Vice President for Enrollment Management

implementation of the strategic enrollment management plan; improve retention, persistence and student outcomes; grow and diversity enrollment beyond traditional markets; enhance data, analytics, and financial aid strategy; strengthen campus partnerships and collaboration; and develop and support a respected and committed team.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, collaborative, and creative leader who will provide a transparent and forward-thinking approach to short- and long-term enrollment goals. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of achieving recruitment, enrollment, and student success outcomes to build a highly accomplished and diverse student body. For more information about this opportunity, please review the VPEM Leadership Profile.

WittKieffer is assisting Towson University in this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal by clicking here. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Shelley Arakawa, J.D., and Ashlee Musser at TowsonVPEM@wittkieffer.com.

Qualifications and Skills

Institutional alignment:

A genuine commitment to Towson University’s mission as Maryland’s university of opportunities and its role as a national leader in higher education for the public good; appreciation for Towson’s student-centered culture, commitment to inclusion and access, strong record of student success, and growing reputation as a research-oriented public university; enthusiasm for advancing the university’s aspirations and ability to articulate the distinctive value of a Towson education.

Collaborative leadership:

Proven ability to build trust, foster partnership, and develop strong relationships across a wide range of constituencies; experience working productively with presidents, provosts, cabinet-level leaders, faculty, deans, staff, the state system, and other external partners; demonstrated commitment to transparency, shared governance, open communication, and collective problem solving; a leader who listens well, invites perspectives, and builds consensus while maintaining forward momentum.

Proven effectiveness in strategic enrollment management:

Progressive leadership experience in enrollment management, admissions, financial aid, student success, advising, registrar functions, or related areas; demonstrated success designing and implementing comprehensive enrollment strategies that advance recruitment, retention, graduation, diversity, and revenue objectives; deep understanding of current enrollment trends, demographic shifts, market dynamics, and the evolving factors influencing student college choice and behavior.

Student success and retention leadership:

A demonstrated commitment to student achievement throughout the enrollment lifecycle; experience developing and implementing strategies that improve persistence, retention, academic success, and timely degree completion; ability to partner effectively with academic affairs, student affairs, faculty leaders, and advisors to build a culture of student success and shared responsibility for outcomes.

Strategic vision and entrepreneurial thinking:

Ability to anticipate opportunities, challenges, and emerging trends and translate those insights into actionable enrollment strategies; demonstrated success identifying innovative approaches to enrollment growth, program development, partnerships, and student engagement; willingness to challenge assumptions, think creatively, and introduce new ideas while maintaining focus on execution and results.

Financial aid and enrollment strategy acumen:

Sophisticated understanding of financial aid, enrollment planning, tuition strategy, and student affordability; experience aligning financial aid resources with enrollment goals, student success outcomes, and institutional priorities; ability to evaluate recruitment investments, pricing strategies, and enrollment initiatives through a data-informed and outcomes-driven lens.

Analytical acumen and technological fluency:

Demonstrated success leveraging data analytics, predictive modeling, market intelligence, and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to inform strategy and decision-making; ability to translate complex data into clear recommendations and actionable plans; commitment to using technology to improve efficiency, expand access, strengthen communication, and enhance the student experience.

Leadership and management skills:

Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams; ability to establish clear expectations, cultivate accountability, and support professional growth; experience creating organizational cultures that value innovation, adaptability, customer service, collaboration, and continuous improvement; skill in leading through change while maintaining focus, resilience, and alignment around institutional priorities.

Exceptional communication:

Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to communicate clearly, credibly, and persuasively with a variety of audiences; skill in presenting enrollment concepts, trends, and data in ways that promote understanding, informed decision-making, and shared ownership of institutional goals.

Personal qualities:

Optimistic, energetic, and forward-looking; intellectually curious and committed to continuous learning; innovative, entrepreneurial, and willing to pursue bold ideas thoughtfully; approachable, authentic, and relationship oriented; politically astute without being political; resilient and adaptable in the face of ambiguity and change; collegial, humble, and collaborative by nature; deeply committed to students, the academic mission, and the success of colleagues and the institution.

Organization: Academic Affairs Division
Primary Location: Main Campus
Job Posting: 2026-08-14

Organization

Towson University (TU; www.towson.edu) was founded in 1866, is recognized by U. S. News and World Reports as one of the top public universities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and is Baltimore’s largest comprehensive university, and the largest public, comprehensive institution in the University of Maryland System. TU enrolls over 18,000 undergraduates and nearly 4,000 graduate students across six academic colleges (business, education, fine arts, health professions, liberal arts, science & mathematics), has over 865 full-time faculty, and offers more than 65 bachelor’s, 45 master’s, and 5 doctoral programs. Towson University offers many cultural, educational and athletics programs and events that are open to the public ranging from concerts and lecturers to Division I college sports.

Our centrally located campus sits on 330 rolling green acres and is 10 miles north of Baltimore, 45 miles north of Washington D.C., and 95 miles south of Philadelphia. The town of Towson, MD. has a population of approximately 52,000, with tree-lined streets, shops, restaurants, movies, bookstores, a county library branch, live music venues, and is in walking distance of the TU campus. Towson was established in 1750 and is the seat of Baltimore County government.