Leadership & Management
The Associate Dean of Admissions at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (HCOM) will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all recruitment and admissions activities across the college’s three campuses—Athens, Dublin, and Cleveland.
This role will guide the development and execution of marketing strategies, student outreach initiatives, and the admissions selection process to recruit capable medical students committed to serving rural and underserved communities. These students, who will ultimately become physicians, will meet the primary care needs for the state of Ohio and beyond, which is vital to fulfill the school’s mission.
The Associate Dean will be responsible for effectively promoting Heritage College’s offerings, showcasing the unique opportunities available to medical students, and presenting the institution in an engaging and accurate manner. In addition to managing recruitment and admissions, this position will lead the Early Assurance Program (EAP) for outstanding Ohio high school seniors to earn their undergraduate degree from an approved EAP partner school and their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Heritage College. These initiatives will serve as key recruitment tools and fostering future enrollment in the college’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program
Position Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Set and execute the vision, goals, and policies for admissions aligned with the institution’s mission, values, and accreditation standards.
- Lead long-range enrollment planning, class composition strategy, and capacity management across campuses or programs.
- Ensure admissions practices support workforce needs, diversity goals, and institutional priorities.
Leadership & Operational Oversight
- Lead and develop a high-performing team across three campuses, setting clear goals, providing mentorship, and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.
- Oversee the overall success of the Admissions department, including the performance outcomes of all Admissions staff across three campuses
- Oversee operations and resources, managing budgets, delegating responsibilities, and ensuring alignment with organizational strategy.
- Ensure processes are in place to support operational continuity under all circumstances.
- Drive team performance and growth, conducting evaluations, implementing development plans, and building succession pipelines for sustained leadership.
Admissions Operations & Oversight
- Oversee the full admissions cycle: recruitment, application screening, interviewing, selection, waitlist management, and matriculation.
- Ensure consistent, fair, and holistic review processes.
- Monitor yield, melt, and cycle trends; adjust strategy in real time.
Committee & Decision-Making Leadership
- Member of the selection committee.
- Train and support faculty, staff, and student interviewers.
- Ensure documentation, transparency, and defensibility of decisions.
Recruitment & Outreach
- Lead recruitment strategy, pipeline programs, and partnerships (e.g., early assurance, post-baccalaureate, feeder schools).
- Represent the institution at recruitment events, fairs, and professional meetings.
- Build relationships with advisors, pre-health offices, and community partners.
Data, Analytics & Reporting
- Oversee departmental processes and data management practices to ensure that all student-related contact and activities are tracked in a system that allows for operational continuity and data analytics (such as SalesForce or E-medley)
- Use data to inform admissions strategy, including applicant trends, academic metrics, demographic data, and outcomes.
- Prepare reports for leadership, accreditation bodies, and institutional research.
- Oversee application platforms and process optimization.
Policy, Compliance & Accreditation
- Ensure compliance with accreditation standards (e.g., COCA), institutional policies, and legal/regulatory requirements.
- Maintain written policies and procedures for admissions operations.
- Prepare for accreditation reviews and audits related to admissions.
Financial & Resource Stewardship
- Manage the admissions budget.
- Oversee scholarship strategy in collaboration with financial aid.
- Ensure appropriate staffing, training, and workload distribution.
Collaboration & Institutional Leadership
- Partner with Student Affairs, Marketing, Financial Aid, and Registrar.
- Serve as a senior leader contributing to broader institutional strategy.
- Communicate regularly with executive leadership.
About the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine:
Mission:
We pride ourselves on our strong focus on our mission: training osteopathic primary care physicians to serve Ohio.
Our medical school educates physicians committed to practice in Ohio, emphasizes primary care, engages in focused research, and embraces both Appalachian and urban communities. Integral to this mission, our college community commits itself to: providing a clinically integrated, learning-centered, osteopathic medical education continuum for students, interns, residents and primary care associates; embracing public service; and improving the health and well-being of underserved populations.
Vision:
A healthier Ohio, empowered by compassionate osteopathic physicians.
With our graduates and partners, we advance care and knowledge to improve the health of our communities. Our culture is built upon resiliency, courage and compassion. Our physicians humanize each patient encounter, bridging the gap between therapeutics, medical technologies, health systems, care delivery and disparity.
Essential Values:
These fundamental principles form the foundation of the culture at our college: wholeness and balance within each person; integrity; community of mutual respect; acceptance of others; pursuit of excellence; a climate of scholarship; and commitment to service, generosity and compassion.
Our Campuses:
https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/campuses
Why Choose Ohio University?
https://www.ohio.edu/hr/jobs/working-ohio
https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits
About the Office of Admissions
https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/offices/admissions
Minimum Qualifications:
Requires a Master’s degree in a related field, 15 or more years of related professional experience, and 9 or more years of supervisory experience, or equivalent education and experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 8+ Years of Full-time Experience Related to Position with at Least 3 Years at or Above the Director Level
- Experience with Professional School Admissions
- D.O., M.D., Ed.D., or Ph.D.
- Knowledge and/or Experience of/with Osteopathic Medicine/Medical Schools