Princeton-Educated Admissions Professional Appointed V.P. for Enrollment Management
Following a nationwide search, Assumption President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., has appointed New England native Robert Mirabile, Ph.D., as vice president of Enrollment Management. Dr. Mirabile, who currently serves as vice president for Enrollment at Beloit College in Wisconsin, will report to President Cesareo as a member of his Cabinet and oversee a staff of more than 50 individuals across the Enrollment Management Division and the Department of Athletics.
“As Assumption prepares to conclude the final years of an aggressive and innovative strategic plan, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Mirabile to the Assumption community,” said President Cesareo. “Dr. Mirabile shares the institution’s commitment to the value of a rich, liberal arts education that integrates with professional academic programs. I am confident that he appreciates and will herald to prospective students and their families the College’s Catholic identity and mission as the higher education industry endures a challenging period of declining demographics.”
Dr. Mirabile concludes four years of service at Beloit College with a number of impressive accomplishments. Between 2014 and 2017, the College saw a 91-percent increase in applications; 20-percent increase in enrollment; and a 23-percent increase in net tuition revenue. A year after he began at Beloit, the College welcomed its largest first-year class since 1975.
“I believe that the pillars of Assumption’s mission statement are integral parts of a transformative and exceptional college education,” shared Dr. Mirabile. “In a world in which we are wrestling with complex social, economic, and technological challenges, the ability to engender critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship and compassionate service has never been more relevant. Fidelity to this mission, especially when approached in creative and innovative ways, as demonstrated in the institution’s strategic plan, will empower Assumption to thrive deep into the future. Assumption is showing remarkable wisdom and agility in responding to the evolving needs and preferences of today’s learners.”
Key to Dr. Mirabile’s success at Assumption is the development of collaborative and productive partnerships between internal departments, including the engagement of faculty and administrators, as well as with key external constituents, including alumni and high school guidance counselors.
In leading a successful enrollment management division, Dr. Mirabile will compellingly articulate the importance of the liberal arts at Assumption and the Catholic mission of the institution while developing and coordinating an annual and long-term enrollment management strategy. He will also oversee Assumption’s NCAA Division II athletics, in particular its vision, staff supervision, budgetary and facilities management, with an understanding of the importance of athletics as part of the overall recruitment strategy. His responsibilities also include oversight of graduate recruitment and financial aid, and he will lead campus efforts on recruitment, admission and retention.
While at Beloit, recognizing the need to recruit students from outside traditional markets, Dr. Mirabile restructured the Enrollment Division to enhance domestic and international admissions, analytics and systems, operations and customer service, digital media and creative services, and financial aid. He also formed a number of critical partnerships to increase student access to higher education such as the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success; the Chicago Scholars Program; the SHE-CAN Program (Supporting Her Education Changes a Nation), the Next Genius Scholarship Program (of India); IDEA Public Schools (of Texas); and the Phoenix Pact Program of North Lawndale College Prep High School. Under his leadership, Beloit reported a 73 percent increase in African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American students and a 120-percent increase in international students.
Prior to his service at Beloit, Dr. Mirabile served as assistant vice president for enrollment analytics at Drexel University and as associate vice president for research at Maguire Associates, a higher education consulting firm. At Drexel, he led a team dedicated to using data and analysis to guide enrollment strategy and decision making, including the preparation of enrollment, financial aid, and net tuition revenue projections and forecasts. His efforts at Drexel resulted in a 13-percent increase in enrollment; 10-percent increase in yield and a $6 million increase in net tuition revenue.
Dr. Mirabile holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in social psychology from Princeton University; a B.A. in psychology from Bates College; and a Leadership in Enrollment Management certificate from the University of Southern California.
A 10-time Boston Marathon finisher, Dr. Mirabile is a member of a number of professional organizations including the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). His scholarly work was recognized by the National Science Foundation with a Graduate Research Fellowship and the Charles A. Dana Award for leadership and academic excellence.