Executive Director of Admissions

Columbia, Missouri, The University of Missouri (Mizzou) seeks a strategic, innovative, and student-centered leader to serve as its next Executive Director of Admissions. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, the Executive Director will provide vision and leadership for the University’s undergraduate recruitment, admissions, and new student onboarding enterprise. This leader will direct the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and New Student Programs and play a central role in advancing Mizzou’s goals of attracting, enrolling, and welcoming an academically talented student body from Missouri and beyond. The Executive Director will join Mizzou at an important moment for public higher education, when demographic change, intensifying competition, and evolving student expectations require enrollment leaders to combine sophisticated market analysis with a compelling, personalized recruitment experience. The successful candidate will develop a comprehensive and forward-looking recruitment strategy, evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and outreach efforts, use technology to improve admissions processes and services, and translate data into timely decisions on markets, resources, scholarship strategy, and enrollment projections. This position is both strategic and highly operational. The Executive Director will lead a substantial, multifaceted organization that includes professional staff, support staff, and student employees; oversee an annual budget of approximately $10 million; and coordinate undergraduate recruitment and onboarding activities across the University. Close collaboration with the Executive Director for Scholarships and Financial Aid, the Director of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, academic deans and department chairs, and other campus partners will be essential to align recruitment, admissions, scholarships, marketing, and student transition strategies. Mizzou offers a distinctive platform for this work. As Missouri’s flagship, land-grant research university and the state’s only public member of the Association of American Universities, Mizzou combines the scale and breadth of a major research institution with a strong commitment to student success and public service. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to shape how prospective students and families experience the University, strengthen Mizzou’s competitive position, and directly influence the institution’s academic, reputational, and financial future. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Missouri in this search. All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile . For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by the priority deadline of December 7, 2026. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal . Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Amy Crutchfield and Roxana Woudstra Mizzou-Director@wittkieffer.com Benefit Eligibility – This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement Equal Employment Opportunity – The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.