Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer at Olin College of Engineering

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Olin College of Engineering, a dynamic, forward-thinking college transforming how engineering is defined, seeks a collaborative, visionary and data-driven leader to serve as its Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer. Founded in 1997, the college’s mission is to prepare students to become exemplary engineering innovators who recognize needs, design solutions, and engage in creative enterprises for the good of the world. Olin is dedicated to continual discovery and development of effective learning approaches and environments, and to co-developing educational transformation with collaborators around the globe. 

The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer (CESEO) will report to President May Lee, who was named Olin’s third President in August 2025. The CESEO will join the College at an exciting time as Olin welcomes new leadership and sets the strategic agenda for Olin’s future. The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will provide leadership across the enrollment lifecycle, demonstrating a deep and nuanced understanding of admission, financial aid, and retention, as well as student engagement and success. 

The CESEO will bring a detailed understanding of trends and best practice to support the development of strategies and will leverage data to inform their decision making. They will foster an organizational environment that is transparent, adaptable, inclusive, and responsive to the demands of the marketplace and student needs. Employing a collaborative spirit and exceptional communication skills, the Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will serve as a thought leader, educating the Olin community on the enrollment landscape, engaging stakeholders across campus, and leveraging the enthusiasm and expertise of a committed faculty and student body in the enrollment process. The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will build a strong understanding and appreciation of what makes Olin College of Engineering distinctive, and will work with their team to clearly and authentically articulate Olin’s unique place in higher education to external audiences. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer ​​will develop admission and financial aid strategies and design initiatives to support student retention, success and engagement. Informed by data, a comprehensive understanding of current enrollment and financial aid trends, and a deep understanding of Olin culture, the CESEO will provide expert guidance to the President, Board of Trustees, and the Olin College community. They will align initiatives and resources to support Olin’s mission, goals and objectives. In addition, the selected candidate will be responsible for the following duties and priorities:

Leadership

  • Serve as administrative leadership at the College, working collaboratively with other members of the Leadership Team and the broader Olin community to implement strategies for the recruitment of and on-going support of Olin students.
  • Effectively navigate complex enrollment challenges, seeking feedback and guidance from the community while employing transparency, humility, and a collaborative approach. 
  • Serve as a thought leader and confidently inspire others to understand and support enrollment and student success strategies; partner with faculty, staff, students, and leadership in bringing fresh ideas and new approaches for engaging the entire campus in the effort to recruit and retain academically gifted, creative, and broadly diverse classes.
  • Maintain a visible, approachable presence on campus, attending on-campus programs and participating in campus life.
  • Win the trust and confidence of the Olin College community, invest in genuine relationships cultivated through active listening. 
  • Embrace appropriate risks in pursuit of opportunities that will further distinguish Olin and support its bold ambitions.
  • Represent Olin College of Engineering with wisdom and insight through presentations and conversations, attending conferences, engaging with partner schools, programs and organizations, and responding to media requests.

Enrollment Strategy

  • Lead an enrollment function that is mission-aligned, student-centered, innovative, forward-thinking, organized, and inclusive.
  • Engage the community in crafting and implementing a strategic enrollment plan which defines both short and long-term goals in alignment with broader institutional goals and priorities. 
  • Spearhead a comprehensive enrollment strategy, developing systems, procedures, policies, and practices that facilitate strategic and data-driven decision-making.
  • Leverage data and provide analysis to foster understanding of the drivers in student decision making at each stage of the enrollment process. 
  • Monitor changing demographics, market trends, and national policy shifts impacting enrollment strategies, and educate stakeholders regarding how the changes impact Olin’s ability to meet enrollment targets.
  • Chair the Admission Committee and manage the process of candidate evaluation, selection, and conversion.
  • Foster a culture of transparency, data-informed decision-making and collaboration; providing education, analysis, and context and soliciting community feedback to inform and shape changes in admission policies and practices. 
  • Craft and support an exceptional experience for prospective and current students and families.
  • Ensure that Olin clearly communicates its impact and distinctiveness to students and families through creative and consistent messaging that accurately reflects Olin’s unique culture and core values.
  • Partner with the marketing team to reach and engage students across various delivery modalities, geographic regions, and student populations.

                  Student Engagement, Success & Retention

                  • Create a continuous, data-informed feedback loop between faculty, advisors and the admission office to improve the assessment and identification of applicants that have the greatest potential for success at Olin. 
                  • Use data on retention, persistence, and graduation trends to inform admissions strategy, shaping classes that are positioned for long-term success.
                  • Champion retention efforts across campus, working closely with campus partners on the collection of data, sharing of information, and the development of programs and supports that improve the student experience and outcomes.
                  • Support the design and advancement of an innovative advising model that reflects the evolving needs of the student body and responds to immediate and long-term barriers to persistence and satisfaction. 
                  • Collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to provide holistic support across the breadth of student experiences, guiding changes in policies and practices to address student expectations and adapt to student needs.

                  Financial Acumen

                  • Work with Olin leadership to develop and execute equitable financial aid policies and procedures, and to ensure broad community understanding of issues such as net tuition revenue, discount rate, and head count.
                  • Build community awareness related to how financial aid optimization and predictive modeling can enhance yield outcomes, positively impact net tuition revenue and support the institution’s financial sustainability. 
                  • Oversee the administration of the financial aid office operations, including compliance with federal and state institutional aid programs, financial aid regulations, scholarship programs, and financial aid package construction and disbursement. 
                  • Align enrollment strategies with revenue goals, optimize financial aid modeling, and support long-term financial planning through accurate enrollment forecasting and tuition revenue projections.

                  Technology and Data 

                  • Lead the staff in leveraging technology to innovate, increase operational efficiency, and meet the expectations of students and families. 
                  • Foster a culture of excellence in appropriately leveraging data and sharing of information, including best practices in data collection, analysis, and reporting. 
                  • Collect and analyze data to inform and refine efforts to identify, recruit, enroll, and retain an engaged and successful student body.

                  Team Leadership & Mentorship

                  • Develop and inspire a talented and loyal staff, identifying and optimizing the skills of each individual team member and fostering a culture of individual growth, empowerment, and professional development. 
                  • Establish a culture of information sharing, where goals, priorities, progress, and details are shared regularly to ensure staff are universally well-informed, well-trained, and confidently able to autonomously progress in their work.
                  • Champion the work of the staff, reinforce a culture of professional development and ownership, and energize an environment of shared institutional responsibility for enrollment across campus.

                  QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND CHARACTERISTICS

                  Olin is seeking an experienced leader with a minimum of eight years of progressive experience in higher education and a depth of experience in enrollment, retention and student engagement. 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:

                  • A deep and authentic commitment to the mission and core values of Olin College of Engineering;
                  • Demonstrated commitment to making engineering education accessible, the success of all students, and academic excellence;
                  • Entrepreneurial, with a proven capacity for decisive, highly skilled, creative, and innovative leadership and strategic thinking;
                  • Demonstrated energy, drive, and initiative;
                  • A track record of producing strong enrollment outcomes;
                  • An unwavering commitment to mentorship, professional development, and team building; 
                  • Assertive, adaptable, and skilled change manager who is able to lead with confidence, humility, and trust;
                  • Excellent collaboration and consensus building abilities, including the capacity to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, the Board of Trustees, alumni, and external partners.
                  • Proven analytical and data analysis skills and the ability to foster a culture and operation where data is readily accessible, easily referenced, and skillfully analyzed in making informed decisions;
                  • Familiarity with modern technologies, with an understanding of how to leverage systems to respond to emerging trends; experience with Slate preferred;
                  • Outstanding communication skills, including listening, writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills; approachable with the ability to earn trust and build authentic relationships with staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, prospective students and their families;
                  • A commitment to shared governance and participatory decision making;
                  • A record that demonstrates the highest degree of integrity, transparency, honesty, and fairness.

                  OLIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 

                  Olin College of Engineering is a small, 400-student, four-year undergraduate institution in Needham, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1997 with a $460 million grant from the F.W. Olin Foundation and a mission to transform engineering education while preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators to do good in the world. The College is named for Franklin W. Olin (1860–1951), an engineer, entrepreneur, professional baseball player, and founder of the company known today as the Olin Corporation, a Fortune 1000 company. In 1938, Mr. Olin transferred a large part of his personal wealth to a private philanthropic foundation. In 1997, the Foundation announced its intention to create Olin College. The Foundation’s generosity enabled Olin to start from a “clean slate” in designing its academic program. As was written in the founding precepts, “Olin College is intended to be different - not for the mere sake of being different - but to be an important and constant contributor to the advancement of engineering education in America and throughout the world and, through its graduates, to do good for humankind.” The faculty worked with 30 student “partners” in the year prior to the formal opening of the college to design the curriculum. 

                  Since its founding, Olin has attracted pioneering faculty and students to create a new, transdisciplinary approach to engineering education grounded in collaboration, project-based learning, and real-world impact. The College and community are guided by shared institutional and personal values. Olin’s Core Institutional Values include: Quality and Continuous Improvement, Student Learning and Student Development, Institutional Integrity and Community, Institutional Agility and Entrepreneurism, and Stewardship and Service. These values are supported by the community's commitment to shared Core Personal Values: Integrity, Respect for Others, Passion for the Welfare of the College, Patience and Understanding, and Openness to Change. 

                  A Vibrant Future

                  In its third decade, Olin is still committed to evolving itself and transforming engineering education to confront the pressing challenges facing the world. As anticipated in the founding precepts, “even a new institution can, with the passage of time, become resistant to change.” It further states, “The need for the College to be continually open to change and to encourage and support a culture of innovation is paramount.” While Olin prides itself on being innovative, the community recognizes, welcomes and encourages fresh perspectives on how the college operates. As a member of the Olin community, the next Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer, in partnership with students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees, will build on this audacious mission of transforming engineering education for the good of the world. The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will join Olin as the community harnesses the internal creativity of the College, facilitates its productive evolution, and reinvigorates innovation in areas of the institution where change has been slower to come. To that end, the Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will support three key priorities: 

                  • Community Building and Cultural Immersion: Through active engagement in campus life, the Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will work to strengthen trust across the campus community, fostering an environment that encourages freedom of inquiry, respectful dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation in shaping and advancing the academic mission. 
                  • Financial and Operational Sustainability: As a young college in a changing world, Olin must continue to evolve. The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer will assure enrollment strategies address emerging challenges and opportunities in the marketplace and support the financial and operational sustainability of the college. 
                  • Bold, Strategic Leadership: Olin is committed to being a contributor to the advancement of engineering education for the good of the world. The Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer, in partnership with engaged students, staff, and faculty, will harness the creative energy of the College to further distinguish the school and support its bold ambitions.

                  In a remarkably short period of time, Olin has gained national and international recognition and become a model for engineering education and access: 

                  • #2 Undergraduate Engineering Program in the country, U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges 
                  • #1 Highest-Earning Grads, College Scorecard-U.S. Department of Education 
                  • #2 Best Classroom Experience, Princeton Review, 2024 list of Best Value Colleges
                  • 2023-24 Top Fulbright Producer, U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 

                  Leadership & Governance

                  Olin College utilizes a deeply collaborative shared governance model emphasizing partnership between administration, faculty, staff and students. This approach is aimed at promoting a community-wide responsibility for the College’s culture and direction. The College encourages co-creation and student involvement in key decisions, such as the recent presidential search.

                  May Lee was named the third President of the Olin College of Engineering beginning on August 18, 2025. Lee is a visionary leader whose career spans global higher education, corporate leadership and entrepreneurship. With experience ranging from Wall Street to the nonprofit sector, and deep expertise in strategy, innovation and education, Lee brings a unique breadth of experience and insight to Olin. 

                  Lee comes to Olin from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where she was the Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Institutional Impact. There, she played a pivotal role in defining and shaping RPI’s priorities through the development and implementation of its long-term strategic plan, RPI Forward. Prior to RPI, Lee was a partner at The Seelig Group, an investment firm focused on media and technology. She was the founding Dean of the School of Entrepreneurship and Management at Shanghai Tech University, where she established the first interdisciplinary curriculum for science and engineering students, integrating social sciences, entrepreneurship and critical thinking. As Vice Chancellor at New York University, she spearheaded development of NYU Shanghai, NYU’s degree-granting campus in China. 

                  Lee’s career includes senior executive positions on Wall Street; experience as an entrepreneur in the technology and digital marketing sectors; and leadership positions in nonprofit organizations. She earned a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. 

                  President Lee is supported in her work by the College’s Leadership Team which draws on the expertise, experience and visionary contributions of both faculty and staff. Reflecting innovation within the community and the forward-thinking approach of the Leadership Team, it’s expected that the defined portfolio of each Leadership Team member will evolve based on the needs of Olin, its students, and the talents of this highly collaborative team. To learn more about the Leadership Team visit: https://www.olin.edu/about-presidents-office/interim-leadership-team

                  An Innovative Academic Model

                  As an innovative, dynamic college, Olin College embraces a model of teaching and learning that is project-based and centered on collaboration between faculty, staff and students. It is dedicated to the continual discovery and development of effective learning approaches and environments and collaborating with others to transform engineering education around the globe. 

                  At Olin, it’s not just about what students know, but what they do with that knowledge. The curriculum is shaped to develop skills such as communication and teamwork and to provide a depth of technical engineering expertise. Every student learns about software, electronics and mechanical systems, and has many opportunities to work with students from other majors on interdisciplinary projects. 

                  Olin offers ABET-accredited degrees in electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and engineering, a flexible degree program that lets students choose or create an area of concentration. The Olin curriculum is based on the idea that engineering starts — and ends – with people. Students learn who they are designing for and what those people value before they begin to create. Appreciating the social context of the work and making a positive difference in the world are underlying values throughout the curriculum. Students also learn how to envision positive change and how to realize and deliver that change. 

                  Olin is committed to the well-being of the Earth and its inhabitants, in the present and future generations, through re-building our relationship with nature, fostering a culture around community and care, recognizing intersectionality, promoting understanding of self and others, and promoting justice. Olin strives to demonstrate humility and understand the impact of our work on the world around us. The Olin community seeks strategies that advance these goals in alignment with financial sustainability so that Olin’s mission can be carried forward responsibly, supporting both current and future generations. 

                  Olin is part of a joint effort among Babson, Olin and Wellesley (BOW) colleges. BOW allows cross registration among students at each of the colleges, helps develop interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and problem solving, and facilitates faculty research and teaching across campuses. The vision behind the Three College Collaboration is to provide students with the creative and collaborative skills, knowledge, and ways of thinking needed to function successfully today and into the future. 

                  Olin has over a decade of experience partnering with industry – from startups to Fortune 500 companies – on developing innovative solutions, including energy harvesting from water flow; improving CT scanner alignment during installation; and creating generative AI-powered learning systems. 

                  The college’s nearly 1,800 graduates are already making a name for themselves as entrepreneurs, counting BigBelly, Indico, Twelve, Lever and Righthand Robotics among its many alumni-founded companies. Other graduates have gone on to work for well-established companies such as Google, Ford, Salesforce, Amazon Robotics and SpaceX; many others attend top graduate schools, including Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Harvard and Cornell. Olin alumni stay deeply connected through mentorship, networking events, and collaborations, enriching the College’s vibrant community. 

                  Student Life 

                  Situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts, Olin’s seven buildings curve around a welcoming central green space, forming the “The Oval.” This thriving living and learning hub is defined by its communal spaces, where students and faculty can engage in hands-on, team-based experimentation. From design studios, to the robotics labs, to the library, every learning facility is optimized for interaction and exploration. A close-knit community by design: nearly all Olin students live on campus, in one of two residence halls, both of which offer exceptional amenities.

                  Olin offers a tight-knit and supportive community where students from different backgrounds can celebrate every aspect of their identities as they pursue their degree and engage with classmates outside of the classroom. The Office of Student Affairs and Resources (StAR) supports students through intentional and purposefully inclusive support, education, programming, resources, and opportunities. The team works with and for students on their continuous development of social awareness and cultural consciousness in service of preparing them to become exemplary engineering innovators. 

                  The Residence Life team cultivates a network of support, creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, and is committed to creating a seamless connection between experiences inside the classroom and life inside the residence halls. Living on campus gives students easy access to dining facilities, wellness resources and social spaces, making it central to student life. 

                  Being involved on campus is an integral part of the Olin experience, and students have many avenues through which to get involved. Student Government at Olin is composed of a governing body, known as the Council of Olin Representatives (CORe), as well as four Student Experience Organizations. The purpose of each Student Experience Organization is unique, as they individually have their own missions and functions, however, each of these organizations is deemed vital to the education and college experience of the student body as they all address aspects of Olin's central philosophies, founding precepts, and goals. The four Student Experience Organizations at Olin include the Honor Board, the Student Activities Council (SAC), the Committee for Clubs and Organizations (CCO), and the organization to Support, Encourage, and Recognize Volunteerism (SERV). 

                  Olin students do research with Olin professors on established research projects and conduct independent research projects with faculty advisors. Project based learning is also a core component of an Olin education and Oliners have the opportunity to collaborate with peers by joining project teams, tackling projects that range from developing specialized autonomous aircrafts to designing, building and racing an electric car. 

                  One of the founding principles of Olin is that each student should have the opportunity to have a learning experience “away” from the College. The idea was articulated early in the creation of the College with the expressed objective of having students learn to be citizens of the world. The Olin “Study Away” program was created to deliver on this principle and provides students with the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and views of the world. 

                  Affordability

                  Olin remains dedicated to making education financially accessible. All students enrolling in the fall of 2026 were offered the merit-based Olin Tuition Scholarship. Students were also considered for the Phoenix Award, a four-year grant which recognizes students who embody Olin's ethos: leadership, service, community impact, and a commitment to educating, edifying, and healing. In addition to merit scholarship, the College is committed to meeting full demonstrated financial need. 

                  Working at Olin

                  Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, faculty and staff are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do Olin students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society.

                  As Olin evolves under new leadership, it seeks to become a more representative and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation—including making and learning from mistakes—will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture. Olin is a community that thrives on being together and values trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

                  Olin College of Engineering offers a competitive compensation package and prides itself on offering comprehensive benefits that provide both choice and value. These benefits are an important part of total compensation and may include relocation assistance. The range identified for this role is $275,000-$300,000 and the salary for the role will be based on the experience of the selected candidate and the agreed upon portfolio. In this important leadership position, the successful candidate will have a consistent and active on-campus presence. Individual flexible and remote work options can be discussed during the interview process. Any approved remote work arrangement for pay must be performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business. Offers of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory results of a background check.

                  Needham, Massachusetts

                  Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. The campus is approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station on the MBTA Green Line. Faculty, students and visitors enjoy plenty of free parking on campus. 

                  Needham itself is an historically rich suburban town, known for its excellent school systems and commuter friendly access to Boston. Often ranked as one of the best places to live in Massachusetts, the town offers a variety of neighborhoods with housing options which range from historic homes to modern developments. Conveniences are close, and several commercial areas offer local boutiques, larger national retailers, and a wide variety of restaurants. Needham retains a strong sense of community hosting numerous community events throughout the year. 

                  To Apply

                  NES, a national executive search firm specializing in higher education, is assisting Olin with this search for a Chief Enrollment and Student Engagement Officer. If you wish to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity or submit nominations, please contact: Drew Nichols (drew.nichols@nessearches.com) or Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@nessearches.com). Interested candidates should submit a résumé and a letter of interest. Within the letter of interest, candidates are asked to be deliberate in responding to the following: As a community, we support the growth of all our members—students, staff, and faculty. We invite you to wonder with us about the ways in which joining Olin would fit into your own personal objectives, professional objectives, interests, passions, and so forth. 

                  Candidates should also provide the names and contact information of at least five professional references. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and candidates will be notified before references are contacted. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted electronically to olin@nessearches.com no later than May 3, 2026. The position is campus-based and the preferred start date is Summer, 2026.

                  At Olin College we seek to become a more representative and aware community. If you’re excited about a role and have relevant experience, but your work history doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we'd nevertheless encourage you to apply.

                  Olin College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from candidates belonging to groups that have historically been underrepresented in higher education, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. Employees of the College who have a disability are welcome to request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at HR@olin.edu.

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