Rick Henson
New York,NY
Summary
Dynamic education policy expert with proven results, expanding selectivity, equality, and program growth in local, regional, and national campus environments.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Enrollment
Democracy Prep Public Schools
04.2024 - 10.2025
- Implemented, developed, and maintained a comprehensive database of prospective students, dramatically impacting recruitment results
- Established partnerships with national and local schools and community organizations to increase visibility and attract potential applicants.
- Coordinated regional tours and open house events, showcasing the institution's offerings to prospective students and their families.
- Utilized social media and other digital platforms effectively for promoting education programs, which resulted in increased inquiries and applications
Sr Exec Director for Enrollment (Contractual)
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
03.2023 - 10.2023
- Increased new students by 38% and overall student enrollment by 5% for Master's and PhD Public Health programs
- Created reporting from Banner student information systems to precisely assess the academic standing of all Public Health students
- Provided expertise to update marketing resulting in dramatic increases in inquiries, applications, and new students
- Streamlined processes to ensure all students would easily be advised each term and connected to Banner and Brightspace
University Director of Admissions Operations
CUNY Central Office
10.2021 - 07.2022
- In charge of RFP for new CRM affecting all 20 CUNY undergraduate campuses
- Responsible for on-time testing of upgrade to Peoplesoft 9.2
- Increased applications completed for review 11% - on over 400,000 Fall 2022 applications
- Updated rules for all CUNY colleges to ensure accurate undergraduate campus admissions decisions
- Electronically uploaded DOE educational files for New York City high schools
- Improved timeliness and accuracy of uploads of Parchment, SCOIR and NSC transcripts and mapping to Peoplesoft via IBM Datacap and Case Manager
Associate Director of Admissions Operations
CUNY Borough Of Manhattan Community College
11.2018 - 10.2021
- Provided strategic analysis of the admissions life-cycle, using CBiL and Tableau reporting and began integration with EAB Navigate.
- Launched chat-bot system and established supporting knowledge-base to assist students
- Developed data-gathering and reporting structures with real time metrics of cross functional productivity
- Established text communications and ensured communications from all sources matched student needs
Director of Admissions
University Of Silicon Valley
08.2016 - 09.2018
- As primary decision maker, created, implemented Salesforce CRM database and Campus Management Student Information System
- Developed institutional merit, need and athletic scholarship models
- Dramatically increased freshman GPA along with all other key performance indicators
- Developed successful retention program with 4 and 6 year graduation rates improving each year
- Expanded scope and results of outreach to high schools and colleges nationally and internationally
Interim Director of Admissions
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU)
08.2015 - 08.2016
- Increased new student results by 8% each term
- Implemented Salesforce CRM and created workflows and reports to improve profile of incoming students
- Ran selective admissions office reviewing candidates from undergraduate through PhD level
- Supported non-profit, faith based, institutional mission
- Encouraged equity in admissions resulting in top rankings in social mobility and diversity
- Simplified transfer credit evaluation process
Senior Director of Admissions
The Art Institute of California
11.2013 - 04.2015
- Drove new student retention to nearly 100% for all quarters
- Exceeded financial targets for all terms
- Tested qualitative assumptions using SPSS to create key performance indicators
- Updated and proposed articulation agreements between colleges
- Ensured WASC compliance and documented Institutional effectiveness reporting
Director of Admissions and Institutional Effectiveness
The Art Institute of New York City
04.2006 - 11.2013
- Improved student growth, retention, satisfaction, and graduation rates, using statistical and survey analysis
- Managed international student adviser and school officials for international and veteran students
- Worked with state education department and accrediting agencies to ensure school-wide compliance
- Devised and implemented strategic recruitment plan with consideration to both long and short term goals.
Education
Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Advanced Management
Columbia University in The City of New York
New York, NYBachelor of Science (BS) - Economics / Sociology
University of Oregon
Eugene, ORSkills
- Student life and retention
- Entrepreneurial thinker
- Enrollment management
- Communications and marketing planning
- Database implementation
- Process automation and gamification
- Team-building and training
- Diplomatic mediation
- Strategic natural leadership
- Large-scale event planning
- Precise funnel management
- Strong believer in equity
Accomplishments
- Increased productivity resulting in completed CUNY applications rising 11%
- Implemented chat and chatbot, relaunched texting and implemented automated transfer credits
- Set record for 18 consecutive enrollment targets achieved
- Led a national re-branding team and won national top quality award
- Met fund raising targets for 17 million dollar renovation
- Helped to raise several institutions' ranking to top 20 in Princeton review, CollegeNet and others
- Continuously improved Noel Levitz survey results with a 94% response rate
Timeline
Director of Enrollment
Democracy Prep Public Schools
04.2024 - 10.2025
Sr Exec Director for Enrollment (Contractual)
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
03.2023 - 10.2023
University Director of Admissions Operations
CUNY Central Office
10.2021 - 07.2022
Associate Director of Admissions Operations
CUNY Borough Of Manhattan Community College
11.2018 - 10.2021
Director of Admissions
University Of Silicon Valley
08.2016 - 09.2018
Interim Director of Admissions
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU)
08.2015 - 08.2016
Senior Director of Admissions
The Art Institute of California
11.2013 - 04.2015
Director of Admissions and Institutional Effectiveness
The Art Institute of New York City
04.2006 - 11.2013
Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Advanced Management
Columbia University in The City of New York
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Economics / Sociology
University of Oregon
Qualifications Summary
Education: yield and retention strategy, student services, events, student advising, institutional research, devlopement
Analysis : data analytics, Peoplesoft reporting, SPSS, EAB, Banner, Salesforce, CRM, workflows
Public Relations: brand development, community outreach, marketing analysis, communications planning
Planning: budgeting, strategic planning, financial forecasting, risk management
Finance: private and public funding, grant and scholarship administration, VA processing, fund accounting
Operations: union negotiations, international logistics, contract negotiation, vendor relations, six sigma
Government : requests for proposal, city and county permitting, project management
Leadership: quality team leader (TQM), management hiring and training, organizational development