Job Description for the Dean of Admissions position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Dean of Admissions

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Admissions and Financial Aid

Department: Admissions

Location: Queens Campus - Charlotte

Special Instructions to Apply: 

NES, a national executive search firm specializing in higher education, is assisting Queens University of Charlotte with this search for a Dean of Admissions. If you wish to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity or submit nominations, please contact: Drew Nichols (drew.nichols@nessearches.com), Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@nessearches.com), or Laura Robinson (laura.robinson@nessearches.com). To apply, please send the following items: 1) a resume, 2) a detailed letter of interest, and 3) contact information for five professional references by email to: queens@nessearches.com. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted electronically by April 29, 2026. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and candidates will be notified before references are contacted. The Dean of Admission’s anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.

Position Summary

Queens University, a private, comprehensive university in Charlotte, North Carolina, is seeking a relational, dynamic, and forward-thinking Dean of Admissions who will bring a history of demonstrated success in undergraduate recruitment, experience in developing and executing strategic enrollment plans, and a keen understanding of data and analysis to the role. The Dean will oversee the Office of Admissions, providing strategic leadership and oversight for the university’s recruitment and admissions functions, ensuring a cohesive and data-informed approach to attracting and enrolling mission-aligned students. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment at Elon University, the Dean will execute an undergraduate enrollment strategy that strengthens academic quality, enhances diversity, and supports Queens’ long-term growth in a dynamic higher education landscape.

In September 2025, Queens announced a merger with Elon University, detailing a bold, strategic vision that would amplify and leverage the strengths of both institutions. With the merger, Queens continues to evolve as an organization and seeks an innovative leader who is eager to be on the leading edge of admissions and enrollment strategy—setting the standard for excellence in higher education for the next 50 years as they continue to provide a seamless experience for all students and increasing pathways to success.

As a member of the enrollment management leadership team, the Dean will serve as a bridge between leadership teams at Elon and Queens. Working collaboratively, they will develop and execute specific strategies and tactics, which support the unique enrollment challenges in a changing environment. The Dean will be an exceptional leader and team builder, a collaborative and relationship driven campus and community partner, and an experienced enrollment management professional with an understanding of the national and international markets.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with an advanced degree preferred. Additionally, this role requires a minimum of five more years of progressive leadership in admissions or enrollment management building and leading high functioning teams. Further, Queens seeks a professional with proven success implementing strategies that improve both enrollment and student quality. The chosen candidate should also possess the following qualifications and personal characteristics:

● Exceptional communication, analytical, and leadership skills with the ability to inspire high performance in teams and effectively articulate and communicate the distinctive features of a Queens education to prospective students, parents and counselors.
● Experience leveraging technology and CRM platforms for data-driven decision making.
● Commitment to Inclusive Excellence in all recruitment practices.
● Experience in private, selective, liberal arts institutions or competitive regional markets.
● Familiarity with emerging enrollment challenges, including demographic shifts and affordability concerns.
● Willingness to support an enrollment management culture through effective collaboration and partnership across campus.
● A strong foundation in the oversight, evaluation and improvement of admission systems, processes and technology to maximize efficiency and enhance the student experience.
● Expertise in current national best practices and experience with strategic planning and implementation efforts, including those that relate to the use of technology, improving publications and communications, and enhancing the visitor experience.
● Dedication to a culture of information sharing, where goals, priorities, progress and details are shared regularly to ensure faculty and staff are well informed, well trained, and confidently able to contribute to a culture of enrollment management.
● Comfortability working with faculty; willingness to engage them in the enrollment process by helping them to tell the academic story of the institution in a compelling way.
● Ability to lead through change with a calm and competent demeanor while exhibiting a visionary and consistent approach that provides continuity and consistency, even while adapting to the institutional and landscape shifts.

Job Duties

• Leadership
  • Present regular updates and analyses to the President, Board of Trustees, and senior leaders regarding recruitment performance and trends. 
  • Serve as a key university ambassador with prospective students, families, and community partners. 
  • Establish and monitor new student academic profile criteria in collaboration with academic leadership. 
  • Lead, mentor, and evaluate the undergraduate admissions team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation. 
• Strategic Recruitment 
  • Develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy that aligns with institutional goals and market trends. 
  • Implement targeted recruitment initiatives which account for the evolving needs of students and families, as well as changing technology and consumer expectations. 
  • Design engagement opportunities to address the specific needs of special populations, and that influence and compel prospective students and their families to consider a Queens education. 
  • Creatively leverage resources to elevate the reputation of the University and increase the University’s reach among talented and diverse students nationally and internationally. 
• Partnership, Collaboration and Communication 
  • Collaborate with Financial Aid to align scholarship and aid strategies with enrollment objectives and student success outcomes. 
  • Establish relationships with schools, community colleges, and organizations to strengthen recruitment pipelines, especially among underrepresented populations. 
  • Build trusted partnerships with Student Affairs and other key partners to enhance the student experience from recruitment to retention, support diverse and inclusive communities, and improve student success. 
  • Partner with Academic Affairs to align recruitment with academic strengths and to ensure enrollment targets support academic goals while also sharing market data to inform academic program development. 
  • Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to design compelling recruitment materials and campaigns that reflect Queens’ distinctive value—personalized education, experiential learning, and its Charlotte advantage. 
  • Work closely with leadership within athletics to optimize the University’s recruitment efforts for student athletes. 
• Technology and Analytics 
  • Oversee the use of admissions systems (Slate experience preferred) to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and data integrity. 
  • Utilize data analytics to assess recruitment performance, forecast enrollment trends, and inform institutional planning. 
  • Provide data-driven guidance for all aspects of student recruitment programs and strategic enrollment initiatives. 
  • Analyze and interpret data to inform strategies for search, recruitment, and yield. 
  • Oversee the integration of Student Information Systems (Slate, Jenzabar, Jira, and PowerFAIDS) to centralize operations and increase efficiencies. 

Special Instructions to Apply: 

NES, a national executive search firm specializing in higher education, is assisting Queens University of Charlotte with this search for a Dean of Admissions. If you wish to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity or submit nominations, please contact: Drew Nichols (drew.nichols@nessearches.com), Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@nessearches.com), or Laura Robinson (laura.robinson@nessearches.com). To apply, please send the following items: 1) a resume, 2) a detailed letter of interest, and 3) contact information for five professional references by email to: queens@nessearches.com. For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted electronically by April 29, 2026. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and candidates will be notified before references are contacted. The Dean of Admission’s anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.