Vice President for Enrollment Management

Founded in 1866 as the Chicago Academy of Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest accredited independent art schools in the United States and the largest museum-based art school in the country. From its inception, the integration of a school and a museum has been central to its vision. The Art Institute of Chicago encompasses both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the museum known as the Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute and SAIC were established by artists for artists, and since their founding have been pioneers in art and design education. Today, SAIC is nationally recognized for its excellence, and continues to uphold its legacy of artistic rigor and design innovation. SAIC fosters a vibrant and intellectually engaged community where curiosity, passion, critical thinking, and active debate are central to its institutional culture. Deeply rooted in both the School and the broader Chicago community, SAIC embraces the concept of the “citizen artist,” individuals who integrate their creative practice with the social, cultural, and political issues of our time to effect meaningful change.

Ideal candidates for the Vice President for Enrollment Management will bring a proven track record of success in enrollment strategy and leadership as well as experience cultivating a culture of data-informed decision-making and leveraging analytics and predictive modeling to guide strategic planning and operational effectiveness. This individual will also have experience developing strategies to better leverage and expand access to financial aid, collaborating with senior campus leaders and faculty to
promote student success, and communicating effectively with a range of audiences. Candidates should also be adept at building sustainable systems and processes using technology and be deeply committed to cultivating a student body aligned with SAIC’s distinction as a leader in artistic excellence. SAIC has retained the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in this recruitment.

Specific Qualifications Include:

Experience & Education

• • BA required; MA or terminal degree preferred.
• • 10+ years of leadership experience in higher education with demonstrated success as a senior leader in enrollment management. Experience with colleges of art and design is a plus.

Skills & Knowledge

• • Demonstrated success in the field of enrollment management, particularly in the areas of recruitment, enrollment projections, and financial aid leveraging.
• • Advanced analytical, evaluative, and critical thinking skills, and proven success in making datadriven decisions that advance the mission of enrollment management.
• • Detailed knowledge of state and federal financial aid regulations.
• • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, ensuring effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders on complex issues, both verbally and in writing.
• • Demonstrated tact, diplomacy, and honesty.
• • Evidence of calm and effective decision-making under pressure.
• • A track record of working productively and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.
• • Strong leadership and management skills.
• • Demonstrated facility with budgeting.
• • Evidence of sound judgement and a commitment to ethical decision-making

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

Isaacson, Miller - VP, Enrollment Search

Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.