The Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Admission & Student Financial Services is a critical leadership position
within Southern Methodist University and will play a central role in advancing the University's enrollment
aspirations, both undergraduate and graduate and professional, during a period of institutional momentum,
organizational evolution, and strategic planning. Reporting directly to the Vice Provost for Enrollment
Management, the AVP/Dean serves as a key member of the enrollment leadership team and a trusted advisor to
the Vice Provost, Provost, and other university leaders on matters related to admission, financial aid, affordability,
enrollment strategy, and student financial services. The role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of
enrollment management at one of the nation's leading private research universities.
The AVP/Dean provides executive leadership for undergraduate admission, student financial services, financial
aid, enrollment marketing and communications, student accounts, scholarship administration, and related
enrollment operations. The AVP/Dean will lead a talented team responsible for recruiting, enrolling, and
supporting students, while ensuring that admissions, financial aid, student financial services, and enrollment
operations align with institutional priorities. While the Admission Office focuses on first-year and transfer students,
the AVP/Dean will also be a key collaborator with graduate admission offices in the schools as recruitment
strategies and tactics evolve. Additionally, Student Financial Services supports all undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students. The AVP/Dean will be accountable for translating enrollment strategies into measurable
outcomes related to enrollment growth, academic quality, student community, affordability, student success, and
net tuition revenue. The individual will work closely with the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and the
Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Planning to translate enrollment, net tuition revenue, and financial aid
strategies into effective operational plans and measurable outcomes.
The position currently oversees a large and complex organization with approximately 75 staff members across
Undergraduate Admission, Enrollment Marketing & Communication, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and the
Mane Desk (one-stop service center). The new AVP/Dean will work closely with peers in the Registrar’s Office
and the International Office. This role interacts closely with Student Academic Engagement & Success to support
student enrollment, advising, retention, and graduation, as well as with colleagues in the academic schools who
facilitate graduate financial aid.
The AVP/Dean will represent SMU both internally and externally, working collaboratively with academic and
administrative leaders across campus while serving as an ambassador for the University with prospective
students and families, school counselors, community partners, professional associations, and peer institutions.
The AVP/Dean responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Provide strategic and operational leadership for undergraduate admission, student financial services, financial aid, enrollment marketing, student accounts, and related enrollment functions.
Partner with university leadership to develop and implement recruitment and enrollment strategies that advance institutional priorities and achieve enrollment and net tuition revenue goals.
Ensure strong alignment between admission and financial aid strategies, policies, and operations.
Lead efforts to modernize systems, streamline processes, and improve service delivery through effective use of technology, analytics, and continuous improvement practices.
Serve as a strategic advisor on enrollment trends, financial aid policy, student behavior, and market conditions affecting student recruitment and enrollment.
Recruit, develop, and support high-performing teams while fostering a collaborative, student-centered culture focused on innovation, accountability, and results.
Represent SMU with external constituencies and strengthen the University's visibility and reputation within the enrollment management profession.
Serve as a senior leader for financial aid, ensuring regulatory compliance, responsible stewardship of financial resources, and effective administration of federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs.
Collaborate with enrollment management, academic, and administrative leaders to strengthen the student enrollment experience, remove barriers to student progress, and support student success, persistence, and institutional goals.
The successful candidate will be both a strategic thinker and a hands-on leader who demonstrates a desire to win and achieve, cares about staff, and can make work fun. A master's degree is required; an earned doctorate or other terminal degree is
preferred.
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 this profile.
WittKieffer is assisting Southern Methodist University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials
should be received by November 16, 2026.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal: https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/candidates/login?ec=302&startURL=/candidates/position-details?projectId=a1WUn000002INMnMAO
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Shelley Arakawa, J.D., and Ashlee Musser at:
SMU_AVPandDean@wittkieffer.com
SMU, a private, nonsectarian university of about 12,000 students, is an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of teachers and scholars that values diverse research and creative agendas. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. Explore SMU at www.smu.edu. Our beautifully shaded campus of Georgian-Revival-inspired architecture is situated in the heart of Dallas. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, a culturally rich arts and global business center, is home to many universities, arts organizations, and Fortune 500 corporations. Visit www.dallaschamber.org
