Ithaca College Names Rakin “Rock” Hall as Vice President for Enrollment Management
Ithaca (N.Y.) –Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish has announced the appointment of Rakin “Rock” Hall to serve as the college’s Vice President for Enrollment Management. Currently the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, Hall is expected to help IC meet the vital enrollment needs that are central to the college’s ongoing institutional priorities.
“We are excited that Rock will bring his 25 years of expertise and influence in the national enrollment sphere to his work at Ithaca College,” said Cornish. “He understands the landscape from coast to coast, and we can leverage his knowledge to attract prospective students from across the country to South Hill. In speaking with Rock and considering his candidacy, it became clear that he is a mindful leader who puts people at the center of every narrative and works to maximize outcomes for his colleagues and his institutions.”
Hall will be responsible for leading the teams in Undergraduate and Graduate Admission, Student Financial Services, Constituent Engagement Strategy, the Center for Career Exploration and Development, and the Center for Student Success and Retention.
At Arcadia, Hall’s accomplishments have included increasing deposits by 24% and retention by 3%, reimagining the recruitment campaign to incorporate greater faculty and parent involvement, increasing partnerships with community organizations, and working with campus partners to establish a welcome center to provide a warm and engaging presentation space for prospective students and their families.
Prior to joining Arcadia in 2020, Hall held admission, enrollment management, and student success positions at the University of Utah, University of Southern California, William Paterson State University, and Humboldt State University.
“Recruiting and retaining student talent is vital to cultivating an astute campus community of first-year, transfer, graduate, and online populations,” said Hall. “Higher education is in flux, and strategic, mindful leadership is needed to build relationships with campus stakeholders, community-based organizations, and senior leadership. I look forward to working with the IC community in crafting a strategic vision that supports the mission of Ithaca Forever.”
Hall earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Humboldt State and master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Southern California. He has held leadership roles with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Association of Chief Admission Officers of Public Universities, and National Association of College Admission Counselors and has been a regular speaker at national conferences.
Hall will begin his new position at Ithaca College on February 1.