From the founding of the first colleges in colonial America to the modern-day institution, the question of who is meritorious enough to gain admissions to an institution has always relevant. The early colleges and universities utilized gender, status, and profession to help decide who should enter an institution. Currently, the formula is more nuanced and difficult to understand. The process has also given way to a complicated profession that helps blend marketing, admissions, and financial aid into a process known as enrollment management. Higher education has also changed. It has transformed from an explicitly all White male endeavor to be more complex in its structure and process. However, the intersection of higher education and enrollment management leadership currently shows it is still highly male-dominated and White. This study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to better understand the experience of those who are in the small group of leaders who identify as people of color and as Chief Enrollment Officers for their institution. The analysis from the interviews found four major themes: (a) Everyone Is an Admissions Expert; (b) Sustaining Motivation for Change; (c) Finding a Place in the Fabric of Higher Education; and (d) The Mentorship Gap and Success. The findings suggest these professionals operate as "onlys" (Harper et al., 2011), as there is a need to move beyond the familiarities of gatekeeping and admissions. Greater transparency and honesty are needed in the Enrollment profession to increase the number of Chief Enrollment Officers of Color. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]