Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Student Success
About the Search
The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) is kicking off a search for the next permanent leader of the Strategic Enrollment and Student Success (SESS) Division. This division of nearly 200 professionals committed to our students’ success helps recruit, enroll, and retain our students, providing them with financial, academic, and co-curricular support all along the way. SESS is responsible for admissions, advising and mentoring, tutoring, health and wellbeing, career and experiential learning opportunities, housing and dining, recreation and club sports, student leadership programming, and other offerings.
In December 2023, the interim appointment of Dr. Katie Linder as SESS’ leader was announced, and now we are turning our attention to a formal, national search. The position, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Student Success, will have a direct reporting line to the Chancellor and a dotted line to the Provost to deepen connections to executive leadership and enhance the visibility and presence of the division and its teams in key meetings—all while maintaining a vital connection to the Provost and Academic Affairs.
Having a permanent SESS leader in place is essential for the strategy, coordination, and forward momentum of this division and for the success of our students. As the search process moves forward, we will update this page with additional details.
Leadership Attributes
Given the importance of this position, we have cultivated and considered perspectives from across the division and university leadership. Based on this feedback, our community wants a leader who:
- Is a leader of leaders and strategic thought partner—someone who understands and has experience leading teams and other leaders and subject-matter experts, and who can effectively draw upon the experience, ideas, and leadership across the division to advance shared goals
- Can nurture large, strong, and high-performing teams in complex environments
- Fosters collaboration within the division and across the university
- Has a demonstrated track record of leading with unimpeachable integrity
- Brings experience with change management
- Has direct experience working with students and a proven commitment to student success
- Is well-versed in the full student experience but has particular strength in strategic enrollment management, which is one of our greatest areas of need
These attributes will be incorporated into our leadership profile, and we will ensure that the search committee we form uses this as a guide in its selection process.
High-Level Search Timeline
| Date | Activity |
| Early Spring 2024 | Listening sessions with SESS team members and other leaders across campus and review of organizational models of peer universities to develop a leadership profile. |
| Spring 2024 | Search firm selected, leadership profile posted, and search committee formed. |
| Summer 2024 | Search firm will build a pool of candidates for the search committee’s consideration. |
| Fall 2024 | Search committee will review and narrow the pool and invite finalists to on-campus interviews. |
| Fall/Winter 2024 | Leadership selection is made. |
| Spring 2025 | New leader begins. |
Search Committee Membership
Co-Chairs: Pam Jansma, PhD, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Antonio Farias, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Student Representatives: Bria Combs (Undergraduate); Jessica Valdez (Graduate)
Office of the Chancellor Representative: Dan Maxey, PhD, Chief of Staff
Office of the Provost Representative: Beth Myers, PhD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
SESS Divisional Representatives:
Ashley Weatherspoon, Assistant Vice Chancellor Recruitment & Admissions
Ryan Grodman, Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships
Jarrick Brown, Director of Student Life
Katherine Miller, Director of The Phoenix Center at Auraria
Michelle Larson-Krieg, Deputy Director of OIA and Director of International Student and Scholar Services
Jennifer Reich, PhD, Director of University Honors and Leadership, Professor of Sociology, and TIAA Engaged Scholar
Faculty Assembly and UCDALI Representatives:
Wendy Bolyard, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs
Edward Cannon, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor and Counseling Program Leader School of Education & Human Development
Staff Council Representative:Terri Winston, Success Advisor, Student Success and Advising
University Marketing and Communications Representative: Melinda Lammert, Assistant Director of Integrated Marketing & Communications
University Advancement Representative: Jennifer Dailey, Associate Director of Annual Giving
University Innovation Alliance Partnership Representative: Sam Kim, PhD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
College/School-based Student Success Representative: Nimol Hen, Director, Business School First-Generation and Multicultural Program
Finance and Administration Representative and Human Resources Liaison: teri engleke, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
Committee Staff: Meron Ayele, Assistant to the Chief of Staff, with additional support from Tony Rush, Division Operations Manager, Strategic Enrollment and Student Success
For Candidates
The leadership profile will be posted here once it is finalized.
Communications
Internal memo to faculty and staff on the search direction and process (April 15, 2024)
Future communications on the search will be posted here.