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Vice President for Enrollment Management, Whitworth University

2025 ̽»¨Â¥ Elections Candidate - Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management 

Position Statement:

I am honored to submit my candidacy for the role of Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management on the ̽»¨Â¥ Board of Directors. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how admissions and enrollment professionals do more than fill classes… we expand access, shape futures, and drive institutional momentum. I believe ̽»¨Â¥ is uniquely positioned to elevate this work and equip enrollment leaders to thrive in an increasingly complex higher education landscape.

My journey in enrollment management has taken me through both public and private institutions, and through diverse communities in Southern California and Washington, both rural and urban, public and private. I currently serve as Vice President for Enrollment Management at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington where I lead a dedicated team overseeing admissions, financial aid, student accounts, military outreach, and enrollment operations. Previously, at Central Washington University, I led the development of the institution’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan, established a cross-divisional implementation process, and helped reframe SEM from a planning document to a mission-centered strategy.

I have completed ̽»¨Â¥’s Strategic Enrollment Management training and have used that training to implement SEM frameworks that focus on access, equity, and sustainability. One of the projects I’m most proud of has been expanding guaranteed admission and scholarship pathways for high school and community college students, offering clear and student-first routes to a four-year degree.

I’ve also had the privilege of being selected to serve twice in ̽»¨Â¥ Hill Day, advocating on behalf of our profession and the students we serve. It’s an experience that reaffirmed my commitment to public policy engagement and reminded me how vital it is for enrollment leaders to have a voice at the national level.

I fully support ̽»¨Â¥’s recent decision to allow institutions to add unlimited members, a change that will welcome more admissions and enrollment professionals into the fold and strengthen our community's reach, diversity, and innovation.

If elected to the Board, my priorities will be:

1. Elevating the Voice of Admissions and Enrollment Leaders

̽»¨Â¥ has long been a home for registrar excellence. It’s time to ensure admissions and enrollment professionals are equally visible, valued, and engaged in strategic conversations. I will work to strengthen ̽»¨Â¥’s role as a champion for the full enrollment funnel, from inquiry to graduation, and help cultivate a more inclusive space for admissions voices to thrive.

2. Expanding Practical, Forward-Looking Professional Development

We are navigating uncharted territory: AI-enhanced tools, FAFSA disruptions, shifting student demographics, growing skepticism about higher education’s value, and increasing demands for personalization. I will support the development of resources that are action-oriented, predictive, and relevant across institutional types.

3. Building Bridges Across Sectors and Settings

Whether your institution is public or private, or is located in rural or urban areas, I’ve seen that our challenges of affordability, access, and storytelling that drives meaning to our target audiences are often shared. I will advocate for platforms that facilitate cross-sector learning and the exchange of best practices among institutions of different sizes, missions, and student populations.

4. Leading with Empathy and Innovation

The best enrollment leaders today are not only strategists, but also storytellers, bridge-builders, and student advocates. I will help ̽»¨Â¥ advance a leadership model grounded in service, empathy, and innovation and one that centers both institutional health and human flourishing. That includes advocating for first-generation and underserved students, championing staff wellness, and designing systems that reflect dignity and care.

I am a long-time member of ̽»¨Â¥ and PACRAO, and I continue to be inspired by the work of this community. But I also believe we are just scratching the surface of what’s possible. With greater collaboration and shared vision, ̽»¨Â¥ can be the catalyst that moves our profession and our students forward.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I would be honored to serve.

 

Bio:

Dr. Josh Hibbard has served nearly 20 years in university administration and enrollment management, including positions as Director of Student Success, Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success, Associate Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management, and Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management. Dr. Hibbard’s experience is at both public and private medium-sized comprehensive universities in rural and urban areas. Throughout his career, his span of care has included oversight of admissions, advising, registrar’s office, financial aid, orientation programs, and student accounts, to name a few.

Dr. Hibbard’s research interests span a wide range of student success areas, including online student retention and harnessing the power of technology to improve recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes.

Dr. Hibbard has led through the conversions of three CRM’s and two SIS transitions. His passion is transforming recruitment, student experience flows, and developing innovative learning environments to enhance pathways to a higher education credential, from communication planning, to improving student support structures. He has led the development and multi-year efforts for university strategic enrollment management planning, from start through implementation. He has also led financial leveraging optimization enhancements, aligning strategy with mission, vision, and strategic plan.  

Dr. Hibbard holds a BA in Biblical Studies, an MA in Social Sciences, and a PhD in High Education with an emphasis in Student Success.