Denison University, a selective, private university located in Granville, Ohio, seeks an innovative and strategic Associate Vice President for Admission and Enrollment Marketing (AVP) to play a critical leadership role in advancing the goals of the Division of Enrollment Management in alignment with the University’s Strategic Plan. Charged with optimizing the size and composition of the student body to meet key strategic goals, including the long-term financial health of the institution, the AVP plays a central role in shaping Denison’s enrollment strategy that will attract students to a life-shaping education that propels them into successful lives and careers.
The AVP develops and executes data-informed approaches that respond to shifting demographics, evolving market conditions, and institutional priorities. This position oversees the admission and enrollment marketing functions, ensuring strong coordination across all divisional units while managing comprehensive recruitment and admission strategy, communications, publications, website content, and internal reporting. This highly visible role reports to and partners closely with the Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM) and serves as a key advisor on enrollment strategy, enrollment marketing, and recruitment effectiveness.
In addition, the AVP represents the Vice President at meetings, serves as a senior advisor, and represents the College at strategic recruitment events across the country. The position plays a central role in cross-campus collaboration, working closely with academic and administrative partners to support informed decision-making and operational success.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential duties and responsibilities for the Associate Vice President for Admission and Enrollment Marketing are as follows:
Division Leadership
- Oversee all day-to-day operations of admission and enrollment marketing, including four direct reports and a department of sixteen total staff members, and ensure strong coordination across all divisional units.
- Serve as a senior thought partner to the VPEM and other senior enrollment leaders, helping shape divisional priorities and advancing enrollment initiatives.
- Translate high-level enrollment strategy into actionable plans, metrics, and tactical enhancements.
- Participate in institutional planning, policy changes, and operational systems development related to enrollment, revenue, retention, and visibility.
- Establish goals for key units, motivate and manage staff, and foster a culture of mentorship, collaboration, critical thinking, a bias to action, accountability, and empowerment.
- Act with full delegated authority on behalf of the VPEM when appropriate, representing the division in institutional meetings and advancing key initiatives.
Enrollment Strategy
- Provide data-driven guidance for all aspects of student recruitment programs and strategic enrollment initiatives.
- Advance strategies for international recruitment and enrollment as the University continues to expand its global reach.
- Analyze and interpret internal and external data to inform strategies for search, recruitment, yield, retention, and tuition revenue.
- Offer contemporary, data-informed strategies for merit and need-based financial aid to forecast enrollment and net tuition revenue in coordination with the VPEM.
- Oversee enrollment dashboards, key performance indicators, and predictive models and write executive summaries used by university leadership.
- Manage and cultivate partnership with existing and potential external vendors.
Enrollment Marketing & Communications
- Lead and strengthen the enrollment marketing function, bringing structure, systems, and strategic direction to a grown operation informed by evolving student behavior and expectations.
- Develop communication strategies tailored to multiple market segments including prospective students and influencers, and execute all communications on behalf of the division.
- Demonstrate deep understanding of student and family needs to inform communication plans that drive engagement, affinity, and enrollment.
- Partner with University Communications and Marketing to advance enrollment marketing through institutional channels.
- Strengthen top-of-funnel engagement strategies and support the admission team in communicating Denison’s distinct value proposition.
Cross-Institutional Collaboration
- Foster positive and collaborative relationships across offices and departments to support divisional and institutional goals.
- Partner with academic leaders and administrative offices to support strategic enrollment-related decision-making.
- Partner with Student Life and other campus leaders to strengthen how the student experience is communicated through the recruitment and onboarding process.
- Facilitate cross-campus initiatives, serving as a strategic partner and skilled problem solver in addressing institutional challenges.
Recruitment, Outreach & External Relations
- Travel on behalf of the University to recruit students and enhance institutional visibility in strategic markets.
- Participate in recruitment events, conduct interviews, and evaluate applications.
- Advise prospective students, families, counselors, and community partners on the admission process.
- Maintain strong relationships with counselors and community-based organizations to strengthen Denison's reputation.
- Represents the Division and the University in a professional manner. Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities
This role requires six or more years of progressive experience working in college admissions, enrollment marketing, and/or within enrollment management, including at least three years of supervisory experience. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master's degree is preferred. In addition, the ideal candidate will also possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Competitive spirit and demonstrated success in leading highly successful admission and marketing teams;
- Demonstrated deep understanding of national trends and issues in higher education, college admissions, and the evolving needs of students and families;
- Innovative problem solver with the ability to work across teams positively and effectively, fostering shared responsibility and accountability;
- A demonstrated history of building strong, positive relationships with campus partners and external constituents;
- Outstanding, demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and utilize data to inform decision-making and creative problem-solving;
- Technically savvy and operationally fluent with the ability to maximize enrollment processes, including experience with a CRM (knowledge of Technolutions Slate CRM strongly preferred);
- Strong project management skills with a bias toward action, accountability, and continuous improvement;
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, excellent public speaking skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and compellingly
- Integrity, appropriate transparency, and excellent judgment; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and collegially, yet independently, with internal and external constituencies;
- Exceptional work ethic, excellent organizational, prioritization and delegation skills to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with highest standards for accuracy;
- Demonstrated strategic approach in resource allocation, an ability to assess return-on-investment to ensure resource usage is strategic and productive;
- Demonstrated success as a collaborative team leader with the ability to work in a high-stress, high-volume, deadline-driven environment; able to infuse daily work with levity and balance; and able to achieve and celebrate success;
- Experience in, or demonstrated capacity to, copy edit, design and otherwise elevate the College’s brand through marketing.
Denison University
Established in 1831, Denison University is a leading private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, just 25 minutes east of Columbus, Ohio — one of the fastest-growing innovation economies in the Midwest. Denison delivers a life-shaping education that prepares graduates to launch quickly and successfully into careers and lives, and it is consistently recognized among the nation’s top colleges.
Denison continues to rise in national rankings and reputation. The university was recently named the #4 most innovative national liberal arts college by U.S. News & World Report and ranked #2 for best career services, #4 for best classroom experience, and #2 for happiest students by The Princeton Review.
With more than 2,400 students from across the United States and around the world, Denison offers over 65 academic programs taught by more than 250 faculty. Known for its career-focused approach to the liberal arts, the university prepares students for the workplace and graduate study through career coaching, internships, and consulting experiences. Strong demand reflects the university’s momentum: applications have tripled over the past decade, and Denison’s endowment now exceeds $1 billion.
Denison’s fully residential campus overlooks historic Granville and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country, recently named among the top five most beautiful college campuses by U.S. News & World Report. Originally designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York City’s Central Park, the campus blends natural beauty with thoughtful design. The campus is a certified arboretum and also boasts a 350-acre Biological Reserve of forest, pond, and meadow habitats used for research, learning, and recreation.
Leadership
The Board of Trustees appointed Adam Weinberg as the 20th president of Denison University in 2013. Supported by senior staff, Dr. Weinberg has focused on positioning Denison in ways that address the major issues facing higher education in the 21st century, including affordability, career readiness, internationalization, civic education, learning outcomes, and social inclusion.
Under Dr. Weinberg’s leadership, Denison has expanded the curriculum with a new generation of academic programs, global programs, and a deepening of the arts, including the construction of the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts. During his tenure, Denison launched new programs in Global Commerce; Data Analytics; Finance; Journalism; Health, Exercise, & Sport Studies, and Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence that are forging new pathways for the liberal arts.
A second major area of emphasis has been career preparation. Denison launched the Austin E. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration, which is reinventing how liberal arts colleges prepare students for careers and professions. For this work, Dr. Weinberg was recognized by the National Association of Colleges and Employers for innovation with the inaugural 2017 Career Services Champion Award. In the past 13 years, Denison has also made investments in experiential learning, launching the Red Frame Lab for Entrepreneurship and developing a robust offering of micro-credentials programs.
Dr. Weinberg recently announced the Knobel Hall and the King Center for Data and Innovation, a renovation and expansion of Doane Hall to position Denison to be the first liberal arts college with a hub devoted to integrating data across the curriculum. Scheduled for completion in August 2026, Knobel Hall and the King Center for Data and Innovation will serve as a visible symbol of Denison’s forward-looking approach — bridging the liberal arts with cutting-edge technology and preparing students to lead in fields yet to be imagined.
Prior to coming to Denison, Dr. Weinberg served as president and CEO of World Learning, where he led education programs in more than 70 countries. Dr. Weinberg started his career at Colgate University (1995 through 2005), where he was a member of the sociology and anthropology department and served as vice president and dean of the college. A native of Texas, Dr. Weinberg’s passion for ice hockey took him to New England, where he attended Deerfield Academy and Bowdoin College. He studied at Cambridge University before earning his master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology at Northwestern University.
Strategic Plan
In 2022, Denison launched a strategic plan that builds on the success and momentum of the previous five-year plan. The plan’s focus areas include financial aid and affordability, faculty and academic programs, residential student community, career exploration, alumni engagement, and workplace environment & operational excellence.
Division of Enrollment Management
The Division of Enrollment Management was founded in 2016 when the Offices of Admission and Financial Aid were brought together. Enrollment Management launched the Slate admissions CRM by Technolutions and expanded its analytical capabilities with additional staff and expertise in the enrollment systems and marketing & communications areas. In the summer of 2024, the Office of Student Accounts joined the Division of Enrollment Management.
The division takes pride in recruiting, enrolling, and supporting a broadly diverse student body of talented, independent, and self-determined scholars. The division’s efforts go beyond simply promoting the transformative, liberal arts experience that is a Denison education. It utilizes exceptional resources to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need of every student at Denison. Additionally, its enrollment management professionals live the Denison value of a personalized experience, working individually with students in all facets of the recruitment, admission, financial aid, and enrollment processes. This closely aligned team of individuals works in a fast-paced environment with mutual respect for one another and with colleagues throughout the Denison community.
Denison’s enrollment policies bring together students with a wide variety of perspectives and experiences. An innovative interview program launched in fall 2023 assists the admission staff in deepening their understanding of how students share information about themselves and their passions during the enrollment process. The division continuously evolves its policies and practices to seek students who have demonstrated a commitment toward their academic lives and would bring a variety of interests, characteristics, and personal qualities to a dynamic campus community. Statistics for the class entering in 2025 include:
Applicants: 12,000+
Admission rate: 20%
Median SAT/ACT scores: 1320-1470/29-33
Domestic students of color: 21%
First Generation: 13%
States represented: 50
Countries represented: 70
Percentage of demonstrated need met: 100%
Need-based financial aid & merit-based scholarships awarded annually: Over $70M
Visit denison.edu for more details about Denison.
Location
Granville
Granville, Ohio is a picturesque village that boasts a rich history and vibrant community. The campus overlooks the village, offering stunning views of Granville's New England-style charm. The campus itself is a work of art, crafted by the same landscape architecture visionaries responsible for iconic American landmarks like Central Park and the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.
Granville exudes historical elegance, with over 100 homes and churches proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Denison is also home to a vast biological reserve. This 350-acre expanse of forests, orchards, fields, and ponds is not just a natural haven but a living laboratory for research, providing students and scientists alike with a rich resource for study and discovery. The Granville Exempted Village School District serves 2,500 students across four schools and has earned the highest classification of "Excellent with Distinction" from the Ohio Department of Education.
For golf enthusiasts, the Denison Golf Club is recognized as one of the top facilities in central Ohio, offering a premier golfing experience. Convenience is key in Granville, with the John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) less than 30 minutes away, making travel easy for both visitors and the local community. Destinations within a one-day drive include Charlotte, Chicago, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington D.C., and Toronto.
For more information, please visit:
Columbus
The rapidly growing Central Ohio metropolitan region provides an abundance of opportunities for shopping, entertainment, dining – everything a major city has to offer. As the 11th fastest-growing city in the U.S., Columbus is a beacon for young entrepreneurs and is ranked among the top 10 major cities for startups. It's also acclaimed as the best city for tech jobs and is second in the nation for employment opportunities, reflecting its dynamic job market. The capital city has rapidly gained a reputation as a shopping destination and the incredible culinary scene is highlighted by top-ranked chefs, a vibrant farm-to-table culture, and award-winning restaurants.
Neighborhoods surrounding downtown are bursting with activities and artists are shaping new areas into dynamic spaces to explore. Whether seeking an urban loft or a quiet suburban home, Columbus has a neighborhood for you. Commutes in Columbus are reasonable, with the average downtown commute around 30 minutes.
Columbus boasts more than 26 colleges, universities, and technical schools, with the nation’s second-highest number of college students per capita. The metropolitan area’s K-12 education options include schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report as top U.S. high schools. Intel recently announced Central Ohio would be the future home of its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the world. The project brings a historic $20B capital investment promising 3,000 direct jobs and tens of thousands of additional indirect jobs statewide.
For more information, please visit:
Compensation
Denison University offers a competitive salary based on the skills and experience of the selected candidate, and a comprehensive package of benefits. NES search consultants will discuss the expected range of compensation. The selected candidate will reside in or near Granville, Ohio in this visible campus and community-based leadership position.
To Apply
NES, a national executive search firm specializing in higher education, is assisting Denison University with this search for an Associate Vice President for Admission and Enrollment Marketing. If you wish to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity or submit nominations, please contact: Liz Daly (elizabeth.daly@nessearches.com) or Laura Robinson (laura.robinson@nessearches.com). To apply, please send the following items: 1) a resume, 2) a detailed letter of interest, and 3) contact information for five professional references by email to: denison@nessearches.com by April 9th. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and candidates will be notified before references are contacted. The AVP’s anticipated start date is Summer 2026.
Denison is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.