Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY - United States
St. Lawrence University, a private, nonsectarian liberal arts institution with a strong history of academic excellence and a spirit of innovation, invites dynamic and strategic leaders to apply for the role of Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid (VPEM).
Nestled in the stunning North Country of New York, between the Adirondack Mountains and the St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence University is home to a collaborative community of 2,000 curious, ambitious, and engaged students. Learning at St. Lawrence extends far beyond the classroom; it begins with the First Year Program (FYP). Founded in 1987, the FYP consists of a two-semester course sequence, faculty-led advising, and a living-learning community that demonstrates strong collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Life and Enrollment Management. The University takes pride in embracing both tradition and progress, continually innovating academic and co-curricular programs to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience to connect their passions to purpose and make a difference both locally and globally. With nearly 50 majors — six introduced in just the last five years — and 40 minors, more than a third of students graduate with more than one major, and the vast majority graduate with a combination of majors and minors. Among its 25 honor societies, St. Lawrence’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1899, inducts about 10% of the student population each year.
At St. Lawrence, education is immersive and global. Sixty-one percent of students participate in at least one of more than 30 off-campus study programs, gaining valuable cultural perspectives that enhance their academic journey. The residential experience is dynamic and student-centered, with 99% of students living in University residence halls, theme cottages, or Greek housing on campus, which contributes to a culture of collaboration, leadership, and lifelong friendships. Athletics play an essential role in campus life, with 35 intercollegiate teams and nearly 36% of students competing at the varsity level, supported by a community that values both academic and athletic excellence — in that order. There are frequent collaborations between Academic Affairs and Student Life to enhance the overall student experience, such as the school’s First Gen Initiative, and the University is in the process of building on their JED Foundation partnership to center multiple dimensions of well-being as an organizing tool for the student experience.
A leader in equity and inclusion since its founding as New York State’s first private, coeducational institution of higher learning, St. Lawrence University remains committed to fostering an inclusive campus environment that engenders belonging for all students, faculty, and staff. The student body comes from 42 states and territories and 83 countries, with 23% identifying as international or from traditionally underrepresented populations and 16% as first-generation college students. The University actively cultivates a campus culture where all students, faculty, and staff feel a strong sense of belonging.
Located in Canton, New York, St. Lawrence offers the best of both worlds: breathtaking natural landscapes with boundless outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as a welcoming small-town vibe infused with intellectual and cultural influences from four universities within 10 miles. Syracuse, NY, Ottawa, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec are within easy day trips. Learn more at: Discover the North Country | St. Lawrence University and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.
This is an exciting time to be part of St. Lawrence University with major capital investments in student spaces and athletics facilities, a new initiative to center well-being as an organizing tool for the student experience and sustained academic innovations. The next Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid will add to these positive changes by bringing energy, creativity, and a strategic vision to enhance enrollment efforts, shape the next generation of Laurentians, and amplify the University’s impact in higher education.
Reporting to President Kate Morris and serving as a member of her Senior Staff, the VPEM is responsible for executing a strategic vision for undergraduate enrollment that supports the University’s mission while advancing the institution’s financial sustainability and reputation. This is an opportunity to shape the future of the University and drive transformative change in enrollment management. In doing so, the VPEM will provide bold leadership for the offices of Admissions and Financial Aid and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
St. Lawrence seeks a visionary campus leader who can advance new and innovative strategies in a rapidly changing enrollment environment and can leverage the exciting momentum on campus across academics, facilities, and the student experience. The successful candidate will be an experienced enrollment management professional who is ready to step into a senior leadership role with a broad understanding of selective admissions as well as competitive recruitment practices; a keen understanding of data, technology, and cutting-edge communication and recruitment tools; the ability to work closely with other senior leaders on raising St. Lawrence’s institutional profile and reaching enrollment goals; preparation to take on leadership and oversight of intercollegiate athletics; an innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial approach to enrollment management; and a strong desire for inclusion in an engaged, collegiate community that extends to a dedicated network of alumni. The personal qualities of honesty and integrity, exceptional communication skills, significant strategic and analytical capacity, positivity and excitement, and a collaborative work style are essential.
Additional information may be found in the leadership profile.
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile. Professional references are not requested at this time.
WittKieffer is assisting St. Lawrence University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Application materials should be submitted through WittKieffer’s candidate portal using the buttons below.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: