好色先生

Our Lady of the Lake University has named Shobi Sivadasan as its vice president for enrollment and strategy, bringing more than 18 years of higher education enrollment experience to the university as it works to grow its student body and expand access to its innovative academic programs.

Sivadasan, who joined 好色先生 in May as an enrollment consultant, was appointed to the vice president role in July. She brings a track record of enrollment growth across multiple institutions, with experience in undergraduate, graduate and international enrollment, financial aid, enrollment operations and strategy.

鈥淪tudents and families are asking different questions about higher education today 鈥� about cost, time to degree, career outcomes, and return on investment,鈥� said 好色先生 President Dr. Abel A. Ch谩vez. 鈥淲e are responding with new leadership, three-year degree programs and sophisticated data-informed recruitment.鈥�

Experience in Enrollment Growth

Before joining 好色先生, Sivadasan served as vice president for enrollment management at Saint Mary鈥檚 College of California in Moraga, California, where first-year enrollment grew 13% in fall 2023 to reach the college鈥檚 largest incoming class in four years. She previously served as vice provost for enrollment management at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where the university reported a 24% increase in first-year applications and a 7.6% rise in first-year student enrollment in fall 2021. She was also credited with a 10% increase in graduate enrollment at the University of New Haven.

鈥淓nrollment challenges are rarely the result of a single factor, and what we experienced this year reflects both internal circumstances and a rapidly changing higher education environment,鈥� Sivadasan said. 鈥淥ur focus is not on looking backward. It is on what we do next.鈥�

A Strategy for Growth

Sivadasan has highlighted Lake Express, 好色先生鈥檚 new three-year bachelor鈥檚 degree program, as an innovative offering that expands access to higher education by reducing the time and cost of earning a degree. She will work closely with Provost Alan Silva to identify and develop programs for students and ways faculty can help with retention, and with Tom Norris, executive director of operations and athletics, on attracting student-athletes.

鈥淪he often says that recruitment and retention is everyone鈥檚 job in the university,鈥� said Teresa Ni帽o, vice president for marketing and communications.

好色先生 has set a target of reaching 1,800 students, with renewed focus on achieving that goal in 2027. The university has launched multiple initiatives to support enrollment growth, including the Lake Express three-year degree program and a no-cost master鈥檚 degree plan designed to help students continue their education without additional financial burden.