Dean of Admissions

Dean of Admissions

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Achievement, the Dean of Admissions serves as the chief strategic and operational leader of undergraduate and graduate admissions, accountable for recruiting, evaluating and enrolling a talented, diverse and academically prepared student body that reflects George Mason's distinctive mission of access and excellence. The Dean of Admissions holds accountability for recruitment strategy, application review, enrollment outcomes, and the performance and culture of the Admissions team. The position also carries broad authority for the policies, people, and resources that shape each incoming class (starting fall, spring, or summer). The Dean partners closely with other members of the senior leadership of the Division of Enrollment and Student Achievement to advance shared goals, and provides enrollment data, analysis, and counsel to the Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Achievement and University leadership. They also collaborate with George Mason's graduate program directors to leverage university systems to make admissions decisions and scale new student enrollment activities to meet new student enrollment targets. The Dean leads a professional team of recruiters, application reviewers, communication experts, event planners, and operations staff, supported by a sophisticated business intelligence function that turns enrollment data into insight to deliver a seamless, applicant-centered experience at scale.

Organization and Areas of Oversight The Dean of Admissions leads the admissions operation and holds oversight of the following areas:

• Undergraduate Recruitment and Territory Management: Recruitment strategy; and Travel and territory management across Virginia, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, the nation, and key global markets.
• Application Review and Admissions Policy: Application review standards, undergraduate decision processes, and admissions policy that are fair, defensible, and aligned with George Mason's access mission.
• Admissions Operations: Application processing, communications automation, and the applicant experience, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and a seamless journey at scale.
• Data, Technology, and CRM: The chief functional user of the CRM platform (Patriot Connect) and future artificial intelligence applications. In partnership with the division's business intelligence function, develop and enhance reporting and predictive analytics that guide recruitment, financial aid leveraging, and yield.
• Transfer and Pathway Partnerships: Transfer and dual-enrollment pathways with community colleges and high schools, and relationships with school counselors, community-based organizations, and the academic colleges.
• Pre-College Programs: Summer high school pre-college programs, a significant and high-visibility component of the Admissions portfolio.
• Military Services: The Office of Military Services, a significant and high-visibility component of the Admissions portfolio.
• Budget and Resources: Budget oversight for the admissions operation, aligning resources, staffing, and travel with strategic priorities.

Priorities for the First Year

• Meet enrollment targets. Achieve all new enrollment targets for freshman, transfer, and graduate students;
• Continue to lead CRM adoption. Continue to model the full adoption and embrace of George Mason's CRM (Patriot Connect) platform across the admissions operation, in close partnership with the Assistant Vice President for Patriot Connect and the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Initiatives; and
• Deliver on institutional priorities set by the President. Advance key presidential priorities, including expanding direct admission and establishing new admission pathways for both new freshman and transfer students.

Responsibilities

New Student Enrollment Strategy and Leadership

• Provide visionary, data-informed leadership for undergraduate and graduate admissions in alignment with the University's enrollment goals and strategic plan;
• Develop and execute a comprehensive recruitment and yield strategy across first-year, transfer, and special populations to meet enrollment targets for class size, academic profile, and net revenue;
• Advance key institutional priorities set by the President, including expanding direct admission and establishing new admission pathways that broaden access and strengthen enrollment;
• Set and monitor key performance indicators across the admissions funnel, from inquiry and application through admit, deposit, and melt;
• Lead admissions policy, application review standards, and decision processes that are fair, defensible, and aligned with George Mason's access mission; and
• Partner closely with the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Initiatives and the broader enrollment management leadership team to align strategic direction with execution across the division.

Recruitment, Marketing, and Partnerships

• Direct domestic and international recruitment, travel, and territory management, expanding George Mason's reach across Virginia, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, the nation, and key global markets;
• Strengthen transfer and dual-enrollment pathways with community colleges and high schools, a vital pipeline for George Mason;
• Partner with the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications to deliver compelling, personalized, multi-channel outreach to prospective students and families; and
• Build and sustain relationships with school counselors, community-based organizations, and the academic colleges to support recruitment and yield.

Data, Technology, and Operations

• Lead a sophisticated, data-driven admissions operation, fully leveraging George Mason's CRM platform alongside predictive analytics and reporting to guide recruitment, financial aid leveraging, and yield;
• Oversee application processing, communications automation, and the applicant experience, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and a seamless journey at scale;
• Partner with financial aid, integrated enrollment marketing, the registrar, academic stakeholders, and information technology to integrate systems and continuously improve enrollment operations; and
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies and with relevant professional standards and ethics.

Team and Resource Management

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing, service-oriented admissions team, building a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence;
• Exercise budget oversight for the admissions operation, aligning resources, staffing, and travel with strategic priorities. Set goals, coach and evaluate staff, and invest in professional development across the team; and
• Allocate human, financial, and technology resources with transparency and fiscal discipline.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation

• Serve as a visible, credible representative of George Mason Admissions to prospective students, families, schools, and the public;
• Provide enrollment data, analysis, and counsel to the Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Achievement and University leadership;
• Collaborate with deans, faculty, and academic leaders to align recruitment with program priorities and capacity; and
• Represent George Mason in regional, state, and national admissions and enrollment forums, elevating the University's voice and reputation.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Generally, a minimum of 10 years of experience leading and developing teams;
• Demonstrated experience building and executing a student enrollment strategy, including strategic planning and budget management;
• Demonstrated track record of results and metrics meeting or exceeding enrollment targets for first-year, transfer, and/or graduate students;
• Graduate-level experience, as well as transfer and community college pathway experience;
• Large public research university experience;
• Demonstrated expertise with admissions CRM platforms, data analytics, and admissions funnel management;
• Knowledge of admissions best practices, application review, and the legal and ethical standards governing the profession;
• Ability to communicate persuasively with students, families, colleagues, and senior leadership;
• Ability to lead change and innovation in a complex, fast-moving enrollment environment;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with academic leadership, institutional research, marketing, and student affairs; and
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator's license that meets all of GMU's requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason's Vehicle Use Policy 1411 The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver's licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a related field;
• Experience with international recruitment and global enrollment strategy;
• Demonstrated use of financial aid leveraging, tuition discounting strategy, FAFSA policy fluency, and predictive modeling to shape class and net revenue;
• Experience navigating institutional and testing policy changes and evolving admissions practice at scale;
• Experience across multiple institutions or enrollment environments, bringing a broad perspective beyond a single-institution approach;
• A record of advancing access and student success within an enrollment mission;
• Grant writing or grant management experience; and
• Experience using Salesforce-based systems.

Instructions to Applicants