UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Matt Melvin has been named Penn State’s vice president for enrollment management, a new position that will prioritize enrollment management as a key function across Penn State’s 24 campuses. The former vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Kansas, Melvin brings nearly 20 years of experience in strategic enrollment management to Penn State. He will begin his new role on Aug. 15.
“Students are truly the lifeblood of our great University, and providing world-class opportunities to the students of Pennsylvania, the nation and the world is central to our academic and land-grant mission,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “This is why we must continue to be creative and strategic in how we manage enrollment at our institution into the future — all qualities that Matt brings to this new role. I look forward to working closely together to strategically meet the unique enrollment needs of each Penn State campus and to attract and retain the best and brightest students.”
Reporting directly to the president, Melvin will lead the newly established Enrollment Management Office, which includes Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of Student Aid and the Office of the University Registrar.
Responsible for the development and execution of Penn State’s comprehensive enrollment strategy, Melvin will work closely with the University’s executive vice president and provost, vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education, and vice president for Commonwealth Campuses, as well as academic deans and Commonwealth Campus chancellors, to help each campus and college meet their individual enrollment needs while supporting the University’s overall academic mission and strategic goals. Among other responsibilities, Melvin will direct student recruitment strategies, develop student financial aid assistance programs, work with Development and Alumni Relations on scholarship programs and contribute to University-wide strategic planning as a member of President’s Council.
In his previous role as the vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Kansas, Melvin planned and executed comprehensive marketing, recruitment and admissions enrollment strategies; led the development of a multicultural recruitment model designed to identify and address barriers to access; developed and implemented scholarship and financial aid programs aligned with overall strategic recruitment goals; and implemented a comprehensive enrollment research program to support long-term strategic planning and contribute to the ongoing success of the institution.
He also previously served as the associate provost for enrollment management at the University of Central Missouri, where he taught as a faculty member in the Department of Educational Leadership, and served in leadership positions with Kansas State University and Ohio University.
“I am grateful to the University of Kansas and its leadership for all we accomplished together, and I am honored to now help Penn State continue to realize its mission as a 21st century land-grant institution,” Melvin said. “Penn State holds a unique position within higher education due to the internationally recognized strength of its academic programs, the size and reach of its global alumni community, and the depth and breadth of its world-class research enterprise. I look forward to working collaboratively with partners across the University, including each campus location, to build on the exemplar work already being undertaken to secure Penn State’s future as an institution recognized for the diversity and academic excellence of its students.”
Melvin holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Central College, a master’s degree in college student personnel from Western Illinois University, and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.