Executive Vice President and Provost JoAnne A. Epps recently announced that Shawn L. Abbott has been named vice provost for admissions, financial aid and enrollment management, effective May 14.

 

With more than two decades’ experience in admissions at prestigious universities around the country, Abbott joins Temple from New York University, where he has been assistant vice president and dean of admissions in the enrollment management division.

 

“Shawn’s impeccable credentials are matched by his passion for urban universities and Temple’s mission of expanding access to an excellent education,” Epps said. “This makes him a perfect fit not only to continue our innovative admissions efforts but also to help ensure our students limit their debt by graduating on time.”

 

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in community planning and development, Abbott earned a master's degree in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina. He began his career in student affairs and moved to Drexel University in 1994 as assistant director of alumni relations. Two years later, he joined Boston University as assistant director of admissions, launching his career in enrollment management.

 

Abbott moved to Columbia University in 1998 as assistant director of admissions, later becoming senior associate director of admissions. While there, he earned his doctorate in higher education administration, studying the influence of urban colleges and universities on cities.

 

In 2006, Stanford University recruited Abbott to be director of admissions. There, he led the admissions team in producing record-breaking numbers and launching a marketing campaign that garnered national awards.

 

In 2010, he joined NYU, where he oversaw admissions at all three degree-granting campuses (New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai). After the university acquired and merged with the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, Abbott led admission initiatives for the new engineering school. The merger resulted in a first-year class of engineering students that doubled in size and yielded the largest first-year applicant pool ever for a private institution.

 

Abbott has also served as a consultant for the United States Department of State, providing advice to students, families and counselors in the Middle East, Northern Africa and the Mediterranean on American university admissions and aid.

 

“We look forward to Dr. Abbott’s arrival and his leadership of these important institutional areas,” Epps said.