Otis College of Art and Design
Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid
Established in 1918, Otis College of Art and Design is a national leader in art and design education. The College’s mission is to
prepare diverse students of art and design to enrich our world through their creativity, their skill, and their vision. Located in
Los Angeles, known as the creative capital of the 21st century, Otis provides an international education in an international city
full of opportunities. The five-acre main campus is located on L.A.’s Westside near the beach and LAX; Fashion Design is in
the heart of the downtown fashion district; and the Graduate Studios are on the creative corridor in nearby Culver City and in
the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica. Otis enrolls approximately 1,100 full-time students and offers the BFA in seven
majors and the Master of Fine Arts degree in four majors.
The Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid is responsible for the development of a comprehensive, multi-year enrollment plan,
recruitment of diverse undergraduate and graduate student populations to meet new student enrollment goals, and oversight of
financial aid policies and practices in support of enrollment and College fiscal sustainability. This position oversees and
manages the offices of Admissions and Financial Aid, and works closely and collaboratively with all College constituencies in
the development and implementation of policies, practices, and strategies to promote student recruitment. The position reports
to the Provost and serves as a member of the Senior Team and the President’s Cabinet.
The Dean will be expected to manage the Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid, including supervision of staff, planning
and managing of annual budgets, oversight of the recruitment, admission, and enrollment cycles of the College, and planning
and implementation of annual operational plans. In collaboration with appropriate Otis leaders and staff members, the Dean
will develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year enrollment plan and identify annual enrollment goals for new and
continuing students, and implement strategies to meet enrollment goals for new students. The Dean will be expected to
manage and analyze data to measure progress and formulate change, and to provide information on anticipated/projection
enrollment patterns to assist in planning and budget development for annual and long-term institutional revenue. Working
with the Assistant Vice President for Student Success/Dean of Student Affairs and the Director of Financial Aid, the Dean
will develop and present regular reports on enrollment and financial aid data to the College leadership, and plan, oversee, and
assess the effectiveness of all Admissions Office recruitment initiatives and marketing programs to support the College’s
recruitment strategies.
Oversight and evaluation of financial aid policies and practices to ensure strategies that support Otis’ enrollment and net
tuition revenue will be expected of the Dean, while regularly reviewing financial aid data and financial aid matrices with the
purpose of the leveraging the Otis Grant program.
A bachelor’s degree and eight years of progressive enrollment management and/or admissions experience are required. A
master’s degree and a background in the visual arts are preferred. The Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid will have
demonstrated leadership ability, a proven track record in college recruitment, thorough knowledge of enrollment trends and
issues in higher education, and an in-depth understanding of financial aid management. In addition, an innovative, strategic
approach to recruitment, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and proficiency in technological support systems are
vital.
Review of applications will begin August 21, 2014 and will continue until the position is filled. A resume with an
accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the SJG website at www.spelmanandjohnson.com under the link Current
Searches. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Kendra E. Dane at ked@spelmanandjohnson.com.
SJG – The Spelman & Johnson Group
Otis College of Art and Design
Kendra E. Dane, Search Associate
Visit the Otis College of Art and Design website at www.otis.edu
Otis College of Art and Design is an equal opportunity employer.