November 13, 1998

Dean Massingill accepts VP position at Austin College

Nan Massingill will resign from her position as dean of admissions and enrollment management effective December 31, 1998. She has been named vice president for institutional enrollment at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. She begins her new appointment January 15, 1999.

Austin College is listed as one of the top 90 national liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges guidebook. As vice president for institutional enrollment, Massingill will be responsible for monitoring all aspects of services in the admissions and financial aid areas of the college, chairing the Enrollment Management Task Force, and providing general leadership in the area of retention. Additional responsibilities include assisting with the development and implementation of strategic plans, the college budget, and all other activities that impact the welfare of the college community.

In making her announcement, Massingill said, “I would first like to thank Fr. Knoth and Dr. Danahar for their continued support of the many recruitment and financial aid initiatives we have implemented during the last two and one half years. I would further like to express my deep gratitude to the administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their unfaltering support in our efforts to promote the university. Lastly, I would like to recognize the admissions and financial aid staffs for exhibiting the highest levels of professionalism and dedication to the university’s mission. It has indeed been the most rewarding professional and personal experience in my life.”

Massingill joined Loyola in 1988 as director of admissions. She was named dean of admissions and enrollment management in 1997. During her distinguished 10-year career at Loyola, Massingill’s achievements and accomplishments have been numerous. She designed and implemented a national recruitment program, developed faculty, staff, student, parent, and alumni volunteer recruitment networks, and implemented an aggressive program to cultivate and better serve secondary school counselors. In addition, she implemented a staff development, retention, and promotion plan to improve Loyola’s ability to hire and maintain a highly qualified staff of admissions professionals.

In her role as dean of admissions and enrollment management, Massingill made proposals for admissions and financial aid technology upgrades which were implemented as a result of the approval and support from the president and the provost. These initiatives provided Loyola with the tools to meet enrollment goals for the entering classes of 1999, 2000, and beyond.

Under Massingill’s leadership, Loyola hosted its first President’s Open House in 1997. The success of the President’s Open House is evidenced by the participation of 269 members of the Loyola community and the attendance of 307 admitted students and 462 parents and family members. Of those students, approximately 70 percent enrolled in the fall of 1998.

Also while at Loyola, Massingill gained the respect of fellow administrators, co-workers, and the faculty so much so that in 1994, she was presented the university’s Coadjutor Optimus Award for the professionalism, enthusiasm, dedication, and effectiveness she exhibits in her career.

“While at Loyola, Dean Massingill has done an extraordinary job in upgrading the admissions practices of the university and working in creative ways to face the challenges in higher education today. Because of her commitment to excellence, strong work ethic and dedication, Dean Massingill was able to establish and build a first-rate admissions and enrollment management program for Loyola. I hope Dean Massingill leaves us with a sense of accomplishment in a job well done,” commented the Rev. Bernard P. Knoth, S.J., university president.

In addition to her role at Loyola, Massingill has been an active member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and has held numerous leadership roles within its state and regional associations. Most recently, she served as the local arrangements chair for the 1998 Annual Conference for the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling. In addition, she begins her 11th year as a member of the resident faculty for Rice University/Texas Association for College Admission Counseling Workshop on College Admissions.

According to University Provost David C. Danahar, “Loyola has benefited greatly from Dean Massingill’s numerous contributions. Under her leadership the operations of the university’s admissions office were radically improved. She likewise took the lead in establishing admissions and financial aid policies that significantly enhanced Loyola’s ability to successfully recruit a diverse quality student body. She is a consummate professional and will be sorely missed.”

– Kristine David Director of Public Affairs