James L. Sagona

EDUCATION

Doctorate of Philosophy, Higher Education Administration, ABD
Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

Masters of Business Administration; 1984
Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio

Bachelor of Arts; Psychology, 1971
Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, West Virginia

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

President, 2007 to present
Center for College and University Leadership, LLC, Dublin, OH
A consulting group in support of enrollment and retention services for small to medium size colleges and universities.

Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management, 2010
Rockford College, Rockford, IL
Responsible for managment of Admissions, Financial Aid and Athletics in support of Rockford's Strategic Plan during search for permanent Vice President

Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management, 2007
Urbana University, Urbana, OH
Responsible for managment of Admissions, Financial Aid and Athletics in support of Urbana's Vision for 2014.

Vice President for Student Affairs/Assistant Professor, 2004 to 2007
Neumann University, Aston, PA 
Responsible for student life areas and student retention.  Chief Student Affairs Officer. Member of Executive Council and President’s Cabinet. Academic rank as Assistant Professor.  Areas of management include:

• Athletic Department (NCAA Div III & Intramurals)
• Student Development and Retention
• Residence Life
• Student Activities
• Health Services
• Counseling Services
• Student Advocacy
• Judicial Affairs

Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs, 2002 to 2004
Neumann University, Aston, PA
Responsible for student life areas and retention as listed above as well as undergraduate and graduate admissions and financial aid.

Vice President for Admissions and Student Affairs, 1986 to 2002
Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH
Responsible for the enrollment development of Ohio Dominican University and meeting objectives for institutional enrollment growth and retention.  Chief Student Affairs officer and member of President's Administrative Council.  Areas of management include:

• Admissions
• Adult Admissions
• International Student Services
• PATRIOTS (veterans program)
• Athletic Department (Intercollegiate and Intramural)
• Financial Aid
• Residence Life
• Campus Ministry
• Health Services
• Counseling
• Career Services
• Food Service
• Student Activities Admissions
• Dean of Student Resources (Retention Coordinator)

Dean of Admissions and Student Services, 1984 to 1986
Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH

Director of Admissions, 1980 to 1984
Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH

Director of Admissions, 1977 to 1980
Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, NY

Associate Director of Admissions, 1975 to 1977
Loyola University, New Orleans, LA

Associate Director of Admissions, 1971 to 1975
Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Professional

• Founded the Center for College and University Leadership - a resource to colleges and universities supporting enrollment development and student retention
• Consulted with eighteen colleges/universities in support of enrollment development and admissions staff training through the Council for Independent Colleges.
• Consulted on admissions and financial aid for the Ohio Board of Regents at the request of the Chancellor.
• Presented professional development workshops for admissions personnel.

 Neumann University

• Improved freshmen retention at Neumann University from 69% to 77%
• Enrolled largest freshmen class in Neumann University history (575 Freshmen in Fall 2004)
• Acted as Neumann University delegate to the Chief Academic Officers committee of SEPCHE (Southeast Pennsylvania Consortium of Higher Education) in 2005-2006.
• Chaired SEPCHE (Southeast Pennsylvania Consortium of Higher Education) Presidential Task Force on Serving the Underserved aimed at program development and grant support for traditionally underserved populations in the Southeast Pennsylvania region. 
• Chaired the Student Life Committee of SEPCHE 2004-2006
• Developed Student Advocacy and parent programming in support of student retention.
• Participated in the Self Study preparation for the Neumann University Middle States review in 2006
• Developed a mission based review of student services and programs including assessment criteria; integrated the results into the institutional strategic plan
• Reduced the institutional tuition discount rate at Neumann University by 6% over three years.

Ohio Dominican University

• Lead enrollment growth at Ohio Dominican University to exceed the university’s growth plan (from 794 students in 1979 to 2300 in 2001; 189% increase).
• Developed enrollment management model at Ohio Dominican University responsive to market segmentation and improved yield from every market area. 
• Developed enrollment management model for Student Service staff support of student retention and enrollment growth.
• Developed financial aid matrix packaging utilizing institutional aid funds to support recruitment and retention.
• Developed long-range enrollment plans to include retention and prospective student markets; traditional and adult populations. Exceeded projections in 21 out of 22 years.
• Wrote grant proposal to Columbus Foundation in support of Operation Second Chance (a program identifying the reasons for student “stop-out” from college).  The program was funded and returned 786 students to degree study between 1991 and 2001. 512 students completed degrees. 
• Lead the development of a new veterans program (PATRIOTS) supporting the recruitment and services to veterans. 
• Assisted in developing a new accelerated adult degree program (LEAD) to allow adults to complete degree requirements in a cohort model.  Participated in governmental affairs projects relating to federal and state financial aid support.
• Taught portfolio preparation class for adults seeking credit for experiential learning
• Chaired Planning Council task forces on enrollment development; learning technologies; endowment development planning; marketing; student development. 
• Initiated a volunteer service component for all scholarship recipients at Ohio Dominican University. 
• Wrote grant proposal to Teagle Foundation seeking professional development support for admissions staff in cognitive theory, learning technologies and use of state of the art technologies in admissions recruitment.  Grant was fully funded with $170,000.
• Developed planning of Ohio Dominican’s “Invitation to Tomorrow” with examination of how students learn and the application of these observations to the way Ohio Dominican delivers educational products in the 21st century. Lead institutional planning which resulted in goals for the “Invitation to Tomorrow”: 1) to radically transform the nature of teaching and learning in college; 2) to eliminate the barriers of time and space to learning; 3) to support the development of collaborative skills among students in preparation for the world of work. The program resulted in each student receiving an IBM Thinkpad© as part of the Thinkpad University© program.
• Chaired Board chartered Marketing Task Force (1998) that included members of Board of Trustees, marketing consultants, college faculty and staff in developing recommendations to the Board on marketing initiatives to enhance traditional new student recruitment and address age distribution of the student population.

PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS/ MEMBERSHIPS/VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES

• Alpha Sigma Nu (National Jesuit Honor Society)
• Delta Epsilon Sigma (National Scholastic Honor Society)
• Alpha Sigma Lamda (National Honor Society for Nontraditional Adult Students)
• NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counseling)
• NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators)
• ACPA (American College Personnel Association)
• ASACCU (Association of Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities)
• ACCU (Association of Catholic College and Universities)
• NAICU (National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities)
• CIC (Council for Independent Colleges)
• AAHE (American Association for Higher Education)
• SEPCHE (Southeast Pennsylvania Consortium of Higher Education)
• NCAA (Institutional Administrative delegate)
• Alumni Council Member (Wheeling Jesuit University)
• St. Brigid of Kildare School (Parent Volunteer)

TEACHING

• Communications (Oral Interpretation; Business Presentation)
• Portfolio Preparation
• Business Management, Marketing

Return to Home Page