Vice President for Enrollment Management at Southwestern University

Southwestern University, a preeminent independent liberal arts University in Georgetown, Texas, announces the search for an experienced, energetic Vice President for Enrollment Management. Established in 1840 and recognized as the first University in Texas, Southwestern University is a thriving four-year undergraduate institution offering a top-ranked integrated arts and sciences curriculum that incorporates the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.

The Opportunity
Reporting to President Laura Skandera Trombley, the Vice President for Enrollment Management will lead the University's comprehensive enrollment efforts and join an innovative and forward-thinking senior leadership team in championing the evolution of a vibrant university. Overseeing a team of 18 enrollment professionals in admissions and financial aid, the VPEM will guide the division and community in establishing and implementing a strategic enrollment plan that supports the University’s five-year tactical plan. The Vice President will foster a sophisticated, data-driven, and nimble enrollment management division capable of meeting enrollment goals, demonstrating a keen awareness of the marketplace, and being informed by the needs of students and families. The Vice President will be a passionate and tireless advocate for Southwestern University, building upon its national reputation for excellence and enhancing the University’s reach and recognition.

Responsibilities and Priorities
As the chief enrollment officer, the VPEM will provide strategic guidance and recommendations on enrollment strategy, financial aid leveraging, enrollment operations, and market assessments to the President, fellow senior staff, and the Board of Trustees. The VPEM will align initiatives and resources to support the University's mission, goals, and objectives. In addition, the selected candidate will be responsible for the following duties and priorities:

Leadership

Develop and execute a strategic enrollment management plan that ensures a sustainable, diverse student body across all academic programs, populations, and disciplines, authentically engages the campus community, and inspires interest in a Southwestern University education.
Advise the president, Board of Trustees, and fellow members of senior staff in all matters related to recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and strategic positioning of the University amid the rapidly evolving landscape.
Monitor and respond to changing demographics, market trends, and national policy shifts impacting enrollment strategies.
Serve as a thought leader and confidently inspire others to understand and support enrollment strategies; partner with other senior leaders and the campus community to bring fresh ideas and new approaches to engaging the entire campus in the effort to recruit and retain excellent, diverse classes.
Serve as a liaison to the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, providing enrollment data, strategic planning, and outcomes as well as analysis and insights into the evolving markets for undergraduate programs.
Represent Southwestern with wisdom and insight through presentations and conversations, attending conferences, engaging with partner schools, programs, and organizations, and responding to media requests.

Strategic Enrollment Management

Guide progressive practices and policies that address key regional, national, and international demographic trends to attract exceptional students who will succeed and persist through graduation.
Lead the enrollment management division in developing systems, procedures, policies, and practices that facilitate strategic and data-driven decision-making, transparency, and sharing of information across the institution, and support an exceptional experience for prospective and current students and families.
Partner closely with the marketing team and skillfully evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to increase Southwestern’s visibility among prospective students, continuing to draw on alumni, faculty, and current students as recruiting resources, and experimenting with new platforms and strategies to reach today’s students.
Develop and execute strategic enrollment marketing campaigns to strengthen the brand, attract prospective students, and increase enrollment.
Expand partnerships and pathways to develop a robust transfer student pipeline and partner with the campus community to address policies, systems, and practices responsive to the needs of enrolling transfer students.
Utilize CRM systems to track and manage leads, segment audiences, optimize communication strategies, and analyze and interpret data from marketing campaigns to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.
In partnership with the marketing team and through creative, innovative enrollment marketing efforts, reach students across various delivery modalities, program audiences, geographic regions, and diverse student populations.
Ensure that Southwestern clearly communicates its impact and value to students, families, and key influencers through creative and consistent messaging that reflects Southwestern’s culture and core values.

Financial Acumen

Oversee the administration of the financial aid office operations, including compliance with federal and state institutional aid programs, NCAA Division III financial aid regulations, scholarship programs, student work-study program, and financial aid package construction and disbursement.
Foster community understanding of student decision-making relative to enrollment, ability to pay, and appetite for debt.
Align enrollment strategies with revenue goals, optimize financial aid modeling, and support long-term financial planning through accurate enrollment forecasting and tuition revenue projections.
Manage the division’s budget effectively and efficiently.

Technology and Data

Lead the staff in evaluating, implementing, and 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 that identify, recruit, enroll, and retain a diverse undergraduate student body.
Increase the University’s market visibility; assess past efforts and utilize data to develop aggressive approaches to ensure Southwestern powerfully and genuinely conveys its message in established and new recruitment territories.

Collaboration and Communication

Leverage the talents and resources of campus partners in an effort to attract and retain Southwestern students; nurture connections across the University, collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and alumni, to work as a team toward the University’s enrollment goals.
Enhance the partnership between admissions and Southwestern’s NCAA Division III athletic department and work to foster the continued success of this critical partnership.
External to campus, maintain strong relationships with school counselors, college counselors, community-based organizations, and international partners to build awareness and enhance the reputation of a Southwestern education.
Partner with faculty and academic leadership in the design, realization, and launch of new academic programs; offer insight and data to support market assessment and exploration of opportunities; lead marketing and recruitment strategies to meet program headcount and revenue goals.

Supervision and Mentorship

Develop and inspire a talented, loyal staff by identifying and optimizing each team member's skills, fostering a culture of individual growth, empowerment, and professional development.
Champion the work of the staff, reinforce a culture of accountability, and energize an environment of shared institutional responsibility for enrollment across campus.

Skills, Abilities and Characteristics
Candidates for this position should have at least 10 years of enrollment management experience in a college or university setting, with 5 years in a senior-level enrollment leadership role. In addition to a record of enrollment success, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to build a best-in-class enrollment management division. A strong appreciation and demonstrated understanding of the institution's liberal arts mission are strongly desired. A bachelor’s degree is required, while an advanced degree in a related field is strongly preferred.

In addition, the chosen candidate should demonstrate the following skills, abilities, and understanding:

Experienced in the collaborative development of an institutional strategic enrollment plan, short-term initiatives, and supporting tactics with the ability to effectively communicate goals, plans, benchmarks, analysis, and outcomes across an invested campus community.
Strategically deft, with the ability to analyze, interpret, and present relevant information and data in a manner that supports decision-making, educates, and engages collaborators; adept at using data as a catalyst for action, and committed to evaluation and articulation of outcomes.
Nuanced understanding of today's competitive enrollment environment, the evolving marketplace, and public perceptions of higher education.
Demonstrated ability to build a culture of enrollment management and engage campus constituents in the recruitment of students; proven ability to develop rapport and work collaboratively with faculty to bring forward the best of Southwestern in the shared effort of recruiting and retaining students.
Skilled change manager, able to inspire and motivate others through transitions and build trust and knowledge among colleagues and between teams.
Engaged problem solver with an institutional mindset, willing to work in concert to achieve shared goals.
History of success in assisting and/or developing effective pricing, merit, and financial aid models.
Commitment to exceptional customer service and ability to address barriers to enrollment for students and families.
Creative and energetic with an entrepreneurial mindset, demonstrated by an ability to lead the creation and implementation of innovative strategies with agility.
Focused and flexible with the ability to prioritize and execute across competing and complex initiatives, and execute in a changing environment and evolving marketplace.
Deeply experienced in the management, evaluation, and oversight of vendor partners with the ability to maximize impact and invest judiciously.
Outstanding communication skills and a skilled storyteller, including the ability to persuasively convey Southwestern’s academic distinctions and community differentiators to prospective students, families, as well as college counselors and peers within the marketplace.
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.
Ability to assess the use of technology and guide teams in leveraging, implementing, and maximizing technology.
Skilled budget manager who can allocate and manage resources effectively to achieve the greatest result possible.
Substantial leadership experience, including successful performance management, staff recruitment, development, and management.
Sincere and personal commitment to the mission of and vision for Southwestern University, a willingness to persevere, and a desire to build authentic and long-term relationships with colleagues, students, and alumni.
Relentless in the pursuit of key goals, with the ability to foster an equally dedicated and sophisticated enrollment management team.

Southwestern University
Southwestern University, a community of 1434 students, is ranked number 83 in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report best liberal arts colleges list and number 2nd among liberal arts schools in Texas. Southwestern prides itself on providing its students with distinctive, high-impact learning experiences designed to foster intellectual and personal growth. The University enjoys a reputation for academic excellence and for a distinctive curriculum and co-curricular experience that encourages students to make connections through a special focus on incorporating perspectives from multiple disciplines and experiences. Southwestern is included in The Princeton Review’s 2025 Best 390 Colleges Guide and is recognized as #2 in the nation and #1 in Texas for Best Career Services. This achievement is reflected in the success of its graduates, with 97.4% employed or enrolled in graduate school within 10 months of graduation and a remarkable 100% acceptance rate for students who applied to medical school in 2023. Further accolades include being named a 2024–2025 College of Distinction, a recognition that underscores Southwestern’s dedication to hands-on learning, strong student-faculty relationships, and outstanding student outcomes.

The University is guided by its Core Purpose, Mission, and Core Values: fostering a liberal arts community whose values and actions encourage contributions toward the well-being of humanity. Southwestern maintains a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. However, trustees are nominated by the SU Board of Trustees, and neither the University nor any of its assets are owned or controlled by the United Methodist Church.

Leadership
Dr. Laura Skandera Trombley is the visionary 16th President of Southwestern University and its first female President. In her inaugural year, she led the development of a five-year tactical plan that has already resulted in many key improvements on campus, ranging from student recruitment, advising, and retention to significant upgrades in student recreational, dining, and housing amenities. She also led the development of a master plan that is transforming the campus with multiple enhancements to the built environment. President Trombley is now guiding the community through the development of an inclusive and thoughtful tactical plan, which will guide the University’s strategic direction during the next five years. The 2026 Tactical plan will be presented for Board approval in the spring of 2026.

She led the University in a successful $80 million bond issuance that is helping to fund more than $120 million in campus improvements, including two new mixed-use residence halls, a new welcome center, a new mixed-use athletics complex, and a major remodeling of historic Mood-Bridwell Hall. She is also leading the University in developing a one-of-a-kind liberal arts community spanning more than 500 acres adjacent to the SU campus. Over the past two years, Dr. Trombley has welcomed two of SU’s largest-ever incoming classes, and graduates from 2022 reported that 98% were employed, in graduate school, or volunteering. Under her leadership, SU has also seen its rank rise dramatically among the nation's best liberal arts institutions, while being recognized as a top school for advancing the social mobility of recent graduates and serving the most economically diverse student body in Texas.

Before joining Southwestern, Dr. Trombley served as the President of the University of Bridgeport. Under her leadership, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Bridgeport for the first time among the top 381 national universities. She is also President Emerita of Pitzer College, where she served for 13 years, and The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Previously, she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A tenured professor in SU’s Department of English, Dr. Trombley is the author of five books and is widely recognized as one of the most distinguished Mark Twain scholars in the world. A recipient of many awards for her scholarship, Dr. Trombley was recognized by The Mark Twain Journal as a legacy scholar in 2019 for her efforts in rehabilitating the intellectual reputations of the women who surrounded Mark Twain. In 2017, she won the Louis J. Budd Award for her contributions to Mark Twain studies.

Dr. Trombley graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Arts in English from Pepperdine University. She received her doctorate in English from the University of Southern California.

Mission
Southwestern University is committed to undergraduate liberal education involving both the study of and participation in significant aspects of our cultural heritage, expressed primarily through the arts, the sciences, the institutions, and the professions of society. As a teaching-learning community, Southwestern encourages rigorous inquiry and scholarship, creative teaching, and the expression of free human life. The University seeks to involve the student in finding a personal and social direction for life, developing more sensitive methods of communication, cultivating those qualities and skills that make for personal and professional effectiveness, and learning to think clearly and make relevant judgments and discriminations.

Core Values

Cultivating academic excellence.
Promoting lifelong learning and a passion for intellectual and personal growth.
Fostering diverse perspectives.
Being true to oneself and others.
Respecting the worth and dignity of persons.
Encouraging activism in the pursuit of justice and the common good.

Southwestern University is committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered. The community believes that a thriving community is built on the strength of varying perspectives and experiences, and strives to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. The community's actions are guided by a commitment to fairness and openness, and by the belief that differences make Southwestern stronger as a whole.

Academics and Faculty
Southwestern University includes the Brown College of Arts and Sciences, the Garey School of Natural Sciences, and the Sarofim School of Fine Arts. It is proud to have chapters of the Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Chi honor societies and the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society. All tenured or tenure-track faculty hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their respective fields. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 and an average class size of 16, student-faculty collaborative research and publications are common—the Southwestern faculty numbers 117 full-time members and 40 part-time faculty. The faculty are talented teacher-scholars committed to creating a learning environment focused on preparing students to succeed in an ever-changing, dynamic society.

The University offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Fine Arts. The University does not offer graduate degrees. Its largest majors are Business, Kinesiology, and Psychology, but the University has many other majors, minors, pre-professional pathways, and certificates. The Paideia program, which is integral to the SU experience, is an interdisciplinary approach to education designed to develop the intellectual practice of identifying connections between the fundamental questions and ideas that shape our world.

A major emphasis encourages students to venture off campus to participate in several types of learning experiences. Nearly one-third of students study abroad. A London experience is available each fall, along with summer programs in locations such as Argentina, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Perú, and Spain. SU students have access to universities worldwide through the International Student Exchange Program. In addition, Southwestern offers opportunities for semesters in New York City (arts) and Washington, DC (politics), as well as internships, both domestic and abroad.

Student Life and Athletics
The University has more than 60 student organizations offering a broad range of activities. It offers a variety of student residences and has four fraternities and six sororities.

Southwestern's student-athletes (Go, Pirates!) compete in NCAA Division III basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field for men and women; men’s baseball and football; and women’s softball and volleyball. Southwestern teams are members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), along with Austin College, Centenary College, Colorado College, University of Dallas, Johnson & Wales, St. Thomas, Schreiner University, Texas Lutheran University, and Trinity University. The football team and the men’s lacrosse team are affiliate members of the Southern Athletic Association, whose core members include Berry College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College, and the University of the South. For those looking for less official (but still competitive) activities, there are 22 intramural sports and two club sports: SU Cheerleaders and SU Dancers.

Southwestern also offers an Outdoor Adventure program that involves students in activities ranging from caving and mountain climbing to kayaking and paddleboarding. The program’s reach is international, as it took a group of students to Mt. Kilimanjaro in January 2024.

The Campus and its Facilities
Situated on the northern edge of the Austin metro on 701 beautiful Central Texas acres, Southwestern is ranked the largest landowner of all private higher education institutions in Texas. As Princeton Review’s number one university in Texas for green colleges, Southwestern cares for the land through sustainable practices, including LEED Gold-rated buildings, a campus powered by 100% renewable energy, and athletic fields nourished by recycled water. SU is a signatory to the College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

Around the Southwestern campus, one will see more than $120 million worth of projects underway. Historic Mood-Bridwell Hall has undergone a $25 million renovation that will bring the landmark building into the 21st century while honoring its colorful past. The McCombs Campus Center has a new look, top to bottom, with remodeled ballrooms, a refurbished Bishop’s Lounge, and the remarkable transformation of the Servery and Commons, where the food-service provider Aramark has invested more than $3 million to make these spaces more functional and inviting. Last summer, a new campus store opened on the first floor of McCombs. The A. Frank Smith Library Center also saw renovations, enhancing Distinctive Collections and creating a Learning Commons for centralized academic tutoring. Additionally, the University will open two new LEED Gold–certified residence halls and a Welcome Center in January 2026. The residence halls will feature quiet study spaces, indoor and outdoor lounges, and a fitness and Pilates studio, while the Welcome Center will serve as an inviting gateway to campus, housing Admission and Financial Aid alongside an art gallery and a film theater. A new multi-purpose sports complex is also underway and will welcome Football back to campus for the first time in 76 years in August 2026, serving as a new gathering place for varsity athletics, intramurals, club sports, and major campus events.

Also underway is the Southwestern University 560 development, a physical embodiment of liberal arts values, bringing to life the principles of connection, human development, and creativity through art, design, programming, and a pedagogical approach infused into every aspect of its planning. Encompassing 560 acres contiguous to the main campus, this development reflects Southwestern's commitment to enhancing quality of life while fostering experiential and lifelong learning opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and neighbors.

The Southwestern University 560 solidifies Southwestern’s standing as a national leader in higher education and intentional development. This legacy project is designed to: establish a sustainable, living and learning community; foster business innovation and economic development; create a vibrant destination celebrating the culture of the liberal arts; support the visual and performing arts; and elevate Southwestern’s national brand and identity.

Through environmentally and economically sustainable housing, retail, industry, and green spaces, the Southwestern University 560 meets the challenges of rapid urbanization in Central Texas while upholding strong values to guide its actions. This is a place where creative synthesis and bold ideas will drive a new kind of growth—one that leaves a lasting impact for generations to come.

Enrollment
The University currently has an enrollment of 1434 students, all of whom are undergraduates. Over the last few years, the University has recruited the most diverse and academically talented classes in its history. Approximately 41% of the fall 2025 incoming class are from underrepresented groups, 31% of whom are Hispanic and 33% receive Pell grants. 55% of enrolled students are female, 87% are from Texas, while the remainder are from 37 states and 21 countries. For the class of 2025, the University accepted 43% of its applicants and had a yield of 15%. 68% of its students live on campus. SU has a first-to-second-year retention rate of 83.4%, a four-year graduation rate of 62.7% and a six-year graduation rate of 73.6%.

Finance and Fundraising
Southwestern has had several years of balanced budgets. The endowment, as of the end of the Fiscal Year 2025, was $403.5 million. The FY 2025 operating budget was $80 million. Student revenues accounted for 58% of its total revenues, with endowment income accounting for 21% and gifts 11%. SU raised $13.8M in FY 2024, of which $4.7M was for the annual fund. The FY 2025 goal is $11.1M with $2.5M for the annual fund. The University has $95M in debt and has been taking an endowment draw slightly above 5% in recent years. Moody’s has given the University an A3 rating.

For 2025–2026, student tuition and fees totaled $56,219. The average room rate is $8,806, and meal plans average $7,163. The University’s tuition discount rate is 58%. Almost every Southwestern student receives some institutional grant aid.

Southwestern recently celebrated the successful completion of Thrive: The Campaign for Southwestern. The most ambitious fundraising campaign in the University’s history saw the Southwestern community come together to donate over $160 million, surpassing the campaign’s goal of $150 million. The campaign's focus on student success includes significant philanthropic investments in financial aid, high-impact experiences, academic advising, career and professional development, and enhancing co-curricular experiences. The emphasis on academic excellence inspires support for faculty positions, faculty development/scholarship/creative works, and academic departments/programs. The physical campus is being transformed through support for the renovation of Mood-Bridwell Hall, upgrades to several athletic facilities, and the construction of a new Welcome Center, a first-year residence hall, and a sophomore residence hall. Lastly, contributions to the Southwestern Annual Fund and various current-use restricted gift accounts are elevating the Southwestern experience for all students.

A significant factor in strengthening the University's financial position is fundraising. In recent years, it has been at an all-time high. The campaign funded 12 newly named chairs and professorships awarded to Southwestern faculty, hundreds of new scholarships and high-impact experiences for students, a substantial expansion to the Center for Career and Professional Development, philanthropic funding for the Residential Life Experience, and multiple capital renovation projects across campus.

Not included in the campaign total is an additional cash gift of $15 million to the endowment to support academic programming, financial aid, and other priorities, including funding to underwrite high-impact experiences for 32 Garey Scholars; up to eight annual mid-cycle sabbatical semesters for tenured faculty; need-based financial assistance for students; and five endowed chairs in the natural sciences.

Compensation
Southwestern University offers a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits, relocation assistance, and a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please speak with NES to learn more about the compensation range identified for this role. In this important leadership position, the successful candidate will have an active on-campus presence in Georgetown, Texas.

Georgetown, Texas
Located in Georgetown, Texas, one of the fastest-growing cities in America, Southwestern University provides the best of both worlds: a historic campus in a picturesque town with convenient access to all the city of Austin has to offer. Voted the most beautiful town square in Texas, Georgetown has a population of 90,000 and its city center is within walking distance of the campus, as are attractive and safe walking trails along the San Gabriel River. Southwestern is surrounded by major companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung, Dell, and Tesla. This prime location integrates Southwestern into a vibrant marketplace, redefining the liberal arts for the 21st century. Georgetown is just a 35-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which offers nonstop service to many major U.S. and international cities. The Austin metro area also boasts a thriving creative community of musicians, filmmakers, and designers. It hosts renowned events like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest, a festival celebrating film, music, and interactive media.

Georgetown’s location along I-35 is a major draw for businesses that rely on access to major U.S. highways for distribution and transportation. Georgetown is located within 200 miles of Houston, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and San Antonio, making Texas’s major cities highly accessible in all directions.

To Apply
NES, a higher education search firm specializing in enrollment management searches, is assisting Southwestern University in identifying the University’s next Vice President for Enrollment Management. For more information, or to nominate someone for this position, contact Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@nessearches.com) or Laura Robinson (laura.robinson@nessearches.com). All conversations will remain confidential unless otherwise stated and agreed. Interested candidates should submit a résumé and a letter of interest describing their unique qualifications for the Vice President for Enrollment Management position at Southwestern University. Candidates should also provide the names and contact information of at least five professional references. For confidentiality, references will not be contacted without permission. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted electronically to Southwestern@nessearches.com for best consideration by January 28, 2026. The position is campus-based, and the preferred start date is no later than June 1, 2026.

All offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

In compliance with immigration laws, proof of work authorization in the United States will be required when employment begins. Southwestern University is an E-Verify employer. Southwestern University is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at hr@southwestern.edu.

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