New WMU enrollment management chief hails from North Carolina
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—An enrollment professional with more than 30 years of higher education experience in the fields of student life and enrollment management will take the reins of Western Michigan University's enrollment operations in August.
Dr. Terrence M. Curran, associate provost for enrollment management at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has been appointed WMU's associate provost for enrollment management following a nationwide search. Pending approval by the WMU Board of Trustees, Curran will take on the administrative role Aug. 1.
"As our search unfolded, we found in Dr. Curran the skill set, philosophy and record of achievement we sought," says Dr. Timothy Greene, WMU provost and vice president for academic affairs. "He brings to our campus a wonderful focus on the total student experience and an extraordinary commitment to continuing this institution's mission of providing opportunity along with the tools that help students succeed."
Terrence M. Curran
Curran has been in his current position at UNCW since 2005. In his role there, he is responsible for maintaining focused and sustained growth, improving retention and graduation rates, increasing diversity, improving market presence and institutional recognition, and boosting student service quality.
During his decade-plus in that role, UNCW has seen double digit percentage gains in four-year graduation rates and significant improvements to retention rates, transfer graduation rates and six-year graduation rates. His work resulted in recent recognition by the Education Trust, which singled out UNCW for having the eighth highest increase in graduation rates in the country and being among the top five schools nationally for decreasing the graduation rate gap between white and underrepresented minority students.
Curran notes that enrollment management by a university requires attention to recruitment, retention and graduation rates but is also critically linked to providing the kind of total student experience that leads to students developing a lifetime affinity for their institutions.
"There are so many parts to the enrollment puzzle that it has to be an 'all hands on deck' approach to making sure students have that kind of opportunity," he says. "At WMU I'm absolutely astounded by the range of academic assets this campus has. I'm really excited about what we're going to be able to accomplish together."
Prior to managing the enrollment management operation at UNCW, Curran served as associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students there for 10 years. His background also includes student affairs positions at the University of Rhode Island and Lehigh and Wake Forest universities.
Curran earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Rhode Island in 1979 and 1983, respectively, and a doctoral degree from Lehigh University in 1985.
Curran replaces Dr. Christopher Tremblay in the WMU enrollment management role. Tremblay now serves as vice chancellor of enrollment management at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.