The Evolving Role(s) of Enrollment Management on Social Work Education

2023 CSWE Annual Program Meeting
Preconference Workshop presented by NDDSWA

Atlanta Marriot Marquis
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Room: L 508

Registration is required to attend this event. 

The National Association for Deans and Directors of Social Work Admissions (NDDSWA) is hosting a preconference workshop, "The Evolving Role(s) of Enrollment Management on Social Work Education," at the 2023 Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting (APM) to help faculty and social work program leaders better understand the ways that the full enrollment cycle impacts almost all areas of social work education. Graduate enrollment management at each college or university is a crucial part of the student experience in social work education. Many in leadership are not engaged in the day-to-day activities of the enrollment cycle within their schools, yet the impact of this work is far reaching for all social work programs.

This 3-hour interactive session will allow participants to engage with social work graduate enrollment professionals with decades of experience at universities across the United States. The ever-emerging conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion related to social work education is central to our conversation as we will discuss the roles of admissions, faculty, students, and leadership in school-wide enrollment management as well as current trends in graduate enrollment management. The goal is to provide participants with strategic recommendations and ways to better assess and engage with the enrollment professionals at their institution. 

The objectives for the session include: 

  • Create an environment for collaborative conversation among social work administrators and faculty to discuss challenges and successes at their institutions. 

  • Examine changes and current trends within graduate enrollment and their impact on graduate social work programs. 

  • Present participants with tangible ways to support and engage their social work graduate admissions colleagues and create a better students experience during the enrollment process.

 

register-now-button

 

Presenters 


Timothy (Tim) Colenback

timot-(1).jpgTim has been working for the University of Michigan for 31 years. He began with the Institute for Social Research (ISR) and moved to the School of Social Work where he has spent the last 30 years. As assistant dean for enrollment management, he provides services regarding recruitment, student services, admissions, and financial aid. He is a member of the Dean’s Strategic Academic Leadership Team and Senior Management Team, Student Advisory Board, Recruitment, Admissions, Student Services and Financial Aid Committee, Financial Aid Review Team, Associate Dean for Educational Programs Leaders Team, Admissions Review Team, and the Student Success Team. He has served for 23 years as the Treasurer of NDDSWA.

Crystal Diaz-Espinoza, PhD

Dr. Crystal Diaz-Espinoza serves as the Director for the Office of Enrollment, Career & Alumni Services at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. Her responsibilities include enrollment management for the BSW, MSW, and PhD programs, career and professional development programming for current students, and alumni engagement. She also teaches within the school as an adjunct professor. She earned her M.S.Ed. in Higher Education & Student Affairs from Baylor University and her PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Tennessee. Crystal is serving her second term as co-president of NDDSWA.

Laura DiMarcantonio, M.Ed.

Laura has worked in higher education enrollment management for over 18 years, beginning her career in the Office of Admissions at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. In 2010, Laura was appointed the Director of Admissions and Strategic Recruitment at the State University of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. There, she oversaw the development and implementation of recruitment and enrollment strategy for one of the nation’s premier fashion and design schools. In 2015, Laura accepted a position at Rutgers University School of Social Work and currently serves as Assistant Dean of Admissions at the university’s largest graduate school and fourth largest school of social work in the country. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in public relations and a Master of Education in adult education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently working on a PhD from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Anna Hunter, MSW
Anna Hunter is the Director of Recruitment for the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. In her role she develops graduate enrollment management strategy, leads recruitment and outreach activities for the college, serves as a member of the admissions committee, and heads the Student Ambassador program. As a member of the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, she works on a team that includes advisors and program staff who support students through all stages of the student life cycle, from engagement and recruitment to graduation and career preparation. Prior to joining the team in 2015, Anna earned her MSW from the University of Houston and loves being able to represent her alma mater. This is Anna’s first year serving on the NDDSWA Board as the Secretary.

Elizabeth (Liz) Szpilka, LMSW
Elizabeth Szpilka is the Director of Outreach, Enrollment and Professional Advisement at Adelphi University’s School of Social Work. In her role she provides leadership for recruitment, enrollment management, graduate admissions, academic and professional advisement for all program locations. Prior to joining Adelphi University in 2014, Elizabeth had a 20+ year career working in child welfare and non-profit organizations. Elizabeth earned her BSW from Marymount College and her MSW  from Adelphi University. Elizabeth has served on the Board of NDDSWA since 2018, first as the secretary for two terms and currently as co-president of NDDSWA.

Erin Zimmer, LMSW
ErinZimmer.jpgErin Zimmer has worked for the University of Michigan School of Social Work for 20 years. In the last three years, Erin has served as the Director for MSW Student Services. Throughout her time, she has been involved with recruitment, admissions, and financial aid support for students in addition to student services. Erin completed a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan and completed her MSW degree focused on Management of Human Services and Health from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Dean’s Senior Management Team and Senior Academic Leadership Team as well as the School’s Student Advisory Board, Recruitment, Admissions, Student Services and Financial Aid Committee, Financial Aid Review Team, Admissions Review Team, Student Success Team, and the Orientation Planning Group. Erin has enjoyed seeing social work in higher education develop as an emerging growth area within the field.
 

For questions about the pre-conference workshop, please contact NDDSWA co-presidents Crystal Diaz-Espinoza at [email protected] or Elizabeth Szpilka at [email protected].