Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — With goals to emphasize cross-campus collaboration, Dr. Lee Furbeck was named Stephen F. Austin State University’s inaugural vice president of enrollment management and began her tenure in the position Monday.
“I am thrilled to join the SFA family,” Furbeck said. “I am looking forward to collaborating with colleagues on campus and in Texas. I’m also eager to get to know SFA’s students. As a believer in and beneficiary of the power of public higher education, I’m poised to make a positive contribution to the institution, our students and the community. SFA has a strong brand, untapped potential and some exciting possibilities. I’m looking forward to creating and exploring the options.”
The vice president of enrollment management role is a reworking and expansion of the previous executive director of enrollment management position. Erma Nieto Brecht held the executive director role beginning in June 2018 until her departure this past June. Rachele’ Garrett, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships director, has served in the interim.
Administrators saw the role’s vacancy as an opportunity to reimagine its responsibilities within the ever-changing higher education landscape. According to Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields, SFA’s chief diversity officer and hiring committee chair for the new vice president role, the decision to transition the position from an executive directorship to a vice presidency was to obtain a more competitive applicant pool and align with best practices in higher education.
Furbeck, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in English from the University of Missouri, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. She has served more than 17 years in higher education with directorial positions in admissions at Central Michigan University, Cleveland State University and the University of Kansas, among others.
Additionally, Furbeck served as director for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers’ Technology and Transfer Conference in Washington, D.C.
Furbeck has seen a great deal of success throughout her career, most of which she attributes to her emphasis on in-depth collaboration with colleagues. She believes her success has been in achieving targeted growth through the intersections of policy, marketing, relationship building, scholarship and financial aid allocations, and customer service.
In her most recent stint as executive director of admissions at CMU, Furbeck increased new international enrollment 200% for spring 2022, devised a merit award structure for leveraging financial aid strategies, and implemented the common application and test-optional admissions.
Furbeck looks to continue such successes in Nacogdoches.
“SFA isn’t sitting still, and change allows me to do my best work,” Furbeck said. “I am excited by the challenges and opportunities of a new position, new leadership, pending system affiliation, and the chance to contribute in a cabinet-level role. I’ll start by getting to know the institution and the people of SFA and exploring how we can work together to articulate and meet shared goals.”
“These are changing times for higher education, and a market- and data-driven approach is key to institutional success,” Furbeck continued. “I’m looking forward to using the information we have and/or can obtain to improve service, efficiency and outcomes.”
Furbeck’s hiring came after a comprehensive nationwide search that involved a committee comprised of SFA faculty, staff and students in collaboration with search firm Spelman Johnson. The search began in September 2022 following a charge from SFA President-elect Dr. Steve Westbrook, and it concluded in December.
“As a result of Dr. Furbeck's foresight, creativity, vision and innovations that produced successes throughout her career, she was selected as the top candidate out of a competitive group,” DeLaney-Fields said. “In addition, she stood out as someone who could steer SFA's efforts and strategies for undergraduate and graduate recruitment, retention, and relationships within the Nacogdoches community.”
Other committee members included Brittany Beck, director of Orientation and Transition Programs; Dr. Ric Berry, professor in the School of Music; Mike Coffee, deputy chief information officer; Graham Garner, chief marketing communications officer; Madison Gartman, president of the Student Government Association; Dr. Marc Guidry, associate provost; Karyn Hall, director of the Office of Strategic Analytics and Institutional Research; Grace Saldana-Romero, assistant director of business operations and member services at Campus Recreation; Craig Turnage, executive director of the Alumni Association; and Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts.