Tabor College has merged two of its campus departments, enrollment and athletics, effective Aug. 1.
Rusty Allen, who at different times has served vice president for enrollment management and for athletics, will lead the newly created Depart?ment of Enroll?ment Manage?ment and Intercollegiate Athletics.
?At Tabor, athletics is an important part of our recruitment strategies and efforts,? President Jules Glanzer said of the move. ?Admissions and athletics have to work well together. It seemed natural, when an opening occurred in enrollment management, to bring these two functional areas under one vice president.
?Merging these two areas seems to be a strategic move to continue our enrollment growth,? Glanzer added. ?(Allen?s) willingness to assume this new role brings stability and experience to the position and enables us to have a smooth transition as we continue to grow.?
The merging of departments came on the heels of the resignation of Linda Cantwell, who served for two years as vice president of enrollment management. Cantwell has accepted a similar position at another institution.
Allen said he is looking forward to the challenge.
?The vision of merging enrollment management and intercollegiate athletics makes a lot of sense for Tabor College,? he said. ?There is just a great deal of overlap between enrollment management staff and athletic recruiters. I am both humbled and excited to be asked to provide leadership for this new vision.?
Allen, a native of McPherson, has a bachelor?s degree in math and secondary education from McPherson College and a master?s degree from Peru State College in the same field.
He served under President Larry Nikkel as vice president of enrollment management from 2007-08. He filled the role of director of admissions from 2003 to 2004, then was dean of enrollment management from 2004 to 2007.
Allen also was the women?s basketball head coach for six seasons.
As part of the restructuring, Amy Ratzlaff will serve as a second part-time associate athletic director. Karol Hunt will continue in a similar role she has had under Allen for the past several years.
In the office of enrollment management, Natalie Wright will serve as the director of student recruitment. Lee Waldron has been hired as the director of enrollment operations.
Tabor College has experienced three years of record enrollments and college officials expect another large incoming freshman class this fall.
