Walk among our towering pines, where the music from over one hundred practice huts invades your senses and lifts your spirits. Count how many nation’s flags you recognize as these symbols of our student’s home countries gently blow in the breeze above an auditorium that plays host to musical superstars. Escape the afternoon doldrums by dropping in on a pottery session, or an improv class, or a Nutcracker rehearsal. Fill your days with passion and purpose that stay with you long after you turn off your office lights. This is not your typical desk job—this is Interlochen.
Position Summary: Interlochen Center for the Arts ("Interlochen" or "ICA"), a national leader among educational, artistic, and cultural organizations, seeks an executive dean of admission. This is an outstanding opportunity for an individual with proven leadership capabilities, strong communication skills, and a track record of strategic, analytic decision making to participate in shaping the future of an extraordinary performing arts boarding school and summer program. The executive dean of admission will work directly with the vice president of enrollment management and marketing to engage in work related to the development of a comprehensive, data driven, and mission focused enrollment management plan and will see the impact of that work, both immediately and long term, embodied in ICA’s vibrant and diverse community.
The executive dean of admission is responsible for enhancing ICA’s position in the marketplace through carefully designed and executed enrollment and admission strategies. ICA will look to its new executive dean to support excellence and understand and communicate to prospective students and families the value of this distinctive educational institution.
The executive dean of admission oversees a talented team of admission professionals, and will be focused on admitting students based on their artistic, academic, and emotional readiness.
Under the current structure, direct reports include the dean of admission and financial aid, academy; and the dean of admission & financial aid, summer & auxiliary programs.
The executive dean will collaborate across campus with leaders to ensure that Interlochen continues to attract outstanding mission-fit students with the potential to become the creative changemakers our world needs.
A primary focus will be to develop a strong partnership with our provost and our education department.
This position is responsible for not only recruiting for the Academy, but also for Interlochen’s renowned Arts Camp, as well as being engaged with enrollment activities for Interlochen Online.
The executive dean will identify opportunities to add student value and expand offerings through feedback from prospective students, parents, and partners. In these efforts, Interlochen will expand its market reach to continue to attract an excellent student body.
Other duties as assigned.
Education: A BA/BS is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
Experience:
Demonstrated experience in developing strategic admission, financial aid, and retention models with the ability to collect and maintain statistics on enrollment patterns using demographic and geographic analysis and projections.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public relations skills.
Significant and substantive experience in the leadership and supervision of admission and financial aid professionals.
Experience working in a boarding school, independent day school, or higher education setting is strongly preferred.
Proven ability to analyze, summarize, and present data to various constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, and families; comfort in acting as a spokesperson for the Interlochen Arts Academy and Interlochen Arts Camp at both the national and international levels.
Expertise in local, national, and international enrollment trends and fluency with policies and practices in financial aid; familiarity with emerging issues in secondary school education.
Substantial experience with diverse students, faculty, and communities and a record of creating and executing strategies aimed at building an inclusive and welcoming campus culture.
Familiarity with software systems that support recruitment, including Salesforce, admission review, and financial aid management.
Equipment Familiarity: Familiarity with software systems that support recruitment, including Salesforce, admission review, and financial aid management; as well as experience with Mac Laptop, Google Suite, MS Office Suite.
A global destination for artists and arts enthusiasts, Interlochen Center for the Arts comprises Interlochen Arts Camp, a world-class multidisciplinary summer arts program; Interlochen Arts Academy, the nation’s premier arts boarding high school; Interlochen Online, the emerging leader in virtual arts education; Interlochen Presents, a producer of 600+ performances annually by celebrated guest artists, Interlochen students, and faculty; Interlochen Public Radio, two listener-supported, 24-hour public radio stations (classical music and news); and Interlochen College of Creative Arts, a convener for continuing arts education. Since 1928, Interlochen has ignited and propelled a lifelong passion for the arts.
