Scot Schaeffer hired as next vice president for enrollment management at Earlham College

Scot Schaeffer, a dynamic leader in higher education with 40 years of experience in admissions and financial aid, has been hired as Earlham College’s vice president for enrollment management.

Schaeffer is currently the vice president of enrollment management at Marietta College in Ohio and serves on the school’s senior leadership team, working closely with the president. He will begin to transition into his new role at Earlham in September and start full time on Oct. 1.

“Scot is a collaborative leader with a proven track record of success in an increasingly competitive environment,” Earlham President Anne Houtman said. “Scot shares in my vision for growing our enrollment and widening the path to an extraordinary Earlham education. I can’t wait to start working with him.”

Throughout his successful career, Schaeffer has helped his institutions thrive by carefully monitoring trends and changing demographics, and interpreting data to inform decisions and strategies. Since joining Marietta in 2019, Schaeffer’s team has launched comprehensive undergraduate and graduate recruitment strategies driven by the addition of new academic and athletics programs, an alumni ambassador recruitment program, and a commitment to diversifying enrollment by building equity into the College’s culture and operations.

Similarly, Earlham is launching new academic majors in accounting and engineering, a new varsity softball program, and expanding scholarships to ensure that a greater number of students can enroll and thrive on campus.

“This is a really exciting time to be joining Earlham College,” Schaeffer said. “Earlham has a forward-thinking president, a great senior leadership team and a strategic plan for growth that is positioning the College for long-term success. 

“I am also really attracted to Earlham’s mission and its fundamental values of respect, integrity, and peace and justice,” he said. “The world needs more institutions like Earlham.”

Prior to Marietta College, Schaeffer was vice president of enrollment management at Luther College in Iowa for 12 years. He has held other leadership roles at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, University of Evansville in Indiana, Kentucky Wesleyan College, St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, and his alma mater, DePaul University in Illinois. 

At DePaul, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and served as an admissions tour guide before graduation. He also has a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Quality from Marian University in Wisconsin.

“I have spent my entire career in enrollment management, Schaeffer said. “I think you can really make a difference in the lives of students and their families. I plan to jump right in and hit the ground running at Earlham. I’m looking forward to getting the community’s input on how we should be moving and growing in order to meet our aggressive recruitment goals. We’re in this together. This is how we’re going to continue to be successful.”