Samford University Dean of Admission and Financial Aid R. Phil Kimrey will become Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Samford, effective June 1. The new vice presidential position will combine the leadership of Samford's student affairs and admission/financial aid divisions.
Dr. Kimrey will take on overall direction of the student division headed by Vice President for Student Affairs Richard H. Franklin since 1990. Dr. Franklin earlier announced plans to retire at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year.
Samford President Andrew Westmoreland announced the administrative change Tuesday, Feb. 24, noting that combining the two units would achieve greater efficiency in the utilization of resources and bring together two components that fit naturally.
"Specifically, I want this new unit to adopt a philosophy that melds together the developmental needs of both the prospective and current students," said Dr. Westmoreland. "Among other priorities, my hope is that we may utilize this new framework to engage our prospects earlier in the process, thereby making greater use of the senior year in high school as a time of transition to college, with renewed emphasis on the academic implications."
Westmoreland said the term "enrollment management" stresses the need to approach student recruitment and retention in a "truly comprehensive" manner. "We have been making steady progress toward that goal," he said, "and this is just another step in that direction."
He added that creating the new unit would reduce administrative barriers and encourage greater dialogue between the unit and faculty and staff.
During the remaining months of the spring semester, Kimrey's highest priority will be leading his present staff in recruiting Samford's freshman class for this fall. The goal is a class of about 770, based on the record number of applications Samford has received this academic year (2,175 through Feb. 17).
"However," Westmoreland added, "I have asked him to begin to shift as much attention as possible to listening to the members of the campus community as he works to shape this new unit."
Kimrey has been Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Samford since 1997. He joined Samford in 1993 as Director of Admissions after serving in similar roles at Houston Baptist University (1989-1993) and William Carey College (1985-1988).
A native of Chattahoochee, Fla., Kimrey holds the Ed.D. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, M.R.E. from New Orleans Baptist Seminary and B.A. from William Carey College.
