Calling him a versatile leader with an impressive track record of success, Chancellor Kent Syverud today announced the appointment of M. Dolan Evanovich to the position of Senior Vice President for Enrollment and the Student Experience. He will assume his new role on December 5.
M. Dolan Evanovich
Evanovich currently serves as vice president for strategic enrollment planning at The Ohio State University (OSU), where he leads all aspects of undergraduate enrollment for OSU’s main campus and its four regional campuses. In his current role, Evanovich is focused on improving the academic profile and enhancing the diversity of OSU’s student body. He also provides leadership to the offices of Undergraduate Admissions, New Student Orientation, First Year Experience, the Student Service Center, Enrollment Analysis and Reporting, Graduate and Professional Admissions, Student Financial Aid Services and the University Registrar. Evanovich manages more than $28 million in annual budgets; is responsible for distributing more than $1 billion in federal, state, private and institutionally funded student financial aid; and oversees the performance of roughly 350 staff members.
“We are very fortunate to have someone of Dolan’s caliber joining the Syracuse University community in such an important leadership position,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Dolan’s significant experience managing a vast and diverse portfolio made him an ideal candidate for this critically important role. As we seek to attract and enroll the best and brightest students from around the world, I’m confident Dolan is the right person to lead and take that effort to the next level.”
Evanovich’s appointment comes on the heels of the July announcement, in which Chancellor Syverud and Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly announced their plan to consolidate the divisions of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The new division was established to ensure a seamless, high-quality experience for Syracuse students – from their first introduction to the University through commencement.
Provost Wheatly, who chaired the search committee, says Evanovich’s experience developing recruitment and enrollment strategies, combined with his commitment to providing an unrivaled undergraduate experience, stood out immediately during the interview process.
“It was obvious early on in the search process that Dolan was a tremendously talented candidate and would be able to hit the ground running from day one,” says Provost Wheatly. “The success of the new Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience is critical to helping the University accomplish the vision and mission as contained within the new Academic Strategic Plan. As provost, attracting, enrolling and retaining a diversely talented pool of students is among my chief priorities. I look forward to working closely with Dolan in the coming months, particularly as we ramp up a new recruiting cycle.”
In his new role, Evanovich will report directly to Chancellor Syverud and work closely with Provost Wheatly to develop, articulate and implement an ambitious and thoughtful strategic plan for the student experience, with special attention to student enrollment.
Evanovich says he’s honored to join the Syracuse University community. “To help shape the future of Syracuse University at such an important juncture in the life of this great institution is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” says Evanovich. “Though I will miss the OSU community, I look forward to partnering with the passionate students, faculty and staff at Syracuse to bring its bold Academic Strategic Plan to life, with a special focus on enhancing the student experience.”
Prior to joining OSU, Evanovich held various leadership positions in admissions, enrollment planning, management and institutional research at the University of Connecticut, Arizona State University and Eastern Michigan University.
Evanovich is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and the National Council for Enrollment Planning and Policy. He earned a master’s degree in geography and regional planning, as well as a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from California University of Pennsylvania.
