Kenneth Christmon
Richmond,IN
Summary
Results-oriented professional with extensive experience in higher education. Skilled in strategic marketing and diversity initiatives, achieving record enrollment growth and enhancing student success through innovative community engagement and collaborative partnerships.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice Chancellor - External Relations
Indiana University East
03.2024 - 10.2025
- Senior cabinet-level leader overseeing marketing, communications, external affairs, community engagement, and brand strategy for a regional public university campus.
- Led integrated marketing and communications strategies aligned with enrollment priorities, institutional visibility, and student success goals.
- Directed campus branding, digital presence, media relations, and web strategy, ensuring alignment with IU system standards and local mission.
- Facilitated collaboration among enrollment management, academic leadership, and advancement teams to strengthen recruitment and completion initiatives.
- Cultivated and managed community, corporate, and nonprofit partnerships to advance workforce development and regional impact.
- Guided crisis and sensitive communications, maintaining trust and clarity with internal and external stakeholders.
- Supervised staff, vendors, and budgets; applied data-informed decision-making to improve campaign effectiveness and operational efficiency.
- Represented the chancellor and campus in public, civic, and system-level settings, strengthening institutional reputation and relationships.
Associate Vice Chancellor - University Ombudsperso
Purdue Univeristy
05.2004 - 01.2024
- Led Undergraduate Admissions during a major institutional brand transition and university name change, achieving multiple years of enrollment growth, including an 18% increase in new student enrollment in one year.
- Provided executive leadership for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, overseeing institutional diversity strategy, TRIO and pre-college programs, and college retention-to-graduation initiatives.
- Led and co-authored $15M+ in grants and contracts, earning recognition as a two-time ACORN Outstanding Researcher Grant Award recipient.
- Recipient of the Martin Luther King Dreamer Award for outstanding leadership and institutional impact.
- Built and sustained campus–community partnerships across academic affairs, student affairs, corporate, nonprofit, and civic organizations to advance the university’s brand, presence, and prominence among diverse communities.
- Drove sustained increases in minority student enrollment and graduation rates over more than a decade, including historic gains.
- Advised the chancellor and cabinet on institutional diversity, complex cultural matters, policy issues, and grievance resolution.
- Led initiatives for organizational change while effectively managing complex workplace and institutional challenges.
Director of Admissions - University Spokesperson
Wilberforrce University
06.1997 - 05.2004
- Led undergraduate admissions, marketing, and brand development, achieving multiple years of enrollment growth through coordinated national recruitment strategies.
- Directed national recruitment efforts across more than 15 states, including major markets such as New York City, Los Angeles, and the Caribbean.
- Served as chief university spokesperson, advising the president and representing the institution in local and national media.
- Advanced institutional visibility and advocacy for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through strategic messaging and public engagement.
- Featured in major publications such as Los Angeles Times and New York Daily News to advocate for the viability and national relevance of HBCUs.
- Recognized by the Los Angeles City Council for Outstanding Service to Youth Development.
Higher Education
Indiana University East, Indiana Univeristy Kokomo and Ivy Tech State College
06.1988 - 06.1997
- Advanced through roles of increasing responsibility in admissions, enrollment management, campus climate, outreach, and student development across multiple public higher education institutions.
- Served as Associate Director of Admissions (IU East) and Director of Campus Climate and Undergraduate Admissions (IU Kokomo), leading recruitment, access, and student success initiatives.
- Led enrollment and outreach efforts at Ivy Tech, supporting access pathways, community engagement, and workforce-aligned recruitment.
- Consistently achieved institutional enrollment growth, averaging 3%+ annual increases, including record gains in minority new-student enrollment and graduation rates.
- Built collaborative partnerships with academic affairs, student affairs, and community stakeholders to advance equity, access, and institutional achievement.
- Established an early career track record of results-driven enrollment leadership that led to expanded senior leadership roles.
Education
Master of Science - Management And Leadership
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ05-2004
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
Earlham College
Richmond, IN06-1998
Skills
- Enrollment Management & Growth Strategy – Led sustained enrollment growth across multiple institutions, including record new-student and minority enrollment and graduation gains
- Strategic Marketing, Brand & Communications Leadership – Directed institutional branding, messaging, digital strategy, and media relations during major organizational transitions and growth periods
- Media Relations & Public Affairs – Served as institutional spokesperson; led proactive and crisis communications; engaged local and national media to elevate institutional visibility and mission
- Student Success, Retention & Development – Designed and led pre-college, retention-to-graduation, and student development initiatives grounded in access, equity, and outcomes
- Diversity, Equity & Institutional Climate – Executive leadership in institutional diversity strategy, campus climate, cultural engagement, and complex issue resolution
- Executive, Board & Cabinet Advising – Trusted advisor to presidents, chancellors, and cabinet leadership on enrollment, culture, strategy, and institutional risk
- Fundraising, Grant Writing & Resource Development – Led and co-authored $15M in grants and contracts, supporting institutional innovation, access, and student success
- Public Speaking & External Representation – Frequent speaker and representative to boards, community groups, elected officials, donors, and national audiences
- Organizational Leadership & Change Management – Led teams, budgets, and cross-functional initiatives through periods of change, growth, and complexity
Accomplishments
- Delivered sustained enrollment growth, including an 18% increase in new student enrollment during institutional transition.
- Achieved historic gains in minority enrollment and graduation rates over more than a decade.
- Led $15M+ in grants and contracts; two-time ACORN Outstanding Researcher Grant Award recipient.
- Served as cabinet advisor and institutional spokesperson with national media coverage.
- Recipient of the Martin Luther King Dreamer Award; cited by the Los Angeles City Council.
- First university Ombudsperson (23 years), leading conflict resolution and organizational change.
Timeline
Vice Chancellor - External Relations
Indiana University East
03.2024 - 10.2025
Associate Vice Chancellor - University Ombudsperso
Purdue Univeristy
05.2004 - 01.2024
Director of Admissions - University Spokesperson
Wilberforrce University
06.1997 - 05.2004
Higher Education
Indiana University East, Indiana Univeristy Kokomo and Ivy Tech State College
06.1988 - 06.1997
Master of Science - Management And Leadership
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
Earlham College