Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling College of Art and Design (Ringling) is a private, not-for-profit, undergraduate, independent higher education success story. Having grown to 1,700 students – Ringling has raised its academic and public profiles to that of one of the most decorated and successful art and design colleges in the nation. To build upon this success, Ringling is seeking a creative, experienced, and strategic Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing (VPEMM). Reporting to President Dr. Larry Thompson, the Vice President will join a forward thinking and collaborative leadership team in guiding a highly engaged community to achieve its vision of becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world.

The Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing will lead a team of thirty-three admissions, financial aid, design, communications and marketing professionals in achieving enrollment goals across Ringling’s distinct academic programs, and enhancing Ringling’s reputation and reach nationally and internationally. Working closely with faculty, staff, alumni and the Board of Trustees, the Vice President will lead the implementation of best practices, strategies and tactics to enhance Ringling’s successful trajectory and continued financial health.

The Division of Enrollment Management and Marketing
The division of enrollment management and marketing was established in 2021, coalescing the goals and work of four offices: admissions, financial aid, marketing and communications, and the design center. Each led by a seasoned professional, the offices work in concert to serve the Ringling community, offering support to students from inquiry to graduation, and supportive of Ringling’s academic programs, community engagement, and strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities, Duties and Priorities:
In their role as Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, the selected candidate will be responsible for the following duties and priorities:

  • Partner with senior leadership in addressing institutional challenges, engaging alumni, donors and trustees, and recruiting exceptional students and staff.
  • Demonstrate the ability to build, enhance, and nurture relationships with colleagues across campus, especially faculty liaisons and program directors involved in recruitment, admissions, and scholarship processes.
  • Develop and maintain working interdivisional relationships between all enrollment areas and in coordination with other key staff of the College.
  • Possess expertise and knowledge of market demographics, demands, and trends in order to educate the community and create a culture of enrollment management, as well as serve as a partner and advisor to academic leaders shaping program development.
  • Seek to identify and expand to new domestic and international markets, and increase potential partnerships, pipelines, and pathways for a diverse community of undergraduate, transfer and international students.
  • Leverage technology and best practices to realize process improvements, greater efficiency, enhance the student experience, and facilitate the capture and dissemination of information and data.
  • Lead the division in fully leveraging the features and capabilities of Slate, and guide the division in the successful transition to Workday;
  • Assure that the student experience during the recruitment and enrollment process mirrors Ringling’s technologically forward academic experience.
  • Employ a culture of transparent and data-informed decision making in order to lead the College in developing and implementing a dynamic strategic enrollment plan reflecting the immediate and long-term goals of the College community.
  • Create and advance recruitment and enrollment strategies to meet the enrollment goals of the institution and each academic program.
  • Solicit and support the engagement of the Ringling community in the development and execution of strategies and tactics which enhance enrollments and expand visibility.
  • Provide effective and motivational leadership of divisional staff by building a highly effective and cohesive team, fostering creativity, transparency and active collaboration, and supporting a divisional culture of individual and departmental growth supported by professional development.
  • Develop and analyze admissions, enrollment and marketing reports and outcomes by campaigns, initiatives, programs, majors, markets, population, and countries; and ensure that resources are used effectively.
  • Lead institutional marketing and communications strategies to enhance national and global visibility reflective of Ringling’s brand.
  • Partner with the campus community to continue to capture and articulate the unique culture, history and position of Ringling College and its unique academic programs across diverse constituents and stakeholders.
  • Join the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Design Center in their work with campus partners in identifying market segments and creating nuanced marketing strategies which address the specific needs of Ringling’s unique populations and programs.
  • Determine strategic use of financial assistance for the recruitment and retention of students; optimize the use of state, federal, contributed, endowed, and other institutional resources; and establish plans to ensure the continual increase in the strength and sustainability of Financial Aid programs.
  • Ensure that monitoring systems are in place to track compliance with all federal, state, and applicable international country laws and regulations and ensure that all staff have the necessary training to comply with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Employ a customer service and compliance approach by establishing processes that are student centric and ensure operations are flowing as seamlessly as possible.
  • Address barriers to enrollment, foster a student centric spirit among the team, and provide an institutional view and approach to addressing the needs of students.
  • Chair Ringling’s Student Retention Committee, enhance Ringling’s culture of student success through collaboration with campus partners, development of programs that enhance student retention, and address the immediate needs of Ringling’s diverse student population.

Qualifications, Abilities and Desired Characteristics:
It is expected that the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing will hold a bachelor’s degree and possess at least eight years of demonstrated leadership success as an innovator in enrollment management and marketing. An advanced degree is preferred. In addition, the successful candidate will also possess many of the following abilities and characteristics:

  • An ability to develop, implement, and revise comprehensive strategic enrollment and marketing plans that reflect the ongoing needs of each program and respond to an evolving marketplace and changes in student demographics.
  • Success in communicating a compelling strategy and motivating teams in executing actionable and creative initiatives toward that vision.
  • Results-driven with a proven track record in successful outreach and recruitment of a student body that is internationally, culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse.
  • A sincere passion for art and design with an understanding of the individual goals and needs of students, the nuances of an exceptional art and design program, and the career opportunities, outcomes and value of an art and design education.
  • Well versed and knowledgeable about the value of an art and design education and its role in contributing to the betterment of society.
  • Demonstrated experience in strategic research and planning, data analysis, reporting, budgeting, and supervision.
  • Experienced in the development of brand initiatives, institutional marketing, crisis communications, and enrollment marketing.
  • An advanced level of familiarity with integrated marketing approaches that reach audiences including website development, social media, and digital marketing tools.
  • Past experience in institutional communications including crisis planning and communications; ability to act as a spokesperson on behalf of the organization.
  • Expert facility with both qualitative and quantitative data collection with the ability to analyze, interpret, and articulate information in a manner that informs and engages others.
  • Skilled in the application of best practices and use of technology to improve efficiency and enhance the experience of students and families.
  • An active commitment to advancing diversity, inclusivity, and belonging for both the recruitment and retention of students, as well as staff.
  • Fiscally responsible with experience in planning, allocation, and tracking of budgets and strong practical experience in pricing and discounting strategies.
  • Demonstrated ability to build, lead, support, motivate, and retain an outstanding staff.
  • Possess an intense interest and ability to collaborate across campus with a desire to develop respectful, trusting relationships with campus partners as an engaged member of the Ringling community.
  • Ability to be bold, creative and visionary while also being collegial, collaborative, and inclusive; a strong desire to contribute to a successful leadership team.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
  • Confident, energetic, enthusiastic, fun, and patient.
  • Deep understanding of the impactful use of the full complement of higher education practices in the awarding of merit and need-based financial aid to meet enrollment goals.
  • A track record of success in building and growing strong relationships across pipelines and populations, in conducting national and international recruitment and marketing campaigns, and in raising the visibility and reputation of an organization.

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART + DESIGN
Ringling College of Art and Design is a private four-year accredited college located in Sarasota, Florida. Founded as an art school in 1931, it was a remote branch of Southern College, named The School of Fine and Applied Art of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum. The art school separated from Southern College and became an independent nonprofit institution in 1933 and changed its name to Ringling School of Art.

Today, the picturesque 54-acre campus includes more than 110 buildings, and enrolls approximately 1,700 students from 44 states, 54 countries, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico – two thirds of whom reside on the pedestrian-friendly residential campus. Its faculty members are all professional artists, designers, and scholars who actively pursue their own work outside the classroom. The College’s rigorous curriculum engages innovation and tradition through a strong, well-rounded, first-year program specific to the major of study, with a deep focus on the liberal arts. Ringling’s teaching model encourages students to become globally aware scholar-practitioners who are well prepared to enter the job market and be successful in their chosen careers. Students are taught by 184 faculty, with a ratio of 11 to 1. Ringling has been successful at holding a discount rate of 28 percent. Ringling has always had a balanced budget (never a deficit) for the entirety of its existence. Ringling is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Ringling College of Art and Design has entered the public phase of their campaign, “Catalyst for Creativity.” Over $146 million has been raised out of the goal of $175 million, since it commenced in 2018. The Campaign includes three institutional priorities: supporting students and faculty, growing facilities, and expanding community programs and has been supported by trustees, alumni and friends, and by the surrounding communities of Sarasota County.

Ringling College believes in cultivating the creative spirit of students in a supportive environment with professional resources, inspiring faculty, and world class facilities and technology. The College is the only institution in Florida dedicated exclusively to teaching art and design. Many of its programs are ranked among the best in the nation. The College offers eleven BFA programs and two BA programs in the following thirteen creative disciplines:

  • Business of Art and Design
  • Computer Animation
  • Creative Writing
  • Entertainment Design
  • Film
  • Fine Arts
  • Game Art
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Motion Design
  • Photography and Imaging
  • Virtual Reality Development
  • Visual Studies

Within the admissions process, students are required to submit portfolios of work and apply directly to the major of their choice; 84 percent of students retain after their first year, and 77 percent graduate within six years.

Leadership
Ringling College is a place for the world’s most talented emerging artists, designers, and scholars. Here, we know that creative problem solvers and critical thinkers require a unique environment to reach their full potential, which is why we provide our students with an award-winning faculty, world-class facilities, and professional opportunities to learn and grow. We call it “The Ringling Effect…”

Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President

Dr. Larry R. Thompson is currently serving his 26th year as president of Ringling College of Art and Design. An energetic, innovative, and visionary community leader, Dr. Thompson is on a mission to transform art and design higher education and to infuse business with creativity – Shattering the Myth of the Starving Artist™. He is passionate about the extraordinary potential that art, design, and creativity has on the global economy and its influence on lives, work, and the entire world.

During his tenure as president of Ringling College, Thompson has worked tirelessly to infuse his spirit of inclusion throughout the institution by celebrating diversity, encouraging freedom of expression, supporting new ways of teaching and learning and encouraging risk-taking to innovate and enhance the overall teaching and learning experience. Under Dr. Thompson’s leadership, Ringling has more than doubled its enrollments and enhanced its academic offerings, most recently developing and launching market relevant programs including majors in entertainment design and virtual reality development, and a certificate in artificial intelligence. To further support the student experience, the campus has invested in new facilities, adding the Alfred R. Goldstein Library, two LEED certified residential facilities, the Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center, the Cunniffe Commons, and a new museum during the past seven years. In May 2024, Ringling announced plans for a signature academic and multi-purpose building which will grace the entrance to campus. The building will feature space for ​​computer animation, game art, virtual reality development, and entertainment design, as well as a welcome center and event space.

Prior to joining Ringling College, Thompson was president and CEO of the Flint Cultural Center in Michigan — a 30-acre campus encompassing the nine leading cultural institutions of the Greater Flint Area. Dr. Thompson also served as the founding director and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, and in his earlier career, as special assistant to the president of The Ohio State University.

Dr. Thompson is a lawyer, earning his Juris Doctorate summa cum laude from The Ohio State University and holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Counseling from California State University Los Angeles.

…The Ringling Effect can’t be narrowed to one aspect of life at Ringling. No, it’s a confluence of factors that result in the very best conditions for creative development, inspiration, and creative problem-solving. Our faculty, comprised of award-winning artists and designers who are passionate about their field, lead our students through the best practices in the industry, prompting them to ask questions, think globally, and take big, yet calculated, risks. Our studios, labs, and classrooms empower students to learn by making and doing, while developing their professional skills using the best equipment and most advanced technology in the world. Our programs propel students from the classroom to the conference room by guaranteeing the opportunity to have actual, professional client projects for each and every student before graduation…

Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President

Strategic Planning
The President, with the advice and counsel of the Strategic Planning Committee, Academic Planning committee, and Facilities Planning Committee, leads Ringling College of Art and Design’s strategic planning process. The Board of Trustees approved the prior Strategic Plan in 2005, and reaffirmed it in 2015. The process for the creation of the updated Strategic Plan formally began in 2023, with the approval of the Board of Trustees granted in February, 2024. The updated version of the strategic plan includes the following:

College Vision
Ringling College of Art and Design will be the preeminent college of art and design in the world.

College Mission
Ringling College of Art and Design educates students, its community, and the world to understand art and creativity as essential dimensions to life. The College recognizes that scholars, artists, designers, and creative professionals play a significant role in society. Through its policies and practices, the College supports innovation; excellence in education; and fosters the creative, intellectual, professional, and personal development of its students and the greater community at large.

In support of this mission:

  • Ringling College prepares students for successful careers that contribute positively to society.
  • Ringling College strives to enroll both full-time and part-time students from diverse backgrounds who intend to become creative professionals.
  • Ringling College provides community interaction within the complex world of cultural and artistic disciplines for cultural enlightenment, lifelong learning, artistic appreciation, and career development.
  • Ringling’s curriculum balances the teaching of technical knowledge and skills with the development of critical, conceptual, and creative abilities and supports courses that provide historical, multicultural, global, and future perspectives.
  • Ringling’s faculty consists of professionally active and teaching-oriented artists, designers, professionals, and scholars.
  • Academic programs along with Advising, Career Services, and an extensive co-curricular student life program help prepare students for a creative profession, life-long learning, and graduate level studies.
  • Ringling College provides the opportunity for all students to gain professional experience prior to graduation by connecting them with leading brands and clients to develop creative solutions to business challenges.

Core Values

  • Collaboration: Embrace the strength of our collective talents, fostering an environment of cooperative creativity and shared success.
  • Community: Cultivate a vibrant, inclusive network that promotes respect, support, and shared achievement for all.
  • Creativity: Encourage excellence in artistic expression and creative thinking as fundamental elements of our educational identity.
  • Diversity: Cherish and embrace diversity, in all forms, promoting equity and inclusivity as pillars of our community.
  • Innovation: Commit to groundbreaking approaches in learning and technology, and equipping students for constantly evolving creative professions.
  • Integrity: Uphold and respect ethical values by fostering honesty, transparency, accountability, and trust.
  • Professionalism: Aspire to excellence and diligent practice, preparing our campus and community for success while promoting a culture of respect and lifelong learning.

Also included in the updated version of the Strategic Plan are strategic pillars and goals, covering: Academic vitality, student support, people and culture, facilities, technology, resources, and strategic positioning. The Strategic Plan of Ringling College Art and Design is a plan in action, with the college’s senior officers annually creating a list of initiatives that are aligned with the plan's goals, with input from the college community. Those initiatives are shared with the Board of Trustees, Strategic Planning Steering Committee, and the college community.

…And we care. For the last 90 years, Ringling College has strived to create globally aware and socially responsible leaders of art and design. Companies today are looking for original, creative solutions to make the world a better place and address the major challenges of our time. That’s why we instill the significance of creating work with value and meaning.

Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Ringling College is a community, composed of individuals with beliefs and backgrounds from every corner of the world. The College elevates, supports, and empowers students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters to celebrate their differences in an environment of trust and respect.

Art and design exists and thrives through diversity. Diversity of thought and perspective shapes cultures and conversations. It comprises the foundation on which Ringling College is built.

Every member of the Ringling community adds to the mix of dedicated, curious, quirky, and talented blend of creatives. Ringling is relentless in its pursuit of brilliance and uncompromising in their values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Student Life
Campus and Facilities
Nearly seventy percent of the students reside on the pedestrian-friendly, picturesque 54-acre campus of more than 110 buildings. Ringling College offers on-campus housing designed for creative living, with housing options that spark community and collaboration. The campus has everything an emerging artist or designer could need: coffee shops; fitness centers; galleries and exhibition spaces; fully equipped, professional studios and labs; a “library of the future”, the Alfred R. Goldstein Library, which allows students the space to spark creative collaboration and conversation; large scale, customizable project rooms; digital checkouts; and more.

Ringling College also has secondary campuses: The Museum Campus and the Englewood Art Center. The Museum Campus houses the Sarasota Art Museum, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and additional community service programs. The Sarasota Art Museum is a contemporary art museum known as a “Kunsthalle,” an art museum without a permanent collection, featuring traveling and locally curated exhibitions. The Englewood Art Center focuses on education, exhibitions and events and serves as a nexus for artists and audiences. Classes are offered on site and the Center is host to two classrooms, studio space, and a lending library.

Sarasota, Florida
Arts and culture come alive in Sarasota. Sarasota County has the long-standing designation as the Cultural Coast®. Renowned for world-class performing and fine arts, spectacular performances can be enjoyed through the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Sarasota Ballet, The Circus Arts Conservatory, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera House, and other venues and events in and around the county.

Sarasota is defined by a rich and varied arts scene that belies the size of the city, estimated to be 765,000 within the Sarasota-Bradenton area. The cultural offerings per capita exceed that of almost any other city outside of New York. For example, the famous John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art features an enormous selection of paintings - including one of the biggest collections of Rubens in the world. There is a vibrant gallery scene showcasing Sarasota’s talented local artists as well as visiting collections from artists around the world.

The natural beauty of Florida can be experienced through Sarasota’s world renowned pristine white sand beaches and natural surroundings. The city has some of the most extensive public park lands in the state including the incomparable Myakka State Park, boasting miles of hiking trails. Sarasota has also become an international golf destination with dozens of courses in the area designed by some of the biggest names in golf. Ed Smith Stadium hosts baseball’s Baltimore Orioles spring training, and in southern Sarasota County, North Port hosts the spring training of the Atlanta Braves.

Neighborhoods range from the colorful old-Florida houses of downtown Sarasota’s historic Towles Court art district to new housing communities. There are also areas of unique shops, restaurants and bars that make for an exciting destination.

For more information, Visit Sarasota.

To Apply
NES, a higher education search firm specializing in enrollment management searches, is assisting Ringling College of Art and Design in identifying the College's next Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. For more information, or to nominate someone for this position, contact Robin Reynders (robin.reynders@nessearches.com), Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@nessearches.com) or Mary Napier (mary.napier@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 this role. 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 ringling@nessearches.com by November 22, 2024. The position is campus-based and the preferred start date is Spring 2025.

Ringling College of Art and Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The College provides equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to sex, age, gender, color, race, national or ethnic origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.

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