Associate Vice Provost/Dean Admission and Financial Aid (HR Title: Associate Vice President)

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