As Vice President for Enrollment, I provide leadership for Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate and Continuing Studies Admissions, the University Registrar, and Student Financial Services (including Financial Aid and the Bursar).
My team and I are responsible for shaping the university's overall enrollment strategy, encompassing recruitment initiatives, admissions policies, financial aid strategies, yield management, and data-driven analysis and predictive modeling. We collaborate with colleagues across the university to help prospective students and their families understand the value of a Widener education and work as champions to remove obstacles to enrollment and matriculation.
As a scholar of higher education, I also support campus stakeholders in understanding the demographic, competitive, and public policy landscape influencing the broader field. As a first-generation college student, I am especially committed to initiatives that expand opportunities for students from under-resourced and underserved backgrounds, advancing our mission to foster social mobility.
I value collaboration and innovation and strive to cultivate these capacities in others. Additionally, I enjoy engaging current students in our work, particularly those with interests in data science and analytics, providing them with meaningful, real-world experiences that contribute to the university's success.
Widener supports the government’s FAFSA ‘Week of Action,’ by offering financial aid assistance, virtual workshops and much more to ease college application stress.
Widener University announced it has suspended its plans to observe the May 1 deadline for incoming fall 2024 students to commit their choice to attend the university.
Joseph Howard, vice president for enrollment, is highlighted in this profile where he shares about his life as a first generation college student, career at Widener, and the university's commitment to students and adapting to changes in higher education.
Joseph Howard, vice president for enrollment, authored this op-ed sharing how Widener navigated the immense challenges of the FAFSA rollout in the 2023-2024 enrollment cycle.
Widener President Stacey Robertson and Vice President of Enrollment Joseph Howard are interviewed for this story about Widener's success in admitting a record-breaking class amidst challenges and changes in the higher education landscape.
Vice President for Enrollment Joseph Howard is quoted discussing efforts to help incoming fall 2024 students navigate the FAFSA process amidst nationwide challenges.
Vice President for Enrollment Joseph Howard is featured discussing challenges with the FAFSA rollout for students planning to attend college in the fall 2024 semester. Howard shares national challenges schools are facing due to the delays and what Widener is doing to help this process for students and families. Widener will hold virtual FAFSA information sessions during national FAFSA Week of Action happening April 15-19.