Utica University names VP for enrollment management

UTICA — Utica University recently appointed W. Eric Sykes as its new VP for enrollment management, following a comprehensive national search. “To land a remarkable thought-leader and practitioner in the enrollment management field such as Eric is a testament to his abilities as well as the opportunities Utica University presents,” Utica University President Todd Pfannestiel said in a July 29 news release. “Eric brings a wealth of experience from his previous administrative appointments at Quinnipiac University, Emerson College, Xavier University, and most recently Elmira College.” Sykes also previously held faculty appointments at Dickinson College and Indiana University Kokomo. He holds a master’s degree in social and personality psychology, with a concentration in psychometrics, from Purdue University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University Chicago. “I’m excited to join Utica University,” Sykes said. “I believe strongly in the University’s commitment to opportunity, affordability and access and look forward to working with faculty and staff across campus to best communicate the distinctiveness of our programs and recruit highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students to Utica.” The search committee for the VP for enrollment management was chaired by Utica University Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Jason Denman, with assistance from the R.H. Perry search firm, according to Pfannestiel. Before the appointment of Sykes, Jessica Nelson served as interim VP of enrollment management over the past year. Utica University says it currently enrolls about 2,900 undergraduate students in 40-plus majors and 40-plus minors. It also has about 1,200 graduate students.