Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Phone
Timeline
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Paula Cohen

Towson,MD

Summary

Accomplished Enrollment leader with a record of managing teams in the outperformance of deliverables. Well versed in the selection, training and development of personnel. Skilled at the development and execution of strategic growth plans to deliver on budgeted objectives. Experienced in all aspects of the sales/recruitment process from marketing and lead generation to monitoring of behavioral metrics and closing the sale. Detail oriented problem solver, with expertise in enrollment funnel management, relationship marketing, sales and recruitment training, promotional design and vendor management.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Funding Specialist

ThriveDX
04.2025 - 05.2025
  • Tracked loan status with learner, assisted completion of Sallie Mae, Edly and College Avenue loan applications, where necessary
  • Communications with learner and family to help determine best loan options
  • Set up, stored and updated customer files, department records and regulatory paperwork.

Senior National Admissions Advisor

ThriveDX (HackerUSA)
05.2021 - 05.2025
  • Retain students in Introductory Program with goal to enroll in extended program
  • Develop relationship with potential future students at 90% conversion
  • Convert students from Introductory Program into Extended Program at 47% to 52%
  • Assist students through out-of-pocket or Sallie Mae funding
  • Ongoing weekly communication with 75 to 125 students
  • Support team members with assessment test/night and register students into extended program
  • Proficient in SalesForce and Five 9
  • Represent 4 universities within the continental United States

Senior Admissions Advisor

MyComputerCareer
11.2019 - 05.2021
  • Work with Associate Director of Admissions to identify enrollment opportunities within a four-member team of Admissions Advisors
  • Ensure Advisors are following contact strategy, completing enrollment process for perspective students
  • Review Admission Advisors’ SalesForce data in order to maintain accurate input of information for all perspective students, throughout the enrollment process
  • Request and follow up with transcripts for four team members and self
  • Present Zoom Group presentations, daily to perspective students
  • Enroll students into IT program

Admissions Advisor

MyComputerCareer
11.2018 - 10.2019
  • Needs-based/consultative selling to individuals interested in a career college directed toward IT Certifications
  • Develop relationships with perspective students within a very short time frame
  • Work in call center-environment, taking calls and ensuring preparedness without notice
  • Recruit students
  • Consistently working with CRM-SalesForce
  • Maintaining personal admissions goals

Director of Admissions

Chamberlain University-College of Nursing
01.2017 - 06.2018
  • Achieved 102% of New Enrollment goal
  • Improved team follow-up and rapport building skills leading to a 44% increase in applications over prior year
  • Developed community outreach program to increase unpaid lead generation and branding by instituting on-site health fairs and relationships with area hospitals and EMS providers
  • Improved CRM utilization resulting in a 20% increase in Accept to Start conversion ratio
  • Increased student satisfaction and retention working closely with Student Services department to improve communication between admissions and Student Service/Registrar function
  • Operated department with zero findings from internal compliance audit
  • Customer Relationship Management

Operations Consultant

Vape Juice and Java
04.2015 - 12.2016
  • Assisted in start-up of new business.
  • Developed business plan including marketing strategies, operational processes and start-up budget.
  • Collaborated on location of new site and analyzed market demographics of surrounding area
  • Worked with advertising and creative design agencies to develop logo and promotional pieces.
  • Assisted in management of site build out and coordination of contractors

Director of Admissions

Sanford Brown College
02.2014 - 04.2015
  • Led admissions team in the attainment of monthly sales goals.
  • Improved team sales closure metrics by improving both effectiveness and efficiency through continuous training.
  • Improved closure rate by 50%
  • Collaborated with operational departments to develop and implement a customer retention and re-entry strategy.
  • Directed team through the Beta Test and roll out of a new CRM system. Assisted in the development of metric evaluation and reporting structure for new system.
  • Directed team through the Beta Test for a High School completion program.
  • Implemented regular on-site training program to hone staff skills and remain compliant of all regulatory changes.

Associate Vice President of Field Operations

Synergis Education
03.2012 - 09.2013
  • Developed company-wide sales process, improving contact effectiveness by 11%.
  • Created customized strategic sales plans at local campuses to achieve company-wide revenue budget of $22MM.
  • Developed program knowledge and admissions criteria training for enrollment staff, detailing the admissions criteria and policies for 5 different institutions.
  • Trained 54 Admissions Representatives and managers continually in person or via virtual meetings
  • Planned and executed retention strategies to account for a 7% improvement in student retention.
  • Developed and implemented a comprehensive consultative sales training program to improve the effectiveness of all new recruitment staff, saving over $100,000 in outside consulting fees.
  • Developed and instituted support staff and CRM training program to improve overall effectiveness.
  • Created corporate succession plan for all sales staff, which accounted for a staff retention rate of 98%
  • Effectively managed sales funnel metrics to improve lead/sales conversion ratio an average of 5%
  • Managed marketing vendors, negotiating savings of over $25,000 on the creation of initial promotional literature.
  • Oversaw company-wide recruitment of over 2,000 students over an academic year.

Senior Enrollment Counselor/Corporate Sales

Centenary College
09.2008 - 03.2012
  • Developed and implemented a strategic plan allowing for divisional growth of over 800%.
  • Maintained a company high meeting to closing ratio of over 80%
  • Managed outside sales professionals to establish corporate relationships resulting in 10 on site class locations and more than 400 students.
  • Effectively managed the marketing effort to exponentially grow the programs yet maintain an average cost per lead of less than $300.
  • Effectively lead the Recruitment Team to achieve budgeted goals with zero staff turnover over the last 3 years of contract.
  • Improved operational efficiencies that allowed for delivery of a profit margin of 42% during the final years of the contract.
  • Developed corporate partnerships that accounted for over 85% of all corporate referral business.
  • Managed the marketing and recruiting efforts for the newest satellite campus keeping the overall cost per new enrollment under $2,300.
  • Increased enrollment of online programs by more than 30%.

Director of Enrollment

Institute for Professional Development/Centenary College
01.1999 - 08.2008

Education

Master of Business Administration -

Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ

Bachelor of Arts - Communications

University of Delaware
Newark, DE

Skills

  • Strategic Marketing
  • Sales Management
  • Project Management
  • Professional Development
  • Market Assessment
  • Lead Flow Management
  • Operational Planning
  • Consultative Sales Training
  • New Product Development
  • Relationship Building
  • Team Creation
  • Goal Establishment
  • Focus Groups
  • Team Leadership
  • CRM Integration
  • Employee Appraisal Creation
  • Targeting & Positioning
  • Customer Relations
  • Strategic Planning
  • Succession Planning
  • Sales experience
  • Enrollment management
  • Higher education
  • Deadline management
  • Effective listening
  • Goal setting
  • Admissions
  • Student support

Phone

cell, (908) 612-2552

Timeline

Funding Specialist

ThriveDX
04.2025 - 05.2025

Senior National Admissions Advisor

ThriveDX (HackerUSA)
05.2021 - 05.2025

Senior Admissions Advisor

MyComputerCareer
11.2019 - 05.2021

Admissions Advisor

MyComputerCareer
11.2018 - 10.2019

Director of Admissions

Chamberlain University-College of Nursing
01.2017 - 06.2018

Operations Consultant

Vape Juice and Java
04.2015 - 12.2016

Director of Admissions

Sanford Brown College
02.2014 - 04.2015

Associate Vice President of Field Operations

Synergis Education
03.2012 - 09.2013

Senior Enrollment Counselor/Corporate Sales

Centenary College
09.2008 - 03.2012

Director of Enrollment

Institute for Professional Development/Centenary College
01.1999 - 08.2008

Bachelor of Arts - Communications

University of Delaware

Master of Business Administration -

Centenary University

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