Eastern is in the process of hiring a new assistant vice president for enrollment management starting with interviews of three candidates.

The first of three candidates’ interviews begin Tuesday with a process of meetings with various committees to assess who is best for the job.

Allen Lanham, the dean of Library Services and search committee chairman, said the position was created in the spring, and the committee has been searching for an appropriate candidate.

“This person is going to be in charge of Eastern’s enrollment management and lead the efforts of admissions, financial aid and the registrar, as well as efforts in retention and the affiliated needs,” he said.

Lanham said the position will encompass a wide area of Eastern and will play a big role in the admission process.

According to the position description, the person selected will be responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating and administering an effective enrollment management program.

They will work with programs and departments such as New Student Programs, Housing and Dining Services, the Honors College, the Graduate School, the School of Continuing Education, the Office of Minority Affairs and the Office of International Students and Scholars.

“We have three candidates that the committee has invited to campus,” he said. “There were more than 40 applicants, and we’ve narrowed them down through phone interviews and checking references.”

The first of the candidates, Thandabantu Maceo, is the co-founder and principal consultant at T & B Consultants in Ohio and will be meeting with committees and President Bill Perry on Tuesday.

“There’s an open session for anybody who wants to come at 10 a.m. in Room 4440 of Booth Library,” Lanham said.

The other two candidates will be on campus in the next month with Mack Palmour arriving on Oct. 17 and L. Dean Fisher on Nov. 5.

After the three interviews have been completed, the committee will meet again to decide who is the best choice for the position.

“Each person who met the (candidate) while they were on campus will have an opportunity to fill out an evaluation form,” he said. “The committee will then sit down and go over everything that happened in the interviews very specifically, and we will make recommendations to Provost Lord.”

Mary Herrington-Perry, the assistant vice president for academic affairs, said she is excited for the affect this new position will have on the Eastern community.

“We have a real opportunity with this new person to really bring together the key players to make sure they are sharing common goals and working to move the university ahead as much as they can,” she said. “It’s having someone who has the ability to pay attention full time to enrollment management that’ll make the difference to us.”

Lanham said the position will directly affect Eastern students, especially new students applying to Eastern and going through the admission process.

“We’re very good at enhancing every effort possible for student success at Eastern,” he said.

Lanham said the person selected for the position will be paying special attention to the retention and graduation rate at Eastern.

“They will want to see what happens to the people they’ve recruited and admitted to make sure they’re succeeding,” Lanham said.

He said he has high hopes for whoever is selected for the position.

“I hope that we have identified good leaders, thinkers and planners,” he said. “I’m hoping we get someone highly competent, personable and respected on campus so that this new position gets off to a great start.”

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.