Curtis Ferguson II named dean of strategic enrollment at Lawrence University

Dr. Curtis Ferguson II will join Lawrence University on May 1 as the new dean of strategic enrollment.

He comes to Lawrence from the University of Southern California, where he has served as the associate director of admissions.

Ferguson II will work with Phil Betz, vice president for enrollment management, Robert Nowak, associate vice president for enrollment management, the admissions team, and other leadership across campus in the development and implementation of both short- and long-term enrollment strategies, with a focus on recruitment and retention.

Prior to joining USC in 2019, Ferguson II worked as an associate director of admission at DePauw University. He earlier served as associate director of student services at Cornell University.

Ferguson II said he is drawn to this position with Lawrence because of his longstanding commitment to advancing liberal arts education through strategic enrollment management

“The opportunity to develop and implement innovative recruitment, admissions, and retention initiatives aligns perfectly with my professional values and expertise,” he said. “My career, over 15 years, has been dedicated to creating inclusive and adaptive educational spaces, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and leveraging data-driven strategies to enhance student success and institutional growth.”

Ferguson II said his primary focus will be on executing a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan that meets enrollment targets while promoting equitable access and holistic student success.

“This will involve analyzing data, competitive landscapes, and enrollment trends to inform our strategies, creating targeted digital marketing campaigns, and developing messaging that resonates with our key student segments,” he said.