Assistant Dean for Recruiting & Admissions

**Salary Range: **

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU Meadows School of the Arts educates visionary artists, scholars, and arts and communications professionals to create sustainable and transformative impact on both local and global society. Today, the Meadows School has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States and offers training in an unique mix of the arts – visual (art and art history), performing (dance, music, and theatre) and communications (advertising, film and media arts, corporate communication and public affairs, and journalism) – as well as a preeminent programs in arts management and arts entrepreneurship and creative computation.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The position serves as the senior leader responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of all undergraduate and graduate recruitment and admissions for the Meadows School of the Arts. With full accountability for enrollment outcomes across diverse programs, including dual-admission disciplines, the position exercises significant autonomy in shaping recruitment strategy, admissions processes, and financial aid leveraging. Working closely with the Dean, faculty leadership, and university partners, the position aligns academic priorities with enrollment goals. This role leads a data-informed approach to recruitment, using analytics and market intelligence to guide decision-making, strengthen Meadows’ national position, and ensure the successful recruitment of top-tier students.

Essential Functions:

• Strategic Leadership & Accountability - Provide vision, leadership, and full accountability for recruitment and admissions outcomes across all undergraduate and graduate Meadows programs, including dual-admission disciplines and direct-admit majors, aligning enrollment strategy with school and university priorities.

• Enrollment Strategy & Execution - Design and implement a comprehensive, data-driven recruitment and admissions strategy, including application generation, yield optimization, and financial aid leveraging, with authority to adjust tactics in response to market conditions and enrollment performance.

• Admissions Process Oversight - Direct and oversee all Meadows admissions processes, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and alignment with institutional policies, while supporting discipline-specific requirements such as auditions, portfolios, and faculty review.

• Faculty & Academic Partnership - Lead and influence division chairs, program directors, and faculty to develop and execute discipline-specific recruitment strategies that align with school-wide enrollment goals and support the shaping of incoming classes.

• Data, Analytics & Market Intelligence - Leverage data, analytics, and market research to inform strategy, monitor performance, and provide actionable insights to the Dean and academic leadership, ensuring continuous improvement and competitive positioning.

• Team Leadership & Operations - Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing recruitment and admissions team, establishing clear goals, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities to support operational excellence.

• Marketing, Outreach & Representation - Oversee recruitment communications, events, and outreach in partnership with Marketing, and represent Meadows at institutional and national levels to enhance visibility, build relationships, and expand the prospective student pipeline.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Resource Management - Collaborate with university partners (Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Marketing) to ensure seamless processes and student experience, and oversee recruitment-related resources and budgets to maximize impact and return on investment.

• Occasional evening/weekend hours will be required.

• Frequent travel will be required for student recruitment and conferences.