Vice president for enrollment vacancy filled

By Annie Cheung

Future Santa Clara applicants will have a fresh set of eyes to impress before receiving an acceptance letter, as Mike Sexton steps in as the new vice president for enrollment management.

After his work at multiple college institutions, including Lewis and Clark College, Rhodes College in Tennessee and Juanita College in Pennsylvania, Sexton has found a place at Santa Clara.

"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the highlight of my career," Sexton said.

The appeal of the chance to work with President Michael Engh, S.J., at the vice president level was enough of a pull for Sexton.

"I've known and respected Santa Clara throughout my 30 years of doing admissions work," said Sexton. "It is a great opportunity to have a seat at the table to make them [president's cabinet] aware of enrollment."

Sexton believes he will be able to contribute a lot to the undergraduate admissions here at Santa Clara.

Sexton arrived at Santa Clara on Sept. 1 with his wife Colleen, even though the academic school year did not start until the Sept. 21.

"I'm glad that I arrived on Sept. 1 so that I was here for the start of school so I could experience the events and energy of the year beginning," Sexton said.

If his impressive track record is any indication, Sexton will have the impact he desires. At Lewis and Clark College, he was able to help the number of yearly applicants grow from 2,100 to about 5,300--a 150 percent increase. The grade point average and diversity also increased while Sexton was at his position as dean of admissions.

In his new post at Santa Clara, Sexton will be working with the president's staff, University Budget Council, Planning Action Council, the Campus Master Planning Committee and various other groups on student enrollment and campus life.

Engh is pleased by the new addition to his staff.

"Mike has achieved a national reputation for attracting top students to an evolving and growing institution, and we are lucky to have him. We are looking forward to the vision and experience he will bring to this position," said Engh in a July 1 press release.

The position of vice president for enrollment management has been vacant for the past three years, but Sexton claims he is ready to take on the challenge.

As for the low number of students in the class of 2013, Sexton said it was highly due to the economy.

More students applied to more safety colleges and colleges admitted more students for similar reasons.

Economics threaten to play a role in next year's enrollment as well.

"Our job is to enroll the best class, and in this economy, that's never been truer," Sexton said. "We do suffer from the misconception that it's all rich kids here when, in actuality, there is a mixed population. The UC system is severely impacted and there may be some students that come knocking on our door. We may have a robust transfer pool to look forward to."

As for financial aid distribution for the class of 2013, Sexton said Santa Clara will be hiring an advisor, but one focus may be on early action candidates.

"They tend to be better academically and then enroll at a higher rate," Sexton said. "We need to look at, is there anything more we can do to lock them into Santa Clara?"

One of Sexton's major goals is to get Santa Clara's name more recognized. He plans to use his connections and his 30 years of experience in national admissions committees to spread Santa Clara's reputation. These committees include the National Association of College Admission Counseling, The College Board -- Western Region, National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the Coca-Cola Foundation.

He also hopes to get current students and alumni more involved in events like college fairs.

In addition to his current position on the staff, Sexton has a very personal connection to Santa Clara.

Both his daughter and son-in-law attended the university and graduated in 2002.

"I know many of their classmates and have been very impressed by the lives they've chosen to live," Sexton said.

Sexton's own education included a bachelor of science in education/mathematics from the University at Buffalo and a master of arts in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University.

Contact Annie Cheung at (408) 554-4546 or accheung@scu.edu.