Director of OT Admissions and Alumni Relations

Director of OT Admissions and Alumni Relations

Department of Occupational Therapy - Methodist University

The Director of OT Admissions and Alumni Relations is a full-time staff position that provides administrative support to the Departmental Admissions Committees and their respective members. This professional plays an integral role in promoting Methodist University and both the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) programs through strategic recruitment marketing, digital content, and data-informed outreach. The Director is responsible for managing student recruitment and ensuring successful assimilation from candidacy to matriculation, as well as maintaining strong alumni engagement across both programs.

Responsibilities

Program Marketing and Student Recruitment

• Promote the university/programs and attract new students by maintaining working relationships with pipeline university departments/programs; collaborate closely with the alumni office and university relations department.

• Oversee and participate in the development of admissions materials, events, and marketing practices for both the OTD and OTA programs.

• Manage and participate in recruitment fairs and events both on and off campus.

• Manage and participate in promotional events, information sessions, campus tours, student interviews, and other admissions activities.

• Serve as the OT department's primary liaison to the university's marketing and communications office, ensuring recruitment materials and messaging follow institutional branding standards.

• Demonstrate a proficient understanding of the occupational therapy profession; effectively communicate the scope of practice, purpose, and professional opportunities of both programs to prospective students, families, and community members.

• Establish and expand professional awareness and recruit prospective students at the elementary school, middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels.

• Promote university and program initiatives focused on inclusivity, diversity, and the recruitment of non-traditional students.

Digital Content and Marketing Strategy

• Develop and maintain a content calendar for OT program social media channels (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), capturing student life, clinical experiences, and program milestones.
• Create and edit photography, short-form video, and graphics to support recruitment campaigns, in coordination with university marketing and communications standards.
• Maintain and update OT program webpages to ensure content is accurate, current, and optimized for prospective student search behavior.
• Design and distribute email marketing campaigns and newsletters targeted to prospective students at each stage of the admissions funnel.
• Coordinate with the university marketing and communications office on branding standards, promotional materials, and cross-platform outreach.

Data-Driven Recruitment and CRM Management

• Manage prospective student data and communication workflows within OTCAS/WebAdMIT and any supplementary recruitment or CRM tools, ensuring accurate tracking from initial inquiry through matriculation.
• Build and maintain targeted, automated follow-up and nurture communications to move prospective students through the admissions pipeline.
• Track recruitment and marketing metrics, including inquiry-to-application conversion, lead source, and yield, to inform outreach strategy.
• Analyze the effectiveness of recruitment marketing campaigns and adjust strategy based on results.
• Prepare regular recruitment and marketing analytics reports for the Program Director/Chair and Admissions Committee.

Development of Admission and Retention Strategies

• Establish comprehensive admission processes to maintain a continual flow of quality applicants and transfers to the university by analyzing enrollment trends and marketing effectiveness.

• Coordinate systematic and efficient application management and ensure effective communication with applicants. Explain admission guidelines, processes, and requirements.

• Effectively utilize the centralized application system as a consistent platform for student information and a resource to track outstanding admission requirements.

• Manage the admissions process from initial contact through student onboarding and registration for both the OTD and OTA programs:

• Conduct information sessions and campus tours

• Perform transcript reviews

• Organize and score applications

• Plan and execute admission interview events

• Create and maintain applicant files, including application scores, admissions requirements, enrollment forms, deposit records, and enrollment documentation for incoming students.

• Plan and oversee new student orientation for both programs.

• Manage the ordering, purchasing, and distribution of new student materials such as name tags, uniform shirts, equipment kits, parking passes, anatomy lab locks, etc.

• Maintain student records in Ellucian.

Alumni Relations

• Develop, implement, and manage effective alumni relations and required data collection processes for both the OTD and OTA programs, including graduate status, employment, and contact information.
• Develop and maintain a bi-annual newsletter to ensure ongoing communication with alumni, including professional accomplishments, program updates, and university events.
• Assist in the planning and preparation for the annual alumni event hosted by the OT department.
• Formulate a comprehensive bi-annual statistical report of graduate data as required by the Program Director, the university, and/or accreditation bodies.
• Meet monthly with the OT Department Chair and Chair of the Admissions Committee.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Marketing, Communications, Higher Education, Business, or a related field preferred.

Professional Experience

• Three (3) years of experience in higher education admissions, student recruitment, enrollment management, or marketing/communications; experience within a health professions or graduate program setting preferred.
• Experience developing and executing digital marketing or content campaigns (social media, email, web) preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with OTCAS/WebAdMIT or similar centralized application systems.
• Experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Ellucian, Slate) for recruitment tracking, reporting, and communication.
• Demonstrated skill in social media management and short-form video/photo content creation, and working familiarity with basic graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva).
• Experience analyzing recruitment and marketing data to inform strategy and reporting to leadership.
• Knowledge of occupational therapy education or ACOTE accreditation requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the program to prospective students, families, faculty, and community partners.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines independently in a fast-paced admissions cycle.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in application review, data management, and reporting.
• Ability to travel regionally for recruitment events, including occasional evenings and weekends during peak recruitment seasons.