Chapman University, an academically distinguished, student-centered, and highly personalized private research university in Orange, California, seeks an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking admission leader to serve as its Executive Director of Admission. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Dean of Admission, Armen Sarkisian, the Executive Director of Admission (EDA) will provide strategic and operational leadership for the day-to-day functions of the Office of Undergraduate Admission, serve as a key leader within Enrollment Management, and play a central role in advancing the university’s undergraduate enrollment goals and priorities.
The Executive Director will oversee the execution of critical admission operations including campus visit programs, recruitment travel strategy, territory management, application review, and staff management and development. Working collaboratively with the Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission, Director of Enrollment Communication, and Director of Undergraduate Financial Aid, the Executive Director will help develop and execute comprehensive enrollment strategies designed to attract, enroll, and retain a talented class of first-year and transfer students aligned with Chapman University’s mission and institutional priorities.
The Executive Director of Admission will champion a culture with high performance standards, emphasizing outstanding service for prospective students and families, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring that strategic decisions are informed by meaningful data and measurable outcomes. With ambitions to grow its national reach, the EDA will serve as a compelling ambassador for Chapman, promoting the university to a wide range of stakeholders and elevating institutional visibility through both strategic and relationship-driven recruitment efforts. The EDA will bring a sophisticated understanding of the national enrollment landscape and will employ a combination of recruitment expertise, operational acumen and skilled people leadership to help Chapman achieve its enrollment goals. The chosen candidate will foster a student-centered and data-informed admission culture while ensuring operational excellence, effective communication, and exceptional service throughout the recruitment and admission process.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential duties and responsibilities for the Executive Director of Admission are as follows:
Leadership and Execution
- Serve as a thought partner to the Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management, Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Dean of Admission, and other senior enrollment leaders, helping shape divisional priorities and advancing enrollment initiatives.
- Translate high-level enrollment strategy into actionable plans, metrics, and operational enhancements.
- Participate in institutional planning, policy changes, and operational systems development related to enrollment, revenue, and visibility.
- Oversee and continuously refine key performance indicators and predictive models used by enrollment leadership to effectively and transparently monitor progress toward enrollment goals.
- Represent the Office of Undergraduate Admission and Chapman University at campus events, professional meetings, and recruitment activities as well as institutional meetings and committees to advance key initiatives.
- Establish goals, motivate and manage staff, and monitor progress of core functional units; foster a culture of mentorship, staff development, critical thinking, collaboration, leadership, accountability and empowerment within the division.
Recruitment, Admission, Operations, and Technology
- Provide insight and direction in establishing and communicating systems, policies, and practices which support enrollment and revenue goals.
- Manage application review and the candidate selection process that ensures equity, efficiency, and the timely, consistent evaluation of undergraduate applicants in accordance with institutional policies and enrollment priorities.
- Represent Chapman University to key external constituencies including high school and community college counselors, independent educational consultants, community-based organizations, and prospective students and families.
- Ensure continual improvement and optimization in undergraduate admissions processes, adjusting as appropriate to meet annual enrollment goals.
- Optimize enrollment operations and all technology systems; administer, maintain and fully leverage the Technolutions Slate strategic enrollment management CRM supporting both undergraduate enrollments.
- Refine how student enrollment transactions and services are rendered by optimizing technology, internal processes, and touchpoints to improve student interaction, collaboration and efficiency across departments, and improve business sustainability.
- Deliver best-in-class campus visit experiences distinguished by their highly personalized nature, exceptional hospitality and commitment to an outstanding student experience.
- Ensure undergraduate admissions' compliance with institutional policies as well as state and federal laws, regulations, judicial decisions, etc.
Collaboration
- Partner with Strategic Marketing and Communications to develop strategic, impactful and influential outreach campaigns, building Chapman’s awareness and reputation nationally.
- Strategize with the colleges, schools, and departments to support enrollment initiatives and provide coordination in creating a comprehensive overview of enrollment transactions and systems.
- Build trusted partnerships with Student Affairs and other key partners to enhance the student experience from recruitment to enrollment and ensure a smooth and synchronized handoff of incoming students to offices that will support the student transition.
- Facilitate the recruitment of student athletes by working closely with the athletic department personnel and coaches in a timely and efficient manner.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with counseling professionals and educational partners to enhance Chapman’s visibility, strengthen recruitment pipelines, and support the university’s enrollment objectives and reputation.
Qualifications, Skills, and Characteristics
Chapman University is seeking an experienced admission leader with a minimum of seven years of progressive experience in higher education. The successful candidate will be required to have earned a bachelor’s degree; an advanced degree from a regionally accredited institution is preferred. In addition, the successful candidate will possess the following:
- Competitive spirit and demonstrated knowledge with proven success in leading highly successful admission office(s) including individual and team development, enrollment planning, demographics, best practices, marketing strategies, communications, and enrollment management strategy;
- Demonstrated deep understanding of national trends and issues in higher education, college admission, and the evolving needs of students and families;
- Strong understanding of enrollment management strategies, admission operations, recruitment practices, and application review processes;
- Masterful change manager and 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;
- Strength in statistical research and analytical capacity; strong data acumen and the ability to use data to understand issues and develop effective strategies; the ability to distill complex data into clear, actionable insights for various stakeholders;
- Technically savvy and operationally fluent with the ability to maximize enrollment processes, and utilize platforms and tools such as Slate;
- An understanding of NCAA regulations for Division III athletics and the ability to build partnerships with coaches and athletic administrators to facilitate the strategic recruitment of student athletes;
- Strong project management skills with a bias toward action, accountability, and continuous improvement;
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, including excellent public speaking skills, with the ability to build relationships, communicate clearly and compellingly, and enhance the positive reputation of the division and institution across audiences;
- Even-keeled and positive temperament with impeccable 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; ability to use tact and diplomacy and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to articulate Chapman’s value proposition, communicate a compelling vision, and execute actionable, cutting edge, and creative actions toward that vision;
- Demonstrated ability to provide a thoughtful, entrepreneurial, positive, and inspirational leadership approach that develops, motivates and inspires a team toward a common goal through collaborative and inclusive practices;
- An appreciation for well-defined processes and the ability to execute in a high volume, fast paced environment; and
- Commitment to a highly personalized, student-centered environment.
Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman combines the resources of a research institution with the scale of a mid-sized, student-centered university. Chapman enrolls approximately 9,700 students, including about 7,700 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students. The university’s picturesque Orange campus is located steps from restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques; just 15 miles from the beach; and 30 miles from Los Angeles’ business and cultural hubs. The Rinker Health Science campus in nearby Irvine is home to the university’s health science graduate programs and is strategically located in a hub of pharmaceutical and medical device industry.
Supported by an endowment that just exceeded $1 billion – one of the fastest-growing in the country and two-thirds of which supports student scholarships – Chapman continues to fulfill its mission of providing personalized education of distinction that prepares students for inquiring, ethical, and productive lives as global citizens.
The Executive Director of Admission will join Chapman at a unique and exciting time as a bold new leadership team forms in support of President Matt Parlow, to continue the university’s strong momentum and advance the personalization and special sense of place that distinguishes the Chapman experience. The deeply collaborative leadership team values student success, excellence, and innovative ideas and approaches – and enjoys rolling up their sleeves and working with one another. This approach is reflected throughout the Chapman community, including the Division of Enrollment Management led by Senior Vice President Rick Bischoff. The EDA will join the Admission office during a time of change, as the team implements innovative initiatives and best practices to support ambitious and achievable goals. Building on a history of success, the EDA will be instrumental in the execution of initiatives which increase Chapman's visibility and reputation among students and families and increasing enrollments among first-year, transfer and international undergraduates.
Academic programs
The university offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and more. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. With a focus on experiential learning, Chapman prioritizes hands-on experience for students, who learn directly from distinguished, world-renowned faculty, including recipients of the Nobel Prize, National Medal of Science, and Academy Awards. The university has produced a Rhodes Scholar and been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars. It hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The university also has the support of its global alumni network of nearly 60,000. The university’s momentum is reflected in its rise in the national rankings, recently achieving its best-ever ranking in the U.S. News & World Report, rising nearly 10% year over year.
Chapman’s academic and co-curricular experiences are intentionally connected and support this vibrant community of scholarship, leadership, and student involvement. A 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports close faculty engagement and personalized learning within this extraordinarily welcoming community. Students on both campuses also benefit from Chapman’s many small, discussion-based classes, which foster a collaborative academic environment and enduring faculty connections. Students are supported by state-of-the-art facilities, including the Keck Center for Science and Engineering and the Rinker Health Science Campus, which features advanced labs and research spaces.
Student Life
Student life at Chapman University is shaped by the institution’s commitment to providing personalized education within highly engaged campuses. Chapman’s students enjoy learning in a close-knit, student-focused community, where faculty and staff members know students by name, and the community is often referred to as the Chapman Family. Residential life plays a central role in the undergraduate experience, as living on campus is required for three years.
Undergraduate first-year and transfer students participate in Chapman’s Fenestra program, a year-long experience that supports academic citizenship and supports students in opening windows of opportunity, developing meaningful connections and fostering a sense of belonging within the Chapman community.
Chapman students participate in more than 200 student organizations and 23 NCAA Division III athletic teams. Recreation programs, cultural events, and student-led programming help students develop meaningful relationships, explore interests, and participate fully in university life. In a given academic year, students have exposure to numerous prominent guest speakers – recently ranging from Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad to former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to several world class artists, including Ariana Grande, Angela Bassett, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to name only a few; to recent film screenings; to student and professional performances at the world-class Musco Center for the Arts; to a Winterfest celebration that brings holiday cheer and snow to the Orange campus; and to first-class career fairs that draw hundreds of top employers, including several Fortune 100 companies.
Learn more about Chapman’s strategic plan Our Path to Greatness, recent State of the University Address, and visit chapman.edu to explore the university, its history, and culture.
Orange, California
Located in Orange in the heart of Southern California’s Orange County, Chapman University benefits from a location that combines a distinctive small-town setting with access to one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan regions. Orange is a city of approximately 138,000 residents situated about 32 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Old Towne Orange Historic District, commonly known as the Orange Circle, is located just steps from campus and serves as the city’s walkable downtown. The Orange Circle is centered around historic Plaza Park and surrounded by cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and community events. The district spans roughly one square mile and is the largest historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places in California, with the state’s second-largest concentration of historic buildings dating to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Beyond the immediate neighborhood, Chapman is very accessible to Southern California’s defining attractions, such as the beaches of Newport, Huntington, and Laguna, which are roughly 20 minutes away. Other major destinations, such as Disneyland and Angel Stadium, are about 10 minutes from the Orange campus. With approximately 277 sunny days a year, annual average daytime temperatures in the mid-70s, and convenient access to Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, and mountain communities such as Big Bear Lake, Orange County offers an appealing quality of life and a vibrant regional setting that makes Chapman an attractive place to live and work.
Compensation
Chapman University offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including relocation assistance, the possibility of housing assistance, and a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. The range identified for this role is $140,000-$160,000. In this important leadership position, the successful candidate will have an active on-campus presence. Offers of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory results of a background check.
To Apply
NES, a national executive search firm specializing in higher education, is assisting Chapman University with this search for an Executive Director of Admission. If you wish to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity or submit nominations, please contact: Drew Nichols (drew.nichols@nessearches.com), Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@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: chapman@nessearches.com. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted electronically no later than July 8, 2026. The position is campus-based, and the preferred start date is Summer, 2026. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and candidates will be notified before references are contacted.
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.