Vice President for Enrollment

Smith College is among the largest women’s colleges in the United States, with students from 49 states and 70 countries. Founded almost 150 years ago in the mind and conscience of a New England woman, Sophia Smith, at a time when there were practically no choices for women who wanted an education equal to that available to men, the college's success has been dramatic and undeniable. Today, Smith is among the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the country, continuing its founder's audacious vision and maintaining an unwavering commitment to educating women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose. While much has changed since its founding, the constants of an uncompromising defense of academic and intellectual freedom; an attention to the relation between college education and the larger public issues of world order and human dignity; and a concern for the rights and privileges of women, endure at Smith. In this dynamic moment of change and promise for the college, Smith seeks its next vice president for enrollment.

Reporting to President Kathleen McCartney, the vice president for enrollment will provide visionary and ambitious leadership for all aspects of undergraduate student recruitment, selection, enrollment, billing and financial aid. Guiding a highly competitive admission program that gives strong emphasis to student achievement, potential for success, diversity and access, the new vice president will lead a team responsible for recruiting, enrolling and aiding extraordinarily talented classes of highly motivated students. As a member of a deeply collaborative President's Cabinet, the new vice president will work with the other senior team members to achieve the college's greatest ambitions, building on current strengths and continuously enhancing Smith's national and global visibility, reach and influence.

Long committed to social justice, Smith is reaffirming its dedication to the values of equity, inclusion and the fundamental worth and dignity of all people. Smith's "Here for Every Voice" campaign seeks to close the economic gap that puts education out of reach for so many of the world's most promising students, and gives voice to students of all backgrounds. In fall 2020, the college received a transformational gift of $50 million, with $40 million designated toward student financial aid. This generous gift will serve as a building block and allow the college to make a giant stride in equalizing the Smith experience for students from low- and middle-income backgrounds. Importantly, this will also bring Smith closer to fulfilling its dream of need-blind admission. In leading admission and financial aid, the new vice president will powerfully reinforce this commitment through the recruitment of a student population that is increasingly diverse and representative of the nation and world as a whole.

The new vice president will be forward thinking, collaborative and committed to Smith's values and the transformational power of a liberal arts education within a women's college environment. The ideal candidate will be able to provide strategic direction and leadership to an enrollment program that is well-executed, forward-thinking and student-centered. The personal qualities of integrity; exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; significant strategic and analytical capacity; technological savvy; and an inclusive work style are imperative. Diversity and inclusion are critical to the Smith community, and the college seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The successful candidate must convey a commitment to and record of advancing student access as well as diversity in all its forms.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile, available at WittKieffer.com. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by no later than February 15, 2021.

WittKieffer is assisting Smith College in this search. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Robin Mamlet, Amy Crutchfield and Shelley Arakawa

SmithVPE@wittkieffer.com.

Smith College affirms that diversity in all aspects of the educational environment is necessary for

achieving the highest level of academic excellence. As a central element of this commitment to

excellence, the college seeks to provide an environment that fosters the recruitment and success of a

diverse student, faculty and staff community. The college aspires to create and maintain an

educational, working and living environment that is respectful of differences and free from harassing

behavior.

 

It is the policy of Smith College to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race,

color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability,

genetic information, veteran, special disabled status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. This

policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment,

placement, promotion, demotion or transfer, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or

other form of compensation, professional development and training, the use of all facilities and

participation in all college-sponsored employee activities.