Office of the Provost

Memorandum

June 15, 2012

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Marc L. Harding has accepted my offer to become the University of Pittsburgh’s Chief Enrollment Officer, effective July 15, 2012.  As Chief Enrollment Officer, Mr. Harding will be responsible for attracting and retaining highly talented, diverse students to the University, building on the success of Dr. Betsy Porter, who plans to retire after 34 outstanding years of service to the University. His responsibilities will include enrollment planning and policies, student financial aid, PittStart (summer orientation for new students), and undergraduate admissions. He will also hold a university-wide leadership position as a member of the Council of Deans.

Through nearly thirty years of admissions experience at four major public universities, Mr. Harding has established himself as one of the country’s leading enrollment specialists.  In his current position as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Director of Admissions, Mr. Harding has successfully led enrollment efforts at Iowa State University during an unprecedented expansion and advancement of undergraduate programs at that institution.  Since 2006, these efforts have resulted in a 50 percent increase in applications, a nearly 30 percent increase in freshman enrollment, increased geographic and ethnic diversity, and a continued commitment to meet the high levels of achievement expected for admission to a major research university.  

Mr. Harding earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1985, and his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Iowa State University in 2004. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Iowa State University in the field of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Mr. Harding began his career at University of Massachusetts at Amherst playing a number of roles in the admissions process including Admissions Advisor and Assistant Admissions Director.  He then joined the admissions office at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and from there became Associate Director of Admissions at the University of South Florida before moving to Iowa State University in 1997.  Mr. Harding has also held leadership positions in the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and regularly makes presentations at national meetings on topics including the recruitment of high-ability students, multicultural student recruitment, staff training and development, and the use of technology in recruitment and admissions. 

Mr. Harding’s vision for the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is well-matched to our overall vision for the University of Pittsburgh.  He is committed to recruiting and retaining a talented and diverse population of students who are poised to take advantage of all that the University has to offer.  I am confident that his student-centered approach, passion for working with people, and emphasis on service and innovative thinking among his colleagues will help him advance these goals within the culture of the University community.
I am delighted that Marc has agreed to serve as Chief Enrollment Officer and have great confidence that his dedication to undergraduate students and commitment to excellence will serve us well in his new role.  I very much look forward to working with him and believe that, under his leadership, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will continue to thrive.

 

Sincerely,

Patricia E. Beeson

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