Saint Joseph's University seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM). Founded in the Jesuit Catholic tradition and strengthened through two strategic acquisitions significantly enhancing programs in the health professions, Saint Joseph's is a comprehensive university serving a diverse and expanding student population across locations in Philadelphia and Lancaster. The University remains deeply committed to residential undergraduate education while increasingly serving transfer students, adult learners, commuters, graduate and professional students, degree-completion students, and those pursuing associate degrees, certificates, and other flexible educational pathways.
THE POSITION
Reporting directly to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Enrollment Management is the University's chief enrollment officer, leading undergraduate enrollment, admissions, financial aid, and related enrollment functions. Serving as a member of the President's Cabinet, the VPEM is responsible for advancing academic excellence and success, financial sustainability, institutional integrity, and demonstrating a positive culture in alignment with the University’s Catholic, Jesuit mission. The VPEM will exhibit a University mindset, proactively collaborating with senior leadership in Academic Affairs (including graduate admission and enrollment teams), Student Life, Marketing and Communications, Finance, Athletics, Advancement, and other institutional units, ensuring alignment across enrollment strategies and advancing institutional enrollment goals.
The Vice President will lead the execution of a comprehensive strategic enrollment management plan that advances the University's mission and positions Saint Joseph's for continued growth in a dynamic and competitive higher education landscape. Working in close partnership with the Provost, the VPEM will play a central role in aligning enrollment strategy with academic strategy, ensuring that student demand, market opportunities, academic program development, and institutional priorities are integrated into a cohesive approach to enrollment optimization and student success.
The successful candidate will be a data-informed, mission-driven leader with a demonstrated record of enrollment success, strong financial and operational acumen, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to sustain collaborative partnerships across the institution.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Values-Driven Leadership and Mission Alignment
Saint Joseph's University seeks a Vice President for Enrollment Management who leads with integrity and a deep appreciation for the University's Jesuit mission and student-centered values. The successful candidate will preserve and strengthen the institution's distinctive culture while helping position Saint Joseph's for continued growth and relevance. This leader will be visible, approachable, and committed to building trust with students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and community partners.
Strategic Vision and Execution
The Vice President must be an accomplished strategist who can translate ambitious goals into measurable results. The successful candidate will implement and continuously refine a comprehensive, multi-year enrollment management strategy that advances enrollment growth, academic quality, student success, and institutional strength. The Vice President will bring resilience, creativity, and a strong results orientation while effectively aligning people, resources, and institutional priorities. The Vice President will share an institutional mindset, fostering partnerships across functions to share knowledge, pursue opportunities, address challenges, leverage resources, and support University mission and goals.
Institutional Collaboration and Leadership
The next Vice President will possess significant experience working within complex higher education environments and an appreciation for shared governance and collaborative decision-making. Success in the role will require strong partnerships across Academic Affairs (including graduate, professional, continuing, and non-credit admission and enrollment teams), Student Life, Marketing and Communications, Finance, Athletics, Advancement, and other institutional units. The Vice President must be an effective relationship-builder capable of uniting diverse stakeholders around common enrollment goals and other institutional priorities.
Multi-Campus and Multi-Modal Enrollment Leadership
Saint Joseph's serves students across multiple campuses and educational modalities. The Vice President must understand the distinct enrollment dynamics associated with traditional undergraduate students, transfer students, adult learners, commuters, online learners, graduate students and those pursuing certificates and other workforce-oriented credentials. The successful candidate will develop coordinated strategies that recognize and meet the unique opportunities and needs of each student population.
Business Acumen, Financial Stewardship, and Revenue Strategy
The Vice President must apply strong business acumen and a sophisticated understanding of enrollment economics. This leader will balance enrollment growth, academic quality, student access, net tuition revenue, and institutional discount rates through effective enrollment planning and financial aid strategy. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound fiscal and resource management, and experience aligning enrollment strategies with long-term institutional sustainability.
Data Analytics, Technology, and Innovation
The next Vice President will leverage data analytics, predictive modeling, CRM technologies, and emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, to enhance enrollment performance and improve decision-making. At the same time, the successful candidate will ensure that technology supports rather than replaces the personal relationships and individualized attention that define the Saint Joseph's student experience. Innovation should be guided by sound judgment, ethical practices, and a commitment to student success.
Community Engagement
The Vice President serves as a visible ambassador for Saint Joseph's University. The successful candidate will cultivate strong relationships with prospective students and families, school counselors, alumni, community organizations, and external partners while effectively communicating the distinctive value and mission of the University.
Academic Partnership and Enrollment Strategy
Enrollment success depends upon strong collaboration with faculty and academic leadership. The Vice President will partner closely with the Provost, deans, department chairs, and faculty leaders to align enrollment strategies with graduate admissions and enrollment, academic priorities, support program development, identify emerging market opportunities, and strengthen pathways for student recruitment, retention, and success.
Culture, Team Development, and Organizational Leadership
The Vice President will set the tone for a collaborative, high energy and accountable enrollment unit, building a team that is aligned, adaptable, and focused on institutional priorities and student-centered outcomes. This leader will strengthen organizational capacity by developing talent, clarifying expectations, and creating conditions for sustained performance and continuous improvement across the division.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary responsibilities for the Vice President for Enrollment Management include the following:
Strategic Enrollment Leadership
- Implement and continuously refine a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan aligned with institutional priorities and financial objectives.
- Establish and report progress on enrollment goals, leading and real-time performance metrics, and recruitment strategies for undergraduate, transfer, degree completion, certificate, associate degree, and other student populations.
- Monitor demographic, economic, workforce, and competitive trends to identify opportunities and risks and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the President, Provost, Cabinet, and Board of Trustees on enrollment trends, market conditions, and enrollment performance.
- Lead enrollment planning efforts that align enrollment strategy with academic strategy and institutional priorities.
Enrollment Growth and Market Development
- Position the University for long-term enrollment success by strengthening its standing in the traditional undergraduate market while identifying and pursuing new opportunities across transfer, commuter, adult, graduate, certificate, professional, and workforce-oriented educational pathways.
- Partner with Academic Affairs to identify opportunities associated with new academic programs, delivery modalities, certificates, credentials, and strategic partnerships.
- Support innovative pathways that respond to workforce needs, student demand, and changing market conditions.
- Contribute to long-range planning for graduate, professional and continuing education enrollment.
Financial and Risk Management Strategy
- Provide strategic leadership for institutional financial aid, scholarship programs, pricing strategies, and enrollment leveraging.
- Optimize enrollment outcomes, student access, and net tuition revenue through data-informed financial aid modeling and resource allocation.
- Partner closely with Finance to develop enrollment projections, tuition revenue forecasts, and scenario planning models.
- Manage divisional budgets and resources effectively and strategically.
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations governing enrollment and financial aid operations.
Data-Informed Strategy and Innovation
- Utilize data analytics, predictive modeling, market intelligence and enrollment forecasting to inform strategy, guide resource allocation and support institutional decision-making.
- Partner with institutional leaders and data partners to evaluate enrollment performance, identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and translate insights into strategic actions.
- Leverage CRM platforms, analytics tools, and emerging technologies to enhance recruitment effectiveness, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the student experience.
- Ensure the responsible and ethical use of technology, data, and artificial intelligence in support of enrollment goals and institutional priorities.
Collaboration and University Partnership
- Foster strong partnerships across divisions to support student enrollment, retention and graduation.
- Partner closely with Marketing and Communications to develop integrated enrollment marketing strategies that effectively communicate the University's mission and value proposition.
- Engage faculty, deans, staff, alumni, students, and community partners as active participants in enrollment efforts.
- Serve as an ambassador of the University with prospective students, families, schools, community organizations, donors and external partners.
Energetic Leadership and Team Development
- Inspire a culture of innovation and thoughtful risk-taking, encouraging the exploration of new opportunities and bold ideas that advance the University's enrollment goals and long-term strategic priorities.
- Build organizational capacity by empowering and developing leaders, promoting continuous learning and improvement, and creating an environment in which employees are challenged, supported, and motivated to achieve ambitious goals.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution, with a doctorate or terminal degree preferred. Additionally, this role requires significant senior-level leadership experience in enrollment management, admissions, financial aid, student financial services, or related areas.
The chosen candidate should possess the following required experiences and qualifications:
- Proven ability to lead complex organizations, manage change, and achieve results in dynamic environments.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated success developing and implementing strategic enrollment plans that achieve enrollment and net tuition revenue goals.
- Extensive knowledge of undergraduate admissions, enrollment strategy, financial aid leveraging, enrollment analytics, and market development.
- Proficiency utilizing data analytics, predictive modeling, and market intelligence to drive decision-making and organizational performance.
- Experience working collaboratively with marketing and communications teams to develop integrated recruitment and branding strategies.
- Demonstrated success maximizing collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units.
- Commitment to the mission, values, and educational philosophy of a Jesuit, Catholic University.
Further, the new VPEM should also possess the following preferred experiences:
- Serving as a Vice President or chief enrollment officer at a comprehensive institution.
- Leading enrollment efforts across multiple campuses, instructional modalities, and student populations.
- Working with transfer, adult learner, graduate, professional, healthcare, online, certificate, or workforce-oriented enrollment strategies.
- Partnering closely with academic leaders on program development, market expansion, and strategic planning.
- Navigating the opportunities and challenges facing mission-driven, tuition-dependent institutions.
- Presenting complex enrollment-related analyses to executive leadership and governing boards.
SAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY
Saint Joseph’s University, a private, comprehensive institution with a strong liberal arts core curriculum, was founded by members of the Society of Jesus in 1851 and chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the following year, has been conducted ever since by the Jesuits as a Catholic educational institution in the Ignatian tradition. Steeped in a tradition of academic rigor and social justice, Saint Joseph’s has been challenging students to lead engaged lives for more than 170 years. Saint Joseph’s believes in honoring its past while focusing on the future. Today, they prepare students to lead successful lives of meaning and impact in a complex, fast-changing world. As Philadelphia’s Jesuit Catholic University, it continues to lead with an ambitious vision and strategy rooted in the timeless Jesuit approach to education. Its history is purposeful, serving a community that is not only passionate about academic excellence, but also fosters a desire to make a lasting impact.
Mission Statement
As Philadelphia’s Jesuit Catholic University, Saint Joseph’s University provides a rigorous, student-centered education rooted in the liberal arts. We prepare students for personal excellence, professional success, and engaged citizenship. Striving to be an inclusive and diverse community that educates and cares for the whole person, we encourage and model lifelong commitment to thinking critically, making ethical decisions, pursuing social justice, and finding God in all things.
Academics
Saint Joseph's whole-person approach to education provides freedom and encouragement to grow intellectually, spiritually, personally and creatively. Whether a traditional undergraduate student or an adult enrolled in one of its professional programs, a part-time online student or enrolled in a graduate degree, students benefit from focused, academic study led by renowned teacher-scholars and opportunities for real-world, hands-on learning. Saint Joseph’s University has a wide variety of bachelor's, master's, doctoral, associate or certificate programs where students can choose a traditional academic path, combine majors across schools, opt for an accelerated or direct-entry pathway, or enroll in a dual-degree program.
The University is organized as follows:
- The College of Arts and Sciences which offers the traditional undergraduate programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, a flexibly- structured Adult Learner program leading to a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs
- The Erivan K. Haub School of Business, which offers traditional undergraduate programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a flexibly-structured Adult Learner program leading to a bachelor degree or associate degree, and graduate programs leading to the degrees Master of Business Administration and Master of Science.
- The School of Education and Human Development, which offers traditional undergraduate programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, a flexibly-structured Adult Learner program leading to a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, and graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Education.
- The School of Health Professions, which offers traditional undergraduate programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, graduate programs leading to the Masters degrees and Doctoral degrees which include Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy.
- The School of Nursing and Allied Health, which offers a wide variety of undergraduate Certificate and Associate programs, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as a RN to BSN program, graduate programs leading to the Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Practitioner and Post-Master's Certificate programs.
Enrollment
Saint Joseph’s University seeks students who are academically prepared and intellectually curious. Its student-centered evaluation process seeks to understand each student within the context of their lived experiences and learning environment. The admission office dedicates just as much time to reviewing a student's involvement, essay and letters of recommendation as their academic performance. Saint Joseph’s admissions policies ensure a diverse class that will bring a wide variety of perspectives and experiences.
First-Year Admission Stats (Fall 2025)
Applications 12,249
Offers of Admission 10,628
Enrolled 1,345
Applied Test-Optional 77%
Academic Profile (Middle 50%)
Weighted GPA 3.28–4.06
SAT Super-Score 1190–1360
ACT Composite Score 27–31
Demographic Profile
States Represented 44
Countries Represented 58
Students of Color 42%
Attended Jesuit High School 3%
Financial Aid
Saint Joseph's University offers exceptional value, combining quality education with a competitive cost of attendance that includes tuition, fees, dining and living expenses. With robust financial aid options, including merit scholarships, need-based grants, low-interest loans and federal or state aid, Saint Joseph’s aims to minimize a student's out-of-pocket costs and reduce the financial burden. 98% of first year students receive scholarships or financial assistance directly from Saint Joseph’s University. The Financial Aid Office is responsible for the distribution of nearly $126 million in federal, state, and institutional aid. Twenty percent of students are federal Pell recipients and roughly a quarter are first generation students.
Leadership
Cheryl A. McConnell, PhD, was selected as Saint Joseph’s 29th president in March of 2023 following a period serving as interim president during a nationwide search. Prior to assuming the presidency, Dr. McConnell served for three years as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs where she oversaw the University’s academic enterprise with a particular focus on expanding the academic portfolio to meet market need and student demand. Most recently, she led the merger agreement with Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and the historic integration of University of the Sciences, coordinating the acquisition of dozens of academic programs in health and science along with state-of-the-art campus facilities.
A national leader in Jesuit higher education, Dr. McConnell was the dean of the College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis and the Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University, where she was also the associate provost for academic affairs, responsible for academic support areas and programs. In her academic roles at Rockhurst, she was active in the business community and with regional organizations. Dr. McConnell is the recipient of numerous awards including the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Rockhurst University Faculty of the Year Award, the Helzberg School of Management Perfect Professor Award, and the Rockhurst University Excellence in Teaching Award.
Her 35-year commitment to Jesuit education has been strengthened through leadership experiences including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)’ Ignatian Colleagues Program and Leadership Institute, as well as the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Dr. McConnell was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as a member of the newly-formed State Board of Higher Education. Additionally, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker invited her to serve on the city’s Eds and Meds Roundtable. Dr. McConnell serves on the Board of Directors for the AJCU, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), the Council of Presidents for the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Board of Directors for The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and is a member of the City Avenue District Board.
After earning her Master of Professional Accountancy degree and Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting from Wichita State University, Dr. McConnell earned her PhD in higher education administration from Saint Louis University. She is also a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner.
A proud first-generation college graduate, Dr. McConnell has published or presented more than 125 articles, papers or workshops, and she researches and speaks on higher education issues, gender issues related to career advancement and performance reviews, and the need for ethical leadership in a time of change and uncertainty.
Jean McGivney-Burelle, PhD, an accomplished higher education leader and teacher-scholar with more than two-and-a-half decades of experience, was selected as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Saint Joseph’s University in 2024.
McGivney-Burelle joined Saint Joseph’s from Idaho State University, where she served as dean of the College of Education and as a professor in the Department of Teaching and Educational Studies since 2020. During her tenure, she significantly increased external grant funding and fundraising in the college; increased the percentage of faculty and staff from underrepresented backgrounds from 15% to 22%; established articulation and co-enrollment agreements with the College of Southern Idaho; invested $1 million in funding to support student scholarships, faculty research, innovative teaching and student engagement projects; and launched a suite of fully online education programs; among many other impressive accomplishments.
Prior to her time at Idaho State University, McGivney-Burelle was with the University of Hartford from 2005-2015, where she held a faculty appointment in the Department of Mathematics and assumed numerous and complex leadership roles that underscored her commitment to shared governance and collaborative leadership.
During her 15 years with the university, she was the inaugural executive director of the university’s Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation; associate dean of budget and finance for the College of Arts and Sciences; chair of the Department of Education in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions; and director of the mathematics/secondary education program.
Before joining the University of Hartford, McGivney-Burelle was part of the faculty of the University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University. In her 26-year career, she has received numerous awards and fellowships, including Innovations in Teaching and Learning at the University of Hartford, Leadership Cohort Fellow of the Network for Educational Renewal, and Project NEXT Fellow of the Mathematical Association of America.
McGivney-Burelle received her PhD in curriculum instruction with an emphasis on mathematics education from the University of Connecticut, her master’s in mathematics with an emphasis on combinatorics and graph theory from Northeastern University, and her bachelor’s in mathematics from University of Hartford.
Strategic Plan and Capital Campaign
Saint Joseph’s University stands at a pivotal moment in its history. Following a period of intentional programmatic growth, the impact of a Saint Joseph’s education is expanding, enriched by new perspectives and united by a shared Jesuit mission.
This strategic plan, Always. Forward. reflects Saint Joseph’s recent achievements and provides a path for its future. As they navigate this new chapter, Saint Joseph’s University is shaping a bold future through the following four priorities:
- Promote Student Success through Academic Excellence and Expanded Learning Opportunities
- Deepen Transformative Student Experiences
- Strengthen an Institutional Identity Grounded in our Jesuit Mission
- Lead a Future-Focused Culture in an Evolving Higher Education Environment
The vision laid out in the strategic plan relies on the generosity of the Saint Joseph’s community. To rally its community, they have embarked on the largest fundraising campaign in its history. The launch of SOAR: The Campaign for Saint Joseph’s University will allow St. Joe's to emerge even stronger, and to build a community, a University, and a world that is better than before. The goal of the campaign is to raise $300 million for three critical priorities.
- Investing in an Elite Campus Experience
- Affirming Our Commitment to Financial Aid
- Furthering Our Academic Excellence
LOCATION
Saint Joseph’s University spans three unique locations: Its Hawk Hill campus and University City location offer students the best of both worlds — a historic Main Line suburb and a vibrant Philadelphia neighborhood just west of Center City —while its Lancaster location features the perfect urban-rural blend in the heart of picturesque South Central Pennsylvania.
Hawk Hill Campus:
Situated on the western boundary of Philadelphia, Saint Joseph’s 114-acre campus combines accessibility to the city with the proximity to the Main Line. In this urban-suburban environment, students share in the educational, cultural, and entertainment resources of a great metropolitan area. Students, faculty and staff alike enjoy the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Franklin Institute, the University Museum, the Free Library, theatre, world class dining and major league baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. The city itself is at once a museum of American history and culture and a laboratory for contemporary economics, sociology, politics and religion.
University City Campus:
Saint Joseph’s University City campus sits in the heart of West Philly, Philadelphia’s innovation district—home to health science start-ups, established biotech firms and influential higher education institutions. The campus is home to its graduate and professional programs in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and its Health Professions programs, in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies. It is also the historic location of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and houses some of the core research facilities in the Natural Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Lancaster Campus:
The Lancaster location is situated in the heart of picturesque Central Pennsylvania. Steeped in rich history, Lancaster is known for its beautiful 18th-century architecture and red-brick row homes that line its streets. Beyond its historic and cultural significance, Lancaster also offers art galleries, theaters, markets and a burgeoning farm-to-table culinary scene. In addition to its lively downtown area, Lancaster also offers a wide range of healthcare facilities including Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital and more.
COMPENSATION
Saint Joseph's University offers a competitive compensation package, including relocation assistance, and a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. The range identified for this role is $245,000-$265,000. The final determination of the selected candidate’s actual pay is based on their experience and qualifications for the role. 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 Saint Joseph’s University with this search for a Vice President for Enrollment Management. 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: sju@nessearches.com. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted electronically by July 29, 2026. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and candidates will be notified before references are contacted. The VPEM’s anticipated start date is September, 2026.
Saint Joseph’s University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in every aspect of its operations. The University values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from a variety of backgrounds. Accordingly, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, race, age of 40 or over, color, religion, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, marital status, and military and military veteran status, and any other status protected by law in the administration of its admission, educational, financial aid, employment, athletic, or recreational policies or programs. Sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking are considered forms of discrimination and are strictly prohibited by University policy.