Vice President for Enrollment Strategy

Fordham University Portal•Rose Hill, VA

11d

About The Position

The Vice President for Enrollment Strategy ( VPES ) serves as the chief enrollment officer of the University, providing strategic leadership, vision, and innovation in student recruitment, enrollment management, and retention. Reporting directly to the president and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the incumbent will drive the development and execution of the University’s enrollment management strategy. A proactive leader with substantive experience in higher education and strategic enrollment planning, the VPES is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive, data-driven enrollment strategy aligned with the University’s mission, values, and long-term goals. The VPES will guide enrollment forecasting, scholarships, and tuition discounting in creating a sustainable fiscal model in a challenging economic environment. The successful candidate will be a transformational leader who embraces new technologies, leverages predictive analytics, and champions contemporary marketing strategies to optimize recruitment, retention, and student success. The VPES will oversee the division of enrollment management encompassing international enrollment initiatives, student financial services, enrollment support, enrollment systems, admission, and enrollment data and analytics. Providing motivational leadership to an enrollment leadership team of seven seasoned professionals and an overall team of more than 100 dedicated staff, the VPES will ensure the division meets revenue, headcount, and profile goals among undergraduate, international, and transfer populations. The VPES will join a sophisticated, collaborative senior leadership team guiding intentional efforts to establish and meet institutional goals. In partnership with the provost, the VPES will provide leadership in the retention of students as well as the market-informed development and launch of academic programs. Working closely with the chief financial officer, the VPES will develop, execute, and assess the allocation of financial resources in the enrollment and retention of students. In addition to being a highly visible partner for academic and administrative colleagues, the VPES will be a compelling advocate for the Fordham community nationally and internationally. NES , a search firm specializing in enrollment management within higher education, is assisting Fordham University in this search. The comprehensive leadership profile can be viewed here . For best consideration, please submit all application materials to [email protected] by June 6, 2025. Nominations and inquiries may be directed to: Laura Robinson at [email protected] Catherine Capolupo at [email protected]

Nice To Haves

A doctorate in higher education, business or a related field

Responsibilities

University Leadership Advise the president and the Board of Trustees in all matters related to recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and strategic positioning of the University amid the rapidly evolving landscape for comprehensive universities.
Guide, support, and implement institutional strategic initiatives, and lead the development of strategic enrollment plans to support institutional goals.
Educate and prepare the Fordham community for changes in financial aid regulations, legal and normative changes in admission practice and policy, demographic changes and market trends, and the evolving needs and expectations of student populations.
Lead efforts to expand Fordham’s national and international reach, ensuring a strong pipeline of prospective students from diverse backgrounds while enhancing the University’s reputation and recognition.
Represent Fordham with wisdom and insight through presentations and conversations, attending conferences, engaging with partner schools, programs, and organizations, and responding to media requests.
Monitor and respond to changing demographics, market trends, and national policy shifts impacting enrollment strategies.
Regularly assess the University’s market position, explore ways to enhance the University’s reputation, and ensure vendor partnerships and resources are strategic, appropriate, and productive.
Collaborate with Information Technology (IT) to ensure the effective implementation, integration, and optimization of enrollment technologies (e.g., CRM , SIS , generative AI), enhance data reporting capabilities, and support innovation through emerging digital tools and platforms.
Utilize advanced data analytics to measure, analyze, and assess divisional efforts to enhance student recruitment, optimize financial aid strategies, and improve yield.
In collaboration with key campus partners, assess student success metrics, utilizing retention and graduation data to inform admission selection objectives, and intentionally plan for and facilitate preparation for shifting student demographics.
Cultivate relationships with external partners, including high schools, community colleges, corporate entities, and alumni networks, to expand recruitment channels.
Collaborate with University Marketing and Communications to develop and implement innovative digital marketing, social media, and communication strategies to elevate the University’s brand awareness among targeted audiences to meet recruitment goals.
Collaborate with the athletics division to identify potential student populations and strategies to increase recruitment efforts and ensure a strong partnership between the departments.
Provide counsel and advice to deans on matters related to graduate and professional student enrollment and collaborate with academic and student affairs leadership to enhance recruitment efforts and support student engagement.
Provide regular reports to trustees, faculty, staff, new employees, and divisional partners, encouraging understanding and engagement in enrollment management functions and the appropriate and transparent dissemination of data and information.
Collaborate with any and all areas of the University that support the enrollment process.
Develop and execute a strategic enrollment management plan that ensures a sustainable, talented, and diverse student body across all academic programs, authentically engages the campus community, and inspires interest in a Fordham education.
Implement changes to admission and financial aid policies and practices to meet state and federal compliance regulations, in a manner that is consistent with Fordham’s values and mission.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the Enrollment Management division, overseeing its key functional areas to support enrollment goals and student success.
Lead recruitment and selection strategies to attract and enroll a diverse and qualified student body.
Oversee financial aid policies to expand access to assistance, student accounts (bursar) operations for tuition billing and payment processing, and student employment programs that provide work opportunities to students through work-study programs.
Maintain data integrity and optimize enrollment systems and processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
Leverage data and analytics to drive strategic enrollment planning, admissions, and financial aid decisions.
Identify, explore, and cultivate new student application sources aligned with Fordham’s values and strategic goals.
Partner with the Office of Finance to align enrollment strategies with revenue goals, optimize financial aid modeling, and support long-term financial planning through accurate enrollment forecasting and tuition revenue projections.
Identify and track key performance indicators ensuring effective use of resources, including the division’s budget and personnel.
Oversee financial aid and scholarship allocation to maximize accessibility while meeting institutional revenue and net tuition revenue goals.
Assist with financial aid fundraising and stewardship, and make clear the case to sustain and increase Fordham’s generous financial aid promise.
Oversee a team of more than 100 people across facets of admission and student financial services with a focus on employee development and retention.
Foster a collaborative environment and empower direct reports to lead within and across their teams in a manner that supports division-wide goals and institutional objectives.
Enhance professional development through formal and informal opportunities to support employee growth and foster best-in-class admission, recruitment, and financial aid programs.
Lead and mentor a high-performing enrollment management team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.