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William H. Nunn discovered his niche in the education field as a young graduate assistant at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He had only been working in the admissions office for six weeks when he was offered a full-time job. “That was the beginning,” he recalls.
Now, with more than 30 years of experience in admissions and enrollment management, Nunn has joined The University of Akron as associate vice president for enrollment services. The Board of Trustees approved his appointment at its Jan. 30 meeting.
Prior to his March 4 arrival at UA, Nunn was dean of admissions at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), in Indiana, Pa. The largest of the 14 state-owned universities in Pennsylvania, IUP serves approximately 14,000 students in six undergraduate colleges, a graduate school and a school of continuing education.
In his role as dean, a position he assumed in 1992, Nunn coordinated all undergraduate admissions programs on the main campus of Indiana as well as two branch campuses. His responsibilities included developing an admissions management system; long range and strategic planning pertinent to admissions and enrollment; enrollment modeling and strategic marketing efforts; coordination of articulation agreements with other colleges and universities; and public relations with local, regional and state constituencies.
From 1978 to 1992, Nunn served as associate director of admissions at the University of Pittsburgh — a large, urban, state-related university comprised of nine undergraduate schools and 12 graduate schools. The university’s total enrollment in excess of 25,000 students, says Nunn. His duties included defining short and long range marketing/recruitment goals; assisting in the budget allocation process; coordinating staff training and a selection process for all undergraduate day divisions. He developed one of the first electronic transfer systems in Pennsylvania, if not the country; and an early outreach program for students.
Earlier in his career, Nunn was dean of admissions at the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh — the fifth largest community college in the United States and the largest in Pennsylvania — and assistant director of admissions at Duquesne University.
Nunn earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Duquesne University, in 1969 and 1971, respectively. He has completed all but his dissertation for a Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh; certified in guidance and counseling. He is past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School and College Admission Counselors, and is the current board president of Allegheny Academy.
The term “enrollment services” encompasses all phases of a student’s university experience — from the institution’s initial contact through graduation, says Nunn. He has spent his first weeks on campus meeting with deans and other administrators to get their feedback on enrollment issues.
“Everyone that I have spoken with is concerned about enrollments, and rightly so,” says Nunn. “Students, faculty, staff and administrators are primary beneficiaries when enrollments are coordinated and managed. Academic planning, budget planning, facilities planning — all require assumptions about student enrollment to whatever extent an institution can manage enrollment, thus making it more predictable, the efficacy of planning improves.”
Immediate needs must address retention while developing an early warning system for identifying ‘high risk’ students at the point of admissions; establishing a fluid process for enrolling students amidst developing an effective admissions management system; developing an enrollment model for identifying the “proper fit” for targeting and retaining students; while reviewing current policies, practices and procedures that impact student enrollment at the University; and re-emphasizing a University-wide student focused philosophy where students will be the priority in everyone’s mind.
Throughout his career, Nunn has been involved in initiatives to make college a reality for as many eligible students as possible.
While serving as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School and College Admission Counselors, Nunn testified at congressional hearings in support of the Stafford Loan and Pell Grant programs.
Through his longtime membership in the National Association of College Admission Counselors, Nunn helped write guidelines on ethical practices in college recruitment as well as a statement of responsibility, rights and privileges of students during the college selection process.
Nunn’s other professional activities include serving on Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship Committee in 2000 and 2001. He is a recipient of a 1996 APEX Award for Publication Excellence, for an Undergraduate Prospectus and Application.
I’m excited about being here at The University of Akron,” says Nunn. “I see tremendous administrative leadership and a strong faculty component. I cherish the opportunity to meet and work with faculty who are the heartbeat of the institution.
“I really believe a picture is worth a thousand words,” continues Nunn. “The building campaign that is under way is going to have a big impact on the environment here and the first impression created with prospective students. But how we do business is up to us — we all have a part to play in the institution’s future success.”
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