About

  Customized Solutions for Small Colleges 

Small College Consulting provides strategic, customized solutions designed exclusively for the unique realities of small colleges. Working alongside a trusted network of affiliate consultants and strategic partners, we help institutions address complex challenges, strengthen leadership, and advance mission-driven sustainability.

Our work spans comprehensive consultation, innovative Small College AI solutions, and the National Small College Conference—a premier convening of small college leaders from across the country. From focused assessments and strategic planning to interim leadership, AI-enabled decision support, and ongoing advising, we offer integrated support tailored to each institution’s goals, culture, and capacity.

Grounded in deep small college experience, we are committed to helping institutions align strategy, innovation, and mission—empowering small colleges to grow stronger, adapt with confidence, and achieve measurable, lasting success.

Chris Coons

Partner

Alma mater: West Virginia Wesleyan College

 Chris brings 30 years of enrollment management experience to clients and has a proven track record of helping institutions increase new student and total enrollment. He has worked for five different small colleges and was chief enrollment officer for two of them.

After leaving the campus side, he joined Underscore, a dedicated Slate development and optimization company, as business development and enrollment consultant. After Underscore merged with Carnegie, Chris worked with several small colleges in helping them exceed new student enrollment goals.

Chris is an experienced facilitator for admissions trainings and workshops and brings to the team his unrivaled knowledge of enrollment best practices and enrollment strategy.

Scott Novak

Partner

Alma mater: Susquehanna University

For the last 30 years, Scott has been an authority on market trends in the industry, with an unrivaled ability to anticipate the marketing needs of small colleges and universities across the country.

Scott was the founder of Underscore, a dedicated Slate development and optimization company, which became part of Carnegie in 2021. As Chief Development Officer at Carnegie, Scott started the Carnegie "Small College Initiative." You can listen to his podcast, "Small College Movement" and follow him on social channels.

Scott has worked with more than 300 small colleges and universities in his career in helping them achieve their marketing and enrollment goals.