The Admissions Department is poised to restructure. Official July 1, the current Director of Admissions Kim Brueggemann will switch to Associate Director of Admissions and an additional Director of Admissions will be hired to “focus on the strategic operations of the school,” according to Brueggemann.

Brueggemann’s role will change, but she will still continue to directly work with families, events, and public relations.

“Mrs. Brueggemann will focus on recruitment events and building relationships with perspective students and their families. It plays to her greatest strength – the people aspect. She’s the ultimate cheerleader for John Carroll,” said President Richard O’Hara.

With an additional Director of Admissions, Brueggemann will have more time to focus on the performing arts. “I am still very much involved in admissions, but I look forward to the exciting opportunity of expanding the theatre arts program,” said Brueggemann.

Her new focus on the theatre will “also allow her to take on a role that will be a great step forward for the school. There isn’t a title yet, but she will be overseeing and building the theatre programs,” said O’Hara.

Although Brueggemann’s role is still “evolving,” the theatre department is “expanding and we want to expand if further,” said Brueggemann.

Brueggemann will have a few preliminary goals, such as expanding course offerings and summer stock, or community theatre.

O’Hara said, “As a lover of the theatre and John Carroll theatre in particular, I’m very intrigued by the idea of summer stock. It’s great for kids of all ages and can attract new families here. There’s growing potential through Mrs. B’s work to provide arts outreach to the larger community. We would be doing public service by offering our performing arts venue to the outside world.”

The new Director of Admissions will focus on “the relationship between marketing and admissions and the administration of financial aid, which has previously been administered by the admissions and business offices,” said O’Hara.

Successful candidates, according to O’Hara, are those with five or more years of experience in school or college admissions, experience administering a financial aid program, a “high level of creativity in recruit and marketing approaches,” communication and organizational skills, hopefully a Master’s degree, and “as always, they must be compatible with the school mission.”

Already, “the search is on” said O’Hara. The employment opportunity is listed on the school’s website and in education journals and publications.  Résumés will be collected until mid November, then “a small group of the most qualified will be invited to the campus.” O’Hara is shooting for an appointment by mid December.

Within the past few weeks, close to 10 résumés have been submitted.

The decision to restructure was made “because we have new needs, very changing needs in this arena, primarily brought on by the need for more aggressive student recruitment efforts. We’ve changed from a gathering society, with many students to pick and choose from, to a more aggressive, hunting culture. The climate has changed,” said O’Hara.

O’Hara cites the changes in recruitment strategies because there are fewer students of high school age in the area and more competition, especially from newly redone public schools. In addition, the economy is a major factor. “The economy has a huge impact on affordability and accessibility,” said O’Hara.

O’Hara’s major goal for admissions is “to ultimately have waiting lists at every grade level at John Carroll. In this economy, we need to be extra diligent, extra creative, and it’s not up to admissions alone. We need to change the way we approach admissions. It’s everybody’s job: every student, faculty member, everybody connected with John Carroll.”

Brueggemann, who has spent ten of her 13 years at JC in the admissions department, is “thrilled” about her new role. “Both jobs will allow me to use my skills, my experience, and my talents to the best of my ability. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to do both in a school that I love so much.”

Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected].