like a long time, but it’s really just a blink.” He urges students to balance academics and rest with meaningful relationships, personal healing, and spiritual growth. “Make the most of every single minute of it,” he advises. “Learn how to live life for God, but also learn how to live authentically.”
For Carter, authenticity and service are inseparable. His dual roles allow him to support students from first contact through graduation, embodying Bushnell’s commitment to holistic education and Christ-centered community. Watching students grow during their college years, Carter shares a simple but profound message: “Be the person you always wanted to be.”
In walking alongside students as they discern their futures, Carter reflects the heart of Bushnell University’s mission to help students grow in wisdom, faith, and service to others.
Through admissions conversations, coaching relationships, and everyday interactions, his work helps students not only find their place at Bushnell, but also begin to imagine who they are called to become.
Learn More
To learn more about Bushnell University and the people who support students throughout their college experience, visit bushnell.edu. Additional information about Bushnell Athletics and specifically the track and field program is available at bushnellbeacons.com.