An enrollment expert with more than three decades of higher education experience in student admissions and recruitment will lead The University of Toledo’s Division of Enrollment Management as interim vice president, pending approval by UT’s Board of Trustees.
Stephanie Sanders currently serves as an executive consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, a firm that specializes in strengthening higher education enrollment practices. She has spent the last seven months consulting with UT on its enrollment challenges. Prior to joining the consultant firm, Sanders spent nearly 30 years working in admissions at Ohio State University.
Sanders
“While Stephanie was not looking for this opportunity, I am so pleased she agreed to fill this critical role to keep our positive momentum going,” Gaber said.
In a letter to Enrollment Management staff sent earlier this week, Gaber recognized how much progress has been made.
“Your hard work and the changes and enhancements you are making are already paying off,” she wrote. “Early fall 2016 student recruitment and retention indicators are looking very good, and you all are major players in making that happen.”
Gaber also emphasized that it was crucial to keep that same sense of urgency in the weeks and months ahead.
Sanders said she is looking forward to the opportunity.
“I have had the opportunity to work with UT during the past seven months with Ruffalo Noel Levitz, and I see clearly the great things ahead for this University,” said Sanders, who worked alongside Mager at Ohio State for many years, successfully raising the school’s enrollment numbers and its student academic profile.
“I’m eager to continue working with Jim and the Enrollment Management team this summer to ensure a smooth transition, and I look forward to engaging the deans, faculty, staff, students and all members of the UT Rocket family to share the incredible educational opportunities available at The University of Toledo.”
Mager said he had no doubt of Sanders’ future success at UT.
“It will be so important to have continuity in the momentum we are building for enrollment,” Mager said. “Stephanie has already spent seven months at UT building that momentum. When you add her successes at universities in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 during her time at Ruffalo Noel Levitz and her work at Ohio State before that, it is clear UT has made a great choice.”
Sanders’ two-year interim appointment, which will begin July 6, follows the conclusion of a search for a permanent vice president.
“While the search identified some strong candidates, we weren’t able to bring it to conclusion,” Gaber said. “Stephanie will help us to continue to build the foundation of strong recruitment and retention efforts at The University of Toledo. We will then be positioned to have a strong national search.”
