STEVE CASTLES

Blueprint Enrollment Strategic Consultant

President, Query Arts - Slate Partner

Steve Castles is a strategic enrollment consultant and Slate CRM partner specializing in arts-focused institutions. He began his admissions career while earning his Master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, later serving as Director of Admissions there and as Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at CalArts.

With nearly two decades of experience, Steve now leads Query Arts and partners with Blueprint Enrollment Consulting to help colleges and universities optimize Slate, refine recruitment strategy, and align enrollment goals with mission and data.

Originally from the Chicago area, he holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from DePaul University. Outside of work, Steve enjoys cooking, travel, photography, and spending time outdoors with his partner, Kayt, and their dogs, Chef and Javi.

“I hired BFE Blueprint to help us create an international recruitment plan.  As a newcomer to Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles,  I was surprised there was little international recruitment activity, let alone a plan.  Steve Castles, from BFE Blueprint, did an outstanding job creating a plan for us in a short amount of time.  His work entailed extensive research on potential international markets, prioritization of markets, review of our recruitment and admission practices, and implementing processes that enhanced the international student experience.  He provided a road map to the international market that we are still using two years later and it has proven to be invaluable given staff turnover.”

— Susan Dileno, VP of Enrollment Management, Mount Saint Mary’s University

“I’ve known and worked with Steve for 10 years now. We worked together at CalArts, and through his excellent leadership and creative problem solving, enrollment grew notably during his tenure. I cannot think of anyone on the planet better suited to help any niche school solve its enrollment challenges and turn its enrollment around, especially one whose focus is on performing and/or visual arts.”

— Robert Borden, President of Blueprint Enrollment