Joseph Howard

Joseph E. Howard, MS

  • Vice President for Enrollment & Technology
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Education

  • MS, Organizational Leadership (2009)
    Mercyhurst University (PA)
  • BA, Sociology (2003)
    Mercyhurst University (PA)

About Me

As Vice President for Enrollment & Technology at Widener University, I provide leadership for Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate and Continuing Studies Admissions, the University Registrar, Student Financial Services (including Financial Aid and the Bursar), and the Information Technology Services division.

In this role, my team and I shape the university’s enrollment and technology strategy, encompassing recruitment initiatives, admissions policies, financial aid strategies, yield management, and the integration of data-driven analysis and predictive modeling with digital infrastructure that enables institutional effectiveness. We collaborate with colleagues across the university to help prospective students and their families understand the value of a Widener education.  We partner across campus to ensure our technology systems empower students, faculty, and staff to thrive and that our data products provide actionable insights for decision-makers.

As a scholar of higher education, I support campus stakeholders in understanding the demographic, competitive, and public policy forces 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. I also enjoy engaging current students in our work, particularly those with interests in data science, analytics, and technology, providing them with meaningful, real-world experiences that contribute to the university’s success.

Research Interests

  • Machine learning
  • Data science
  • Admissions
  • Financial aid
  • Access and equity
  • Institutional effectiveness

Publications

  • Meizlish, D. S., Wright, M. C., Howard, J., & Kaplan, M. L. (2018). Measuring the effect of a new faculty program using institutional data. International Journal for Academic Development, 23(2), 72-85.
  • Bastedo, M. N., Howard, J. E., & Flaster, A. (2016). Holistic admissions after affirmative action: Does “maximizing” the high school curriculum matter? Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 38(2), 389-409.
  • Wright, M. C., & Howard, J. E. (2015). Assessment for improvement: Two models for assessing a large quantitative reasoning requirement. Numeracy: Advancing Education in Quantitative Literacy, 8(1).
  • Howard, Joseph E. (2015). Stata command reference. https://bit.ly/3B1HrlF

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