President Linda Bennett announced the appointment of Andrew Wright as the university’s first vice president for enrollment management Oct. 15.
As VP for enrollment management, Wright will guide the university’s planning process for enhanced recruitment and retention numbers, according to a description of the position that was sent to the campus community in a mass email.
The description went on to say that Wright will provide strategic leadership and professional development for Admissions, Student Financial Assistance, the Registrar’s Office and University Division and will oversee departmental budgets and resource allocation for programs and services.
The newly created position also tasks Wright with leading an Enrollment Management Council, which will be comprised of representatives across campus, it said.
One quality that set Wright apart from the other four candidates was his overall professional experience with the admission and recruitment of students, Provost Ronald Rochon said.
“Mr. Wright brings a wealth of experience with his past in the admission and recruitment of students,” Rochon said. “His experience with student retention was intriguing.”
Wright currently serves as the director of Admissions and assistant vice president of Enrollment Services at Missouri State University.
Before that, he worked in the Office of Admissions at Eastern Michigan University, first as an admissions officer and recruiter, then as assistant director of Admissions before becoming associate director of Admissions.
“He is extremely astute in the areas of admissions, collaboration, recruitment and retention,” Rochon said.
Another factor that set Wright apart from the other candidates was his “collaborative style of leadership,” Rochon said.
“He has his finger on the control switch when it comes down to teamwork and collaboration,” he said.
Though the search committee made recommendations to Bennett, Wright will report directly to her, so the decision to appoint Wright was ultimately hers, Rochon said.
He said Wright is also someone who understands the culture of this institution.
“He is the kind of person that will come to our campus, learn more about the university’s specific challenges, our specific celebrations and the overall vision of our university – the existing citizenry of our campus – and adapt the appropriate changes,” Rochon said.
