Paul Marthers, Dean of Admissions at Reed College in Oregon, was appointed as Rensselaer’s new Vice President for Enrollment and Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions in May. Marthers will replace James Nondorf, who announced that he would be accepting a position at the University of Chicago last March. The appointment will be effective as of August 1.
Marthers was selected by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the top 10 admissions deans shaping their field in 2007. In addition to working at Reed College, Marthers has also worked at Oberlin College, Boston College, Vassar College, Bennington College, and Duke University. At these schools, he held various positions, including director of admissions, associate director of foundation relations, and assistant to the senior vice president of alumni affairs and development.
He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Oberlin College, and later received two master’s degrees—in counseling from Boston University and in liberal studies from Reed College. Finally, Marthers attended the University of Pennsylvania for an Ed.D. in higher education management.
Marthers has more than 25 years of working in higher and secondary education. After his challenging road to attending college, which included working for a couple years at a cheese factory and having to balance a job with his academics, Marthers decided his calling was to work at colleges throughout his life. In addition to roles in the administration of universities, Marthers has also spent time interacting with students through his work as a college counselor and assistant baseball coach. He has published more than 20 articles, encompassing topics such as counseling, admissions, faculty compensations, and financial aid.
In his position at Rensselaer, Marthers will oversee the departments of Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, and Financial Aid in addition to working with the deans of Undergraduate and Graduate Education. He will be responsible for providing leadership and direction to the entire enrollment management and financial aid programs, assuring direct responsibility for all programs, functions, facets, and activities, affecting undergraduate enrollment at the Institute. He will also serve as an officer of RPI, working closely and inclusively with President Shirley Ann Jackson, her Cabinet, and the enrollment staff to develop strategies and programs to enhance the Institute’s enrollment department.
Jackson remarked in an RPI press release, “[Marthers] brings proven success and commitment in the full range of admissions activity, including a healthy appreciation of the importance of different types of student diversity and a robust financial aid program. I am confident that he will help us continue to accelerate the reputation of Rensselaer and its graduates worldwide.”