Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
Generic

Brent Watson

Tulsa,OK

Summary

Passionate and inspiring leader, USAF Veteran with over 20 years of experience in senior education administration, operations management, with a proven track record of success in delivering industry leading results, driving, and exceeding organizational growth, profitability, and service. Expertise
includes developing and executing strategies to align with corporate objectives and building high performing teams with a culture of inclusion, collaboration, accountability, and engagement.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Admissions

Community HigherED
08.2024 - Current
  • Lead the Admissions teams at CHEI (non-profit), which includes Community Care College, Oklahoma Technical College, and Clary Sage College.
  • We are responsible for enrolling students into 1 of the 32 program offerings across the three CHEI campuses.
  • Responsible for training and development, processes and procedures, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and serving as an active member of the CHEI leadership team.
  • Develop strategic recruitment initiatives to enhance enrollment and improve student diversity.
  • Analyze admission trends to identify opportunities for process improvement and strategic planning.
  • Evaluate applicant qualifications through comprehensive assessment frameworks, maintaining high admission standards.
  • Utilize advanced CRM software solutions to manage prospect inquiries efficiently, leading to increased conversion rates from inquiry-to-application stage.

Director of Education

Miller-Motte College: Tulsa
01.2024 - 07.2024
  • Led the overall operations of the Academic Department, assuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies, as outlined by the Department of Education, state and federal authorities, ACCSC/COE, Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools, Oklahoma Board of Nursing, and all company policies and procedures.
  • Served as a member of the Campus leadership team.
  • Supervised the Academic team, including 30 Faculty Members, Program Directors, Registrar's Office, Library/Learning Resource Center and additional academic support team members.
  • Reduced the drop rate in our program offerings from 8.3% to 2.7%.
  • Played a pivotal role in increasing the NCLEX (Nursing licensure) pass rate from 39% to 65% within 6 months.
  • DOE position eliminated due to a reduction in force in July 2024.

Director of Student Onboarding & Retention

EdX
09.2020 - 10.2023
  • Created, developed, and led the student success and retention team at 2U/EdX, which included two directors, five managers and 55 student success advisors, responsible for onboarding students across 50+ US University partners, as well as international partners in Australia, South Africa, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
  • Successfully led the team in exceeding our annual programmatic organic start rate goals of 80% by an average of 5% (85%) YOY while in the role.
  • Successfully navigated an organizational restructuring, combining our student onboarding and student success teams, responsible for the student lifecycle post-enrollment through graduation.
  • October of 2023: Laid off as part of 20% reduction in force (RIF) at 2U/EdX.
  • Led cross-functional teams to enhance online learning experiences and improve course offerings.
  • Developed strategic partnerships with educational institutions to expand course catalog and enrollment.
  • Oversaw implementation of data-driven strategies, enhancing student engagement and retention rates.

Director of Centralized Student Services

EdX
01.2020 - 09.2020
  • Led a team of student onboarding specialists, responsible for preparing and assimilating students for the respective programs of study at our US/International University partners.
  • Responsible for strategic planning, staff development, partnership relationships, and complete management of departmental and organizational KPIs from post-enrollment through the add/drop period.
  • Lead the transition of two different programmatic delivery models in a live online and blended format.
  • Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance online learning experiences.
  • Fostered partnerships with industry leaders to expand program reach and relevance.
  • Mentored staff in best practices for instructional design and delivery methods.

Student Success Manager

University of Arizona
04.2019 - 01.2020
  • Responsible for managing student success and the academic teams, including faculty and teaching assistants within the portfolio of program offerings at the University of Arizona in Tucson and Phoenix.
  • Responsible for managing student success and the academic teams, including faculty and teaching assistants within the portfolio of program offerings at the University of Arizona in Tucson and Phoenix. This also included performance management of our academic teams within each program.
  • Developed and implemented training programs for staff to improve student support services.
  • Analyzed student feedback to identify areas for improvement in service delivery and program offerings.
  • Conducted regular check-ins with at-risk students, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans.

National Director of Career Services

Woz U
02.2017 - 04.2019
  • Complete ownership of building, leading, and managing the career services functionality from its inception within WOZ- U on a local and national level, as well as support and ownership of our national/international education partners.
  • Cultivated and managed strategic partnerships with the following brands: Bethel School of Technology, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, University of Massachusetts, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Cuttington University (Liberia).
  • Created and integrated Woz U-Annual Outcomes Report for 2016-Forward: Transparent and historical/verifiable data on placement statistics, metrics, and student completion rates.
  • Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance educational programs across national network.
  • Directed national outreach efforts, expanding brand visibility and enrollment across diverse demographics.

National Territory Manager

Princeton Review
05.2015 - 02.2017
  • PSAT/AP/SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT Test Prep: Worked with Department Chairs, Academic Provosts, College Presidents, and local school districts and community partners (AVID).
  • Arizona State: 7-year ($12.25 million) agreement: GMAT/GRE, MCAT & LSAT test prep
  • New Mexico State: 5-year ($2.5 million) agreement: GMAT & GRE test prep
  • Northern Arizona University: 10-year ($10 million) agreement: LSAT test prep
  • Developed strategic territory plans to optimize sales performance and market penetration.

Management & Marketing Consultant

Levin Dental Group
03.2013 - 05.2015
  • Served as a project manager and consultant, brokering, and managing practice management & marketing programs for offices across the US and Canada. Brokered and managed 40+ programs ranging in scope from $15k-$90k per program portfolio.
  • Developed and implemented targeted marketing strategies to enhance patient engagement and retention.
  • Conducted comprehensive market research to identify trends and opportunities for service expansion.
  • Collaborated with dental professionals to create effective promotional materials that align with brand messaging.

Dean of Student Services & Career Services

Everest College-Phoenix
05.2005 - 03.2013
  • ECP was the only Regionally Accredited (HLC) campus within the Corinthian system.
  • Leadership of academic advising & career services teams within Certificate and AOS programs in the following areas: Business Administration, Paralegal, Nursing, Medical Billing, and Medical Assisting.
  • Our teams were responsible for the entire student life cycle, post enrollment through graduation and career services.
  • Academic Advising included student support throughout the life cycle of their respective programs.
  • Career Services support included placement support to include resume development, interviewing skills, and branding (social media presence).
  • This model of “One Support” and singular points of contact/support throughout the student life cycle led to an updated model of student support implemented across other campuses.
  • Managed and facilitated the externship and licensure process for the MIBC, MA, and Nursing programs.
  • Developed long term partnerships with local and national industry organizations, to include the medical, legal, and business arenas.
  • Served as an Adjunct Faculty member.
  • Served as (HLC) Regional Accreditation Chair at Everest College-Phoenix.

Education

B.A. - English/Minor Kinesiology: Secondary Education Teaching Degree

Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
05.1997

Skills

  • Executive Operations Management
  • Career Services Senior Leadership
  • Organizational Development
  • Growth Management
  • Strategic Business Planning
  • Performance Improvement & Change Management
  • State & National Accreditation Governance
  • High Performance Culture
  • Team Building & Leadership
  • Succession Planning
  • Visionary Leadership
  • Strategic Partnerships

Websites

Timeline

Director of Admissions

Community HigherED
08.2024 - Current

Director of Education

Miller-Motte College: Tulsa
01.2024 - 07.2024

Director of Student Onboarding & Retention

EdX
09.2020 - 10.2023

Director of Centralized Student Services

EdX
01.2020 - 09.2020

Student Success Manager

University of Arizona
04.2019 - 01.2020

National Director of Career Services

Woz U
02.2017 - 04.2019

National Territory Manager

Princeton Review
05.2015 - 02.2017

Management & Marketing Consultant

Levin Dental Group
03.2013 - 05.2015

Dean of Student Services & Career Services

Everest College-Phoenix
05.2005 - 03.2013

B.A. - English/Minor Kinesiology: Secondary Education Teaching Degree

Sam Houston State University

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