Strategic Enrollment Management at 50: The Parallel Evolution of Presidential Leadership and Institutional Strategy

Article Abstract

Related Issue:

SEMQ Volume 14, Issue 3 (October 2026)

This article argues that the evolution of strategic enrollment management (SEM) over the past five decades has paralleled the changing role of the university president. Drawing on the literature, contemporary leadership research, and an interview with Old Dominion University President Brian O. Hemphill, it examines how presidential leadership has become increasingly central to advancing student success, institutional resilience, and long-term sustainability through SEM.

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Author

Kimberley Williams

Article Type

SEMQ Article

Competency

Data Reporting & Analysis, Leadership, Organizational Management, Strategic Professional Development, Student Success & Enrollment Management, Technology Management

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Author(s)

Kimberley Buster-Williams, Ed.D., is a distinguished scholar-practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in higher education. She serves as the Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Retention at The George Washington University (GW), where she is recognized as one of the nation’s leading enrollment professionals.

A published author and thought leader, Dr. Williams has contributed significantly to the field of higher education. She recently co-authored Navigating Shifting Terrain: The Current Landscape of American Higher Education in NACAC’s Fundamentals of College Admissions Counseling (Sixth Edition) and is the author of the 2021 book History of American Higher Education A to Z: A Primer for Enrollment Managers. Her scholarly work focuses on student success, retention, and enrollment management, with numerous articles and publications addressing these critical areas.

Dr. Williams earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education from Regent University (VA), where her dissertation examined employee engagement and succession planning to retain enrollment middle managers during the “Big Quit,” “Great Reshuffle,” and “Great Resignation” eras. She also holds an Ed.S. in Higher Education Administration, a Master’s in Education Administration, and a Bachelor’s in English—all from Old Dominion University (VA). Additionally, she completed a post-master’s certificate in leadership at the University of Michigan’s Center for the Education of Women.

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