University of the Pacific (Pacific), a nationally-ranked university, seeks an experienced and innovative leader to serve as its next Vice President for Enrollment Management (VP). This is a tremendous opportunity to have a large impact on the University by establishing an exceptional team of enrollment professionals; incorporating best practices and innovations; advancing the use of analytics and CRM; shaping and implementing enrollment strategies; and promoting a shared commitment across the faculty, staff, and leadership to enroll, retain, and grow an academically strong and diverse student body.

Pacific is committed to providing students with a superior, personalized educational experience that integrates the liberal arts with professional learning and prepares them for a meaningful life as well as a successful career. The university is ranked 110 among national universities by U.S. News and World Report and is one of the more complex comprehensive private universities in California and the nation. The University features nine schools across three campuses, including the iconic main campus in Stockton, California; a Sacramento campus that is home to the McGeorge School of Law and an expanding set of graduate programs that serve the regional economy; and a San Francisco campus that houses the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and additional health and technology graduate programs. Pacific is recognized nationally and internationally for its academic programs in health-related fields, particularly dentistry and pharmacy; provides exceptional liberal arts learning as well as engineering, business, conservatory, and education paths for its undergraduates; and also has a strong reputation in accelerated academic programs that enable highly qualified students to enter the job market faster.

Of the university’s approximately 6,300 enrollments, about 3,500 are undergraduate students, 1,200 are graduate students and 1,600 are law, dental or pharmacy students.

Reporting to the President, and a member of the Cabinet, the VP leads the university’s efforts to grow enrollment of talented and diverse students who share values of excellence, character, and community. The VP is directly responsible for undergraduate admissions and institutional financial aid. In addition, the VP provides leadership regarding graduate and professional enrollment activities that report to Deans by promoting partnerships, shared best practices, and professional development opportunities. The VP is part of the cross-divisional team, led by the Provost, to advance undergraduate student retention with a focus on the experience from the first inquiry to completion of the first year. The VP will bring to the institution an understanding of what students need and expect when selecting an institution and strategic and innovative insights on how Pacific can best attract and enroll a growing student body. Recognizing that the role is effectively the “chief revenue officer,” the VP will also bring an understanding of financial aid strategies at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.

The VP will need to possess a demonstrated knowledge of the major elements of and current best practices in successful programs for admissions and financial aid management, an in-depth understanding of student market trends and prospect development, and be able to leverage technology for data-driven decision making. To be successful, the VP must possess excellent execution, managerial, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills while addressing the following:

• Develop a vision and strategy to grow undergraduate, graduate, and professional enrollments;
• Build a team of talented and effective enrollment management professionals with a culture that embraces continuous improvement and development;
• Foster and strengthen collaborations across Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Business and Finance and Marketing and Communications;
• Establish and capitalize on strategic use of financial aid at the undergraduate, graduate and professional level;
• Increase visibility to expand a diverse pool of qualified students interested in Pacific;
• Further integrate admissions and financial aid through team building, professional development, and process improvement for a more comprehensive enrollment strategy;
• Lead implementation of pre-matriculation strategy developed as part of the enhancement of the first year experience; and
• Find new ways to partner with the Academic Affairs and Student Life to support retention and student success initiatives.

Pacific has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications is underway and will continue until the position is filled. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/6501. Electronic submission of materials is required.

Deborah Hodson, Lindsay Gold, and Joseph Kralick

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA  94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Fax: 415.655.4905

The University of the Pacific is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination.