ISSUED: 18 April 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — William E. “Bill” Sommers is the new vice president for enrollment management at Shepherd University. He brings nearly 25 years of higher education experience to the university, focusing on admissions and enrollment management.
“I am thrilled to be a new member of the Shepherd University community,” Sommers said. “I’m finding that the people here are really invested in this university, its success, and the students who attend this university.”
Sommers said he became interested in applying to Shepherd after reading the university’s strategic plan, progress reports, and other documents. He is excited about where the institution is now and where it is going.
“When you work in higher education, it is really about the people, because we are still people serving people, and that’s what education really is about,” he said. “I was really impressed with the people and the collegiality and the collaboration that is taking place here on campus.”
Sommers said Shepherd is a good fit for him, and he looks forward to promoting the school to future students.
“Shepherd offers a quality education in a very personal environment in a cool, funky, eclectic college town,” he said “It’s about environment, it’s about location, and it’s about academic programs.”
Sommers comes to Shepherd from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where he served as associate vice president for enrollment management since 2013. He has worked in Colorado at Colorado Mountain College, Parks College, and Colorado Technical University, and in Wisconsin at Ripon College and Apollo Group/Cardinal Stritch University.
Sommers earned a B.A. in speech communications from Ripon College and an M.S. in management from Cardinal Stritch University.
As vice president for enrollment management, Sommers will oversee Shepherd’s admissions, financial aid, and registrar’s offices.
Listen to the interview HERE.
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