HWS News
26 September 2023 New Leadership in Admissions and Financial Aid By Colin Spencer '19
Michael J. Quinn welcomed as new Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid.
As Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid, Michael Quinn is focused on recruiting and enrolling engaged students who are ready to make a positive impact on the world.
Quinn joined HWS this summer after serving as the chief enrollment officer at Rockford University in Illinois and Randolph College in Virginia. Prior to his career in higher education, he served as a communications strategist and writer in the advertising, technology and nonprofit sectors.
Quinn had been familiar with Hobart and William Smith’s reputation, and his conversations with members of the campus only confirmed his interest in the position.
“I looked forward to joining the HWS community because the people I was speaking with during the interview process were excited for its future,” he says, noting the Colleges’ stellar academics and award-winning faculty; nationally known programs in career resources, study abroad and community engagement; commitment to inclusion and belonging; and exceptional athletics program. “I was struck immediately by the strong relationships that are developed among faculty, coaches, staff and students, as well as the Colleges’ focus on preparing students to lead a life of consequence. That message and that mission resonated powerfully with me.”
Quinn is exploring new ways to leverage financial aid resources and improve recruiting with the goal of increasing the enrollment of first-year, transfer and graduate students.
“My priority is to maintain the momentum that was created under the leadership of Interim Vice President Kathy Killius Regan ’82, P’13,” he says. “The Colleges made significant headway in all enrollment metrics during Fiscal Year 2023, and that speaks volumes about the quality of the admissions staff, the commitment of the faculty to admissions efforts, and the partnerships the Admissions Office has across campus including with Athletics and Communications.”
To fill out the Admissions and Financial Aid team, Quinn has hired three senior level directors in his office including Director of Admissions Steven Simons, Director of Operations Craig Meyers, and Director of Financial Aid Lisa Hoskey. “These three individuals, along with Associate Vice President Marylyn Uhnak, provide talent and leadership that will move HWS forward.”
As the admissions staff heads out on the road this fall to recruit new students, Quinn says that their excitement and focus is contagious. “We have a group of driven professionals who will make certain that smart, qualified and interesting high school students know about Hobart and William Smith and are motivated to apply and enroll. I’m confident in our trajectory.”
Quinn holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership for Changing Populations from Notre Dame of Maryland University. He earned a B.A. in English from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, and an M.A. in English from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
