Vice President for Enrollment Management
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University seeks its next Vice President for Enrollment Management to lead a comprehensive enrollment strategy that advances the University's ambitious vision for growth while building upon its longstanding reputation for academic excellence, student success, and mission-driven education. As a key member of the President's Cabinet, the Vice President will provide strategic leadership across both undergraduate and graduate enrollment-related functions, helping the University expand its reach, strengthen its national profile, and attract students who will thrive in Gonzaga's distinctive Jesuit mission. This is a unique opportunity to shape the next chapter of Gonzaga's enrollment success by broadening its reach, growing undergraduate and graduate enrollment, and collaborating across the University to attract students who are drawn to Gonzaga's distinctive mission and transformational educational experience.
Recently ranked #90 among National Universities by U.S. News & World Report, Gonzaga University is a private Jesuit institution located in Spokane, Washington. From its beginnings as a small regional college serving the Inland Northwest, Gonzaga has evolved into a nationally recognized university with students from across the United States and more than 30 countries.
Throughout its history, Gonzaga has remained grounded in the Jesuit principle of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, fostering a culture that emphasizes academic excellence, community, ethical leadership, service, and personal formation.
The University's mission is to educate students for lives of leadership and service for the common good. Rooted in its Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic traditions, Gonzaga seeks to develop students intellectually, spiritually, culturally, physically, and emotionally while preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to their professions and communities. The University's vision is to be recognized nationally as a premier liberal arts-based university that empowers graduates to lead, shape, and serve the world around them.
Gonzaga is led by President Dr. Katia Passerini, who assumed the presidency in July 2025. The University operates as both a Jesuit, religious mission and an incorporated, non-profit higher education institution, and utilizes a unique governance structure composed of a Board of Members and a Board of Trustees with leadership from President Katia Passerini and the President's Cabinet & Council of Deans. The Board of Regents serves in an advisory capacity to the President and Senior Academic and Administrative Leadership. Gonzaga's commitment to mission stewardship and institutional excellence is reflected through collaborative engagement between university leaders, faculty, staff, and students.
Located on a 150-acre campus in Spokane, Gonzaga has invested significantly in new and renovated facilities over the past decade. Recent developments include the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, Bollier Center for Integrated Science and Engineering, Regional Health Partnership Building, and several academic and residential facilities that support the University's continued growth and commitment to student success.
Research, scholarship, and creative inquiry are central to the Gonzaga experience. Faculty actively engage students in research and creative endeavors, integrating discovery and innovation into both undergraduate and graduate education. These efforts are complemented by a strong commitment to experiential learning, leadership development, and community engagement.
Guided by an updated Strategic Plan adopted in 2023, Gonzaga is focused on strengthening its liberal arts foundation, advancing academic and occupational success, expressing fidelity to its Jesuit and Catholic heritage, and promoting holistic student development. Strategic priorities include expanding health sciences education, creating nationally recognized initiatives focused on environmental challenges and civil dialogue, and investing in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software development, data science, and bioinformatics.
Gonzaga's national reputation continues to grow. The University is recognized among the nation's leading institutions for undergraduate teaching, service learning, innovation, student engagement, and veteran support. Students consistently report high levels of involvement in community service, campus life, and academic engagement.
Academically, Gonzaga comprises the College of Arts & Sciences and six professional schools: Business Administration, Education, Engineering & Applied Science, Health Sciences, Law, and Leadership Studies. A Master of Arts in Destination Management is offered by Gonzaga in Florence, Italy. The University also operates the Center for Lifelong Learning, which delivers continuing education, professional development, and certificate programs that serve both working professionals and lifelong learners while creating pathways into graduate education. Academic offerings include 55 undergraduate majors, 73 minors, 27 master's degrees, and six doctoral-level degrees.
Gonzaga offers a distinctive combination of academic rigor, mission-centered education, strong student outcomes, national recognition, and a deeply relational campus culture, making it one of the most respected Jesuit universities in the United States.
The Vice President for Enrollment Management reports directly to the President and is a member of the President's Cabinet. The Vice President for Enrollment Management will provide strategic leadership for undergraduate admissions, graduate admissions, enrollment operations, the Center for Lifelong Learning, student financial services, and enrollment management research and special projects. The Vice President for Enrollment Management works closely with academic leadership, Student Affairs, University Advancement, Marketing and Communications, Finance, Information Technology, Institutional Research and other campus partners to achieve institutional enrollment goals. This is an exciting opportunity to help Gonzaga expand its national reach, strengthen its brand, and attract students who will thrive in its distinctive Jesuit mission.
The successful candidate will be a collaborative and innovative leader who combines data-informed decision-making with a deep appreciation for the power of relationships, leveraging Gonzaga's exceptional outcomes in retention, graduation, career placement, and student engagement to drive sustainable enrollment growth and institutional impact.
The Vice President for Enrollment Management will:
Provide visionary leadership for a comprehensive enrollment enterprise that advances Gonzaga's mission, strengthen' s institutional vitality, and positions the University for sustained growth and success.
Develop and execute an integrated enrollment strategy that drives undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education enrollment-related goals while supporting Gonzaga's long term fiscal sustainability.
Partner with senior leadership to establish enrollment targets, shape enrollment forecasting models, and advance long-term growth objectives that are aligned with institutional priorities.
Advance innovative recruitment, financial aid, marketing, and student success strategies that enhance Gonzaga's competitiveness and expand its reach.
Lead efforts to identify and cultivate new student populations, geographic markets, and enrollment pathways to broaden access and fuel enrollment growth.
Serve as a catalyst for cross-functional collaboration among enrollment, academic affairs, student affairs, advancement, marketing, and communications teams.
Lead the strategic growth of graduate enrollment through strong partnerships with academic leaders and campus partners.
Serve as a visible institutional ambassador with prospective students, families, school counselors, alumni, benefactors, and community leaders.
Foster a high performing, service-oriented culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the enrollment division.
The successful candidate will bring a record of strategic enrollment leadership, organizational effectiveness, and institutional impact. The next Vice President must possess the experience, vision, and collaborative leadership skills necessary to strengthen Gonzaga's enrollment enterprise while positioning the University for continued growth and distinction.
Candidates should demonstrate:
A documented record of achieving enrollment growth, improving student quality metrics, expanding market reach, increasing net tuition revenue, and enhancing enrollment sustainability.
Demonstrated success leading comprehensive enrollment strategies that integrate recruitment, financial aid, enrollment marketing, yield, and retention objectives.
Experience overseeing enrollment operations within complex organizations and managing significant budgets and resources.
A proven ability to use predictive analytics, market research, enrollment modeling, and data-driven decision-making to inform strategy.
Demonstrated success evaluating recruitment, marketing, and financial aid investments through measurable outcomes and return-on-investment analysis.
Experience developing outreach and recruitment strategies for undergraduate, graduate, transfer, continuing education, online, international, and emerging student populations.
Significant experience partnering with marketing and communications teams to strengthen institutional visibility and market differentiation.
Experience building collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units.
A demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing teams.
Strong technological acumen and experience leveraging CRM platforms, enrollment technologies, analytics tools, and emerging technologies to support enrollment objectives.
Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and presentation skills.
A demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, accountability, transparency, and integrity.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; an advanced degree is preferred.
Significant progressive leadership experience in enrollment management or related higher education functions.
The ideal candidate will be:
A strategic and innovative enrollment leader who understands both the art and science of recruitment and the importance of execution and internal processes to accomplish results.
A collaborative cabinet-level partner who values shared ownership of enrollment success across the institution.
An effective communicator who champions the value and impact of a liberal arts education as well as Gonzaga's distinctive Jesuit, Catholic and humanistic mission, and articulates its relevance to students, families, alumni, and external stakeholders.
A skilled leader who successfully navigates complex academic organizations, builds consensus across diverse constituencies, and advances institutional priorities through collaboration and strategic execution.
A leader who demonstrates a deep sense of ownership and responsibility, recognizing that the institution's greatest achievements are realized through collaboration, partnership, and shared success.
An empowering leader who develops talented teams while fostering accountability and ownership.
A sophisticated consumer-focused strategist who understands how students and families evaluate colleges and universities.
A data-informed decision maker who can balance analytical rigor with sound professional judgment.
A visible leader who embraces the representational responsibilities of a senior university officer.
ZRG Partners has been retained to conduct this search for Gonzaga University. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter by December 4, 2026 as two separate PDF files to:
Lori Hemmer Principal ZRG Partners
Gonzaga University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university. The University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, or any other non-merit factor in employment, educational programs, or activities which it operates. All University policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with Gonzaga's Catholic, Jesuit identity and mission statement and comply with federal and state regulations, including Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Required Compensation Disclosure: The salary range for this position is $250,000 to $300,000. Appointment at or near the top of the salary range will be reserved for candidates with exceptional qualifications and demonstrated leadership excellence. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, geographic location, etc. This role may be eligible for additional compensation based on merit and/or achievement of specific goals. In addition to salary, Gonzaga University offers benefits such as comprehensive benefits package, tuition waiver and 403b contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).
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