Dean of Graduate Admission

The Catholic University of America was founded in 1887 by the U.S. Catholic bishops and is the national university of the Church in the United States. It is the only American university established by papal charter, and the only American university with ecclesiastical faculties granting canonical degrees in three disciplines - theology, philosophy, and canon law. Today the University is home to 12 schools and 32 research facilities, as well as 3,100 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students from across the United States and around the world. The Catholic University of America is located in the heart of Washington, D.C., a short distance from Capitol Hill, the Library of Congress, and the National Mall.

The Position

The Catholic University of America seeks a strategic enrollment professional with a collaborative nature and expertise in enrollment best practices for the role of Dean of Graduate Admission. This newly re-envisioned position will report to Dr. J. Steven Brown, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Dean of Graduate Studies. The Dean will play a key role in achieving enrollment goals and objectives for the graduate school.  

The Dean oversees the continuous assessment of effectiveness of recruiting strategies, plays a pivotal role in devising advertising and marketing approaches for publicizing the University’s academic programs, and directs the department’s efforts in communications for the enrollment of prospective graduate students.  In these capacities the Dean is expected to develop close working relationships with school deans, department chairs, program directors, expert coordinators, Office of Enrollment Management, Office of Institutional Research, Division of University Communication, and University Advancement, while serving as a liaison between graduate school applicants and The Catholic University of America.

Responsibilities and Priorities

The expectations for the Dean of Graduate Admission require that the successful candidate possess the ability and experience to accomplish the following responsibilities and priorities in these key areas:

• Provide a strategic vision that can be operationalized into a strategic enrollment plan to aggressively grow the number of revenue-generating graduate students.
• Help manage, leverage, and administer institutional discounting to maximize net tuition revenues.
• Develop and execute graduate student recruitment strategies including planning special recruitment and yield events as appropriate for successful recruitment of students in the graduate population.
• Effectively collaborate and communicate with each school’s deans, faculty, and key staff to assess goals, needs, and efficiencies related to recruitment, admission, and enrollment within that school.
• Develop and execute recruitment and marketing materials to include collateral ranging from electronic and print materials to videos.
• Manage and oversee graduate marketing spending and manage relationship with external marketing partners.
• Develop and execute program specific communications plans for prospects, applicants and matriculants.
• Develop and nurture key contacts at feeder schools including directors of career services, deans, program directors, discipline specific advisors, etc.
• Provide avenues of outreach to local industry and market partners (government labs, working professionals, embassies, companies) to aggressively expand local markets.
• Coordinate with University-wide online initiatives.
• Utilize available internal data and conduct market analyses to determine attractive and appropriate opportunities.
• Plan strategically and analyze effectively with data driven decision making.
• Support the current team of graduate recruiters by giving guidance, resources, and backup to accomplish the graduate admission goals. Build out the team over the course of the next several years to accommodate customer service for prospective students in enhanced numbers.
• Serve as a non-voting member of the Graduate Board to understand and contribute to discussions centering on new graduate program development and procedures. Attend monthly Dean’s meetings.
• Work closely with the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Dean of Graduate Studies on special projects relating to graduate admission and enrollment.
• Support the mission and vision of The Catholic University of America.

Qualifications, Abilities and Characteristics

The Dean should have a proven record of success in achieving enrollment goals as well as exceptional analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Candidates for this position should possess a Master’s degree with at least five years in an academic setting preferred and three years in a professional position at an educational institution.  In addition, the Dean of Graduate Admission should exhibit the following personal and professional qualities and characteristics:

• Knowledge of enrollment management theory, current trends, and practices, as well as the capacity to understand the complex issues facing higher education, especially at the graduate level.
• A broad understanding of strategic marketing; the ability to employ current methods to communicate with prospective graduate students and experience using digital social media strategies to increase enrollment.
• Demonstrated capacity to hire, mentor, supervise and evaluate a talented and motivated team.
• Commitment to the value of diversity and the mission of a national, urban, Catholic research university.
• In-depth knowledge of student information and customer relationship management systems (experience with PeopleSoft and/or Salesforce/TargetX is preferred).
• Total mastery of Microsoft Office and familiarity with basic statistical analyses.
• The ability to manage multiple projects within a complex organization.
• Effective communications skills, both verbal and written, and a dedication to strong customer service.  
• Open and collaborative leadership style that builds trust and strong relationships.
• Experience in and a demonstrated commitment to working with diverse student populations and/or in a culturally diverse work and educational environment.

The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America serves as the one and only national university of the Catholic Church in the United States.  Founded in 1887 as a papally-chartered graduate and research center, the University began offering undergraduate education in 1904.  One of the original graduate schools in the nation, Catholic University consists of ten schools that award both undergraduate and advanced degrees:  Architecture and planning, arts and sciences, business, engineering, performing and fine arts, nursing, philosophy, professional studies, social work, and theology and religious studies.  In addition, advanced degrees are also awarded in the School of Canon Law and the Columbus School of Law.  Approximately 3,100 undergraduates combine a base curriculum in the liberal arts with more in-depth courses from their major fields of study. Undergraduate students in all majors can find semester, year-long or summer-only opportunities for study on five continents and at The Rome Center of The Catholic University of America.   

The University serves approximately 2,300 students seeking advanced degrees in more than 150 degree programs including canonical degrees in canon law, philosophy, and theology.  Theological College, the University seminary, prepares men for the priesthood who come from many dioceses of the United States.

Many first-time visitors to campus are captivated by the University’s expansive campus with 176 tree-lined, rolling acres, which contains 48 major buildings and residence halls, with more than 2,000 students living on campus. The campus is the largest and greenest of any college or university in Washington, D.C., and the skyline is dominated by the adjacent majestic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Roman Catholic church in North America.   

Students have numerous opportunities for participation.  There are over 90 clubs and organizations that thrive on campus.  The Office of Campus Ministry offers activities for faith development as well as community service and social justice education in the Washington, D.C. area, in the greater United States, and abroad.

To learn more about the University, go to https://www.catholic.edu/index.html.

The Catholic University of America Mission Statement

 As the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, founded and sponsored by the bishops of the country with the approval of the Holy See, The Catholic University of America is committed to being a comprehensive Catholic and American institution of higher learning, faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ as handed on by the Church.

Dedicated to advancing the dialogue between faith and reason, The Catholic University of America seeks to discover and impart the truth through excellence in teaching and research, all in service to the Church, the nation and the world.

Location

Catholic University is located in both a powerful and historic city, and surrounded by lush, green landscapes and cherry blossoms. Situated just three miles north of Capitol Hill in the heart of the Brookland neighborhood, Catholic University’s campus, the largest in Washington, D.C., provides a residential oasis for Catholic’s students, all looking for a distinctive educational experience rooted in a deeper meaning.

Between the Brookland and Edgewood neighborhoods that surround Catholic University, families can find a wealth of activities, from live music to nearby historic Bunker Hill Park, to educational and social opportunities. Stepping beyond Brookland and into the heart of Washington D.C., students and employees will find access to the nation’s capital as a learning laboratory, a world-class cultural center, and the heart of the nation’s political life.  Washington, D.C., is a city of politics, parades, festivals, museums, professional sports, theatres, concerts, shopping, parks, restaurants, monuments, waterways, and trendy neighborhoods. Catholic University’s own Metro stop makes it easy to get around the city and connect to everything that Washington D.C. has to offer.  It is only three stops away from Union Station, offering commuting services to surrounding states as well as full Amtrak transit services.

To Apply

Applications, nominations, and inquiries for the position of Dean of Admission should be directed to Napier Executive Search.  To arrange for a confidential conversation, please contact Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@napiersearch.com ) or Mary Napier (mary.napier@napiersearch.com).  An application must include a detailed letter of interest, an up-to-date resume, and contact information for three professional references.  For best consideration, submit all application materials by email on or before July 20 to: cua@napiersearch.com for assurance of full consideration.  Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.  All applications and nominations will be considered confidential and notice will be given prior to contacting references.

The Catholic University of America does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational or employment programs or activities in which it participates.

All applicants must be supportive of the mission of The Catholic University of America.