Point Loma Nazarene University VP for Enrollment and Marketing

Vice President for

Enrollment and Marketing

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

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OVERVIEW (CONTINUED)

OVERVIEW

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a thriving

Christian university located on a stunning oceanfront

campus in San Diego, California. Founded in 1902

within the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition of the Church

of the Nazarene, PLNU exists to provide higher

education in a vital Christian community where minds

are engaged and challenged, character is modeled

and formed, and service is an expression of faith.

Today, the university serves nearly 5,000 students

across undergraduate, graduate, and professional

programs offered in multiple learning modalities.

PLNU has experienced steady enrollment growth in

recent years, reaching approximately 4,996 students

in Fall 2025, with notable strength in graduate and

accelerated undergraduate programs. The university

is recognized for academic quality, strong faculty

engagement, and meaningful student formation,

reflected in high retention rates, a 13:1 student-faculty

ratio, and graduates well-prepared for vocation,

service, and leadership. Students represent more

than 45 church denominations and an increasingly

diverse population, contributing to a vibrant Christcentered

community.

A defining strength of PLNU is its integration of

faith, learning, and community life. Through the

OnePLNU strategic framework, the university is

aligning mission fidelity, community belonging,

academic innovation, and resource stewardship

to support long-term vitality. PLNU remains

deeply committed to a residential undergraduate

experience while continuing to expand graduate,

professional, and partnership-based programs that

extend the university’s mission to new learners and

communities.

This is a pivotal leadership season for Enrollment and

Marketing at PLNU. The university is strengthening

its approach to enrollment strategy across

traditional undergraduate, graduate, accelerated,

and partnership-based programs while bringing

enrollment and marketing leadership together at the

Cabinet level. This unified approach reflects PLNU’s

commitment to long-term sustainability, clearer

institutional storytelling, and stronger alignment

between mission, market opportunity, and student

demand.

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OVERVIEW

PLNU’s enrollment model is distinctive. Traditional

undergraduate enrollment on the Point Loma

campus remains intentionally capped because

of its unique coastal location and to comply with

city regulations, while graduate, professional, and

adult-serving programs continue to grow through

regional campuses, online learning, and community

partnerships. As higher education faces demographic

shifts, increasing competition, and evolving student

expectations, PLNU is seeking an enrollment leader

who can steward the strength of the undergraduate

experience while helping the university expand

thoughtfully into new markets and modalities.

Building on a strong institutional foundation, PLNU

seeks a Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing

who is strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven

— a leader who can effectively align the work of

the enrollment and marketing teams, strengthen

partnerships across the university and community,

and help PLNU communicate its story with clarity

and credibility to future students, families, alumni,

and partners. This leader will help guide the

university’s enrollment strategy in ways that sustain

PLNU’s Christ-centered mission while positioning the

institution for continued vitality in the years ahead.

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OVERVIEW (CONTINUED)

PLNU’S FOUNDATIONAL STATEMENTS

Our Mission Statement

Point Loma Nazarene University exists to provide higher education in a vital Christian

community where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed,

and service is an expression of faith.

Our Vision

As part of a Christ-centered community committed to Christian discipleship, students will

be shaped and empowered by their learning and growth at PLNU to become thoughtful

and committed Christlike citizens who live out their calling in ways that transform their

homes, churches, vocations, and communities.

Core Values

Being of Wesleyan-Holiness heritage, we are a learning community where:

• Truth is pursued

• Grace is foundational

• Holiness is a way of life

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PLNU’S FOUNDATIONAL STATEMENTS

Truth: Encountering the Wonder of God — We

believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the

universe. Since God is the Source of all that is, we

believe in God’s Truth revealed in the person of Jesus

Christ, to which Scripture and all of Creation give

witness. We recognize that there are a multitude of

truth claims both in academia and in our cultural

context. We believe that Truth is not just a human

construct but involves our ongoing discovery of God’s

revealed Truth. The marks of the Creator are in the

Creation. We further believe that we come to God’s

Truth through the primacy of Scripture as embraced

by the historic Christian Church, supported by

reason, and confirmed by experience. We value the

knowledge we have gained through our academic

training, and we also see the glory and majesty of

God’s redemptive work in Christ and Creation. We

affirm with confidence and without contradiction

both our faith in Christ and our commitment to

academic excellence.

Grace: Living in the Hope and Optimism of God’s

Transformative Work — We believe that God is

active and present in our world, working in all of

creation to redeem and restore us in God’s own

image. As we respond to God’s redemptive purposes

both individually and in our life together, we believe

that we have new life in Christ, being reconciled to

God and one another. Because it is God who is at

work in us we are hopeful, even optimistic, about

the possibilities of becoming who God calls us to

be. Because it is God who is also at work in our

world, we seek to advance justice, peace, mercy, and

reconciliation in our time and look forward to the day

when all will be made right by the gracious, loving

power of God.

Holiness: Maturing in Christ through the Story

of God and Practices of Christian Community —

We are called to be a distinctly Christian community

in education, as a part of the larger Church of Jesus

Christ and the mission of God in the world. We find

our purpose in the person of Christ, Scripture, the

creeds, and the practices of the Church across the

ages. We understand these practices to be “means

of grace” that God’s Holy Spirit uses to shape us both

individually and corporately in the character of Christ.

These practices include both acts of piety and works

of mercy, such as gathering for worship, prayer,

Bible study, caring for those in need, and sharing

the Gospel of Christ. Practices of forgiveness, trust,

empathy, compassion, mindfulness, and gratitude

are characteristic of our life together.

As part of a Christ-centered community committed

to Christian discipleship, students will be shaped and

empowered by their learning and growth at PLNU to

become thoughtful and committed Christlike citizens

who live out their calling in ways that transform their

homes, churches, vocations, and communities.

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HISTORY

PLNU was founded in Los Angeles in 1902 by Dr. Phineas Bresee, who was also the

founder of the Church of the Nazarene. Originally named Pacific Bible College, its

purpose was to prepare women and men for service as ministers and missionaries.

In 1910, the school relocated to Pasadena where it was known for most of the next 60 years as Pasadena

College. Over those years, it grew into a reputable small Christian college due to the sacrificial leadership of

administrators, faculty, and staff, as well as committed Nazarene constituents.

In 1973, under the leadership of President Shelburne Brown, the university moved to Point Loma in San Diego

and was eventually renamed Point Loma Nazarene University. Today, PLNU is a thriving university on five

campuses with academic programs offered in multiple modalities.

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AT-A-GLANCE

STUDENT PROFILE

Fall 2025

4,996 TOTAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT

OVER 45 CHURCH DENOMINATIONS REPRESENTED

Male

33%

67%

Female

Average Freshman Test Scores

27(ACT) /1268 (SAT)

FACULTY AND STAFF

1% INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

25 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

13/1

168

82%

174

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Full-Time Faculty

Full-Time Faculty with Terminal

Degrees

Full-Time Staff

YEAR

ENROLLMENT

FALL 2021 4.450

FALL 2022 4.346

FALL 2023 4.546

FALL 2024 4,813

FALL 2025 4,996

CURRENT STUDENT BODY

Fall 2025

2,671

712

1,613

Traditional Undergraduate

Accelerated Undergraduate

Graduate

First-Time Freshman

Retention/Graduation Rates

87.5%

64%

77.1%

First-time Freshman Retention

Four-year Graduation Rate

Six-year Graduation Rate

ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS

48.9%

31.2%

7.1%

6.6%

3.2%

0.5%

0.3%

Total Ethnic Diversity

Hispanic/Latino

Multi-Race

Asian American

African American

Native American

Pacific Islander

Degrees Conferred (2024-2025)

850

492

Bachelors

Graduate

35,335 TOTAL NUMBER OF ALUMNI

HIGHLIGHTS

• Total enrollment increased 3.8% (183

students) over last fall.

• PLNU’s total undergraduate enrollment of

3,383 is up 2.5% with 81 more students

than last fall.

• Traditional undergraduates decreased by 35

students from last fall.

• PLNU’s accelerated undergraduate

enrollment climbed to 712 students. This is

a 19.5% increase (116 students) over Fall

2024. Average unit loads increased from

8.92 to 9.28.

• Graduate enrollment increased 6.8% (102

students) over last fall. Graduate student

average unit loads continue to increase

going from 8.34 to 8.42.

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AT-A-GLANCE

$ 47,500

$ 15,620

35%

TUITION

Tuition

Room, Board and Fees

Discount Rate

92% OF TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE

STUDENTS RECEIVE AID

$

$155 M

$372 M

$72 M

$11 M

$110 M

FINANCES

Annual Budget

Total Assets

Current Debt

Gifts and Grants

Endowment

ATHLETIC TEAMS

Athletic Teams are NCAA Division II,

Pacific West Conference

11 athletic team are offered:

MEN — Baseball, Basketball,

Soccer, Tennis

WOMEN — Basketball, Cross

Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis,

Track and Field, Volleyball

Since 2014

27 former student-athletes go

on to play professional sports

39 All-Americans

21 conference championships

6 NCAA Championships

appearances

Home to what is commonly referred to as

“America’s Most Scenic Ballpark”, PLNU offers

beautiful athletic facilities that include Golden

Gymnasium, a soccer field, track, and tennis courts

that overlook the Pacific Ocean.

PLNU student-athletes have a combined GPA of

3.52, regularly have the highest Academic Success

Rate in the nation and have earned the NCAA

President’s Award for Academic Excellence in each

of the past 10 years.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POINT LOMA

NAZARENE UNIVERSITY, VISIT THESE RESOURCES:

ACADEMICS AND FACULTY

PLNU offers 6 different types of

Undergraduate Degrees and 8 different

types of Graduate Degrees in more than 70

areas of study.

PLNU has the following Schools,

Departments, and Colleges:

College of Health Sciences

Fermanian School of Business

School of Education

School of Humanities, Arts, and Public

Engagement

School of Nursing

School of STEM

Reuben Welch School of Theology &

Christian Ministry

School of Behavioral and Social

Sciences

Undergraduate Top Majors (based on

degree-seeking undergraduate students on

the Point Loma Campus):

315 Nursing

225 Psychology

189 Business administration

166 Biology

146 Marketing

131 Finance

123 Health Science

120 Management

90% PLNU students’ admittance rate for

medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy,

and veterinary schools.

PLNU is in the Top 3 for CPA exam results

among all California universities.

PLNU is a member of the Council for Christian

Colleges and Universities.

ACCREDITATION

PLNU is numbered among those institutions

of higher education that meet or exceed the

rigorous standards of accrediting associations

and commissions. PLNU is accredited by the

WASC Senior College and University Commission

(WSCUC), for which it periodically completes a

self-study that addresses recognized standards

and principles of excellence. The full list of

accreditations may be found HERE.

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PLNU CAMPUS

One of the most beautiful college campuses in the U.S., Point Loma's

campus is located right along the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California.

The 90-acre Point Loma campus is home to over 2,500 undergraduates

and 70% of them remain on campus all four years.

PLNU was ranked in the Top 20 Regional Universities in the West by U.S.

News & World Report and a Top 10 Best Christian College in America by

Niche.

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STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

STRATEGIC PLAN: ONEPLNU

OnePLNU is Point Loma Nazarene University’s

strategic framework for strengthening its Christcentered

mission while preparing students for a

rapidly changing world. Rather than a static longrange

plan, OnePLNU is organized around four

enduring priorities that guide decision-making,

resource allocation, and innovation across the

university. These priorities help PLNU build on

its academic, spiritual, financial, and community

strengths while ensuring long-term sustainability

and impact.

Cultivating our Mission

PLNU is committed to remaining a transformative

Christian university where faith is central to teaching,

learning, hiring, and community life. This includes

intentional alignment of institutional practices,

leadership structures, and core documents with

the university’s mission and Wesleyan-Holiness

heritage. Initiatives include strengthening mission

integration across academic and co-curricular

programs, resourcing faculty and staff formation,

and embedding mission-centered evaluation and

hiring practices throughout the institution.

Fostering Community & Belonging

PLNU seeks to cultivate a Christ-centered community

characterized by shalom — right relationships with

God, self, others, and creation. Strategic efforts

focus on equipping students, faculty, and staff to

build a flourishing campus culture that reflects the

diversity and unity of the body of Christ. This includes

expanding resources that support belonging,

strengthening institutional practices that foster

community health, and growing the university’s

capacity to reflect a global Christian community.

Shaping Tomorrow’s Academy

Through Tomorrow’s Academy, PLNU is developing

innovative academic models that prepare students for

a dynamic future. Priorities include interdisciplinary

learning, integrated educational experiences, and

expanded pathways for undergraduate, graduate,

and professional learners. The university aims to

strengthen program vitality, support individualized

student development, and ensure graduates are

equipped for meaningful careers, service, and

lifelong learning.

Stewarding our Promise

PLNU is committed to ensuring long-term institutional

sustainability through faithful stewardship of

financial, physical, and human resources. Strategic

priorities include strengthening the university’s

endowment, expanding external partnerships,

aligning resources with mission priorities, and

improving operational effectiveness. These efforts

are intended to position PLNU for financial resilience

while supporting continued investment in students,

faculty, and programs.

The full Strategic Framework can be found at HERE.

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THE POSITION

The Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing (VPEM) serves as a key member of the President’s Cabinet

and provides strategic leadership for student recruitment, enrollment strategy, marketing, and enrollment

operations across Point Loma Nazarene University. Reporting directly to the President, this leader oversees

traditional undergraduate enrollment, graduate and professional enrollment, marketing and communications

collaboration, and student enrollment services — ensuring alignment between institutional mission, market

opportunity, and student demand.

PLNU seeks a relational, strategic, and experienced enrollment leader who understands the distinct dynamics of

traditional undergraduate, graduate/professional, and adult-serving programs. The VPEM will help the university

sustain the strength of its residential undergraduate experience while expanding partnerships, programs,

and pipelines that support graduate and adult learners. This leader will play a central role in helping PLNU

articulate its story with clarity and credibility, ensuring that prospective students, families, alumni, and partners

understand the university’s mission, value, and impact.

This is a pivotal moment for enrollment leadership at PLNU. The university has experienced steady growth in

graduate and accelerated programs while maintaining a capped traditional undergraduate population. Bringing

enrollment and marketing strategy into a unified Cabinet-level role reflects PLNU’s commitment to long-term

sustainability, data-informed decision-making, and stronger collaboration across enrollment, academics,

finance, and advancement. The next VPEM will help align multiple enrollment teams, clarify strategy across

modalities, and guide PLNU through changing demographic, technological, and marketplace realities.

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ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

Current EM Organizational Chart

# = Number of Direct Reports

President

(342FT)

Executive

Asst to the

President

Associate

VP for

Enrollment

& Retention

(i.e. TUG)

(20)

VP for

Enrollment &

Marketing

(88)

Assoc VP for

University

Strategy &

Vice Provost

of Graduate

&

Professional

Studies

(50)

Athletic

Director

(14)

Associate

VP for

Marketing

(18)

VP for

Strategy,

Planning, &

Chief

Financial

Officer

(22)

VP for

Intercultural

Engagement,

Retention,&

Community

Success

Initiatives

(11)

VP for

Mission

& Calling

(0)

Provost &

Chief

Academic

Officer

(214)

VP for

Student Life

& Formation

(72)

Chief of

Staff &

Associate

VP for

Comms

& Public

Affairs

(0)

VP for

University

Advancement

(12)

VP for

University

Services

(27)

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THE POSITION (CONTINUED)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Institutional Leadership

• Serve on the President’s Cabinet, contributing

to institutional strategy, planning, and resource

stewardship.

• Partner with the President, Provost, CFO,

Advancement, and Student Life leadership to

align enrollment strategy with institutional

priorities.

• Help PLNU develop a clear long-range

enrollment vision that supports mission

faithfulness and financial sustainability.

Enrollment Strategy and Operations

• Provide strategic oversight for traditional

undergraduate, graduate, accelerated

undergraduate, and partnership-based

enrollment.

• Develop long-term enrollment plans that

address demographic shifts, program demand,

and institutional capacity.

• Strengthen retention-aware enrollment

strategies in collaboration with Student Life and

Academic Affairs.

• Ensure strong coordination between admissions,

financial services, records, and enrollment

communications.

Marketing and Storytelling

• Partner closely with marketing and

communications leadership to articulate PLNU’s

value proposition.

• Ensure marketing strategy supports enrollment,

advancement, alumni engagement, and external

partnerships.

• Oversee brand alignment, messaging clarity, and

data-informed recruitment campaigns.

Partnerships and Innovation

• Expand partnerships with community colleges,

employers, healthcare systems, and external

organizations.

• Identify new pipelines for graduate and adultserving

programs.

• Explore new technologies, recruitment

strategies, and program delivery models that

strengthen enrollment outcomes.

Organizational Leadership and Team

Development

• Lead and appropriately align multiple

enrollment and marketing teams that have

historically operated in parallel structures.

• Clarify roles, decision-making authority, and

collaboration across enrollment units.

• Build trust, accountability, and shared goals

across teams serving different student

populations.

• Advocate for resources and systems that

support enrollment effectiveness and

responsiveness.

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EXPECTATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Advanced degree required; doctorate preferred.

• Significant leadership experience in higher

education enrollment management.

• Experience overseeing both enrollment and

marketing functions.

• Demonstrated success leading enrollment

across multiple student populations (traditional

undergraduate, graduate, adult, or online).

• Experience working with student financial

services, records, CRM systems, and enrollment

analytics.

• Understanding of retention strategy and student

lifecycle management.

Spiritual and Missional Alignment

• Deep personal Christian faith and commitment

to PLNU’s mission.

• Alignment with PLNU’s Wesleyan-Holiness

theological tradition and Community Life

Covenant.

• Ability to lead within a Christ-centered academic

community.

Leadership Characteristics

• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate

enrollment trends and marketplace changes.

• Relational leader who builds credibility quickly

with faculty, staff, and Cabinet peers.

• Strong communicator capable of working

effectively with academic leaders.

• Experience leading high-performing teams

through organizational change.

• Ability to think institutionally and balance

competing priorities.

• Entrepreneurial and innovative mindset

grounded in higher education experience.

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PROCESS OF CANDIDACY

EXPECTATIONS

To provide prospective candidates with a

picture of success in the first five years,

the Vice President for Enrollment and

Marketing will have helped PLNU achieve

the following outcomes:

• Enrollment and marketing teams operate

with shared strategy, clear roles, and strong

collaboration.

• PLNU maintains healthy traditional

undergraduate enrollment at 2,700 students

while not increasing the discount rate,

expanding graduate, partnership, and adultserving

programs.

• The university develops a clear long-range

enrollment vision aligned with all institutional

priorities.

• Enrollment decision-making becomes

increasingly data-informed and integrated into

Cabinet strategy.

• Marketing effectively communicates PLNU’s

story to prospective students, families, alumni,

and partners.

• Partnerships with community colleges,

employers, and organizations create sustainable

enrollment pipelines.

• Enrollment leadership strengthens collaboration

across academic, financial, and student-facing

divisions.

• PLNU is well-positioned to navigate

demographic changes and the evolving higher

education marketplace.

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA & COST OF LIVING

Located along Southern California’s Pacific coastline, San Diego offers an exceptional quality of life shaped

by its natural beauty, vibrant neighborhoods, and year-round mild climate. With miles of beaches, scenic

coastal landscapes, and abundant outdoor recreation, the region provides a lifestyle that blends professional

opportunity with everyday enjoyment. The San Diego metropolitan area is home to more than three million

residents and is known for its diverse economy, strong innovation sector, and welcoming civic culture.

The Point Loma community, where Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is located, is especially valued

for its coastal setting, historic character, and proximity to downtown San Diego, Liberty Station, and Balboa

Park. Residents enjoy access to arts and culture, professional sports, excellent dining, and family-friendly

neighborhoods throughout the region, as well as convenient travel through San Diego International Airport.

San Diego is also home to a vibrant Christian community. Hundreds of congregations across many Christian

traditions provide meaningful opportunities for worship, service, and spiritual formation. Many PLNU faculty

and staff find deep connection through local churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations serving the city.

PLNU Housing Assistance

While the cost of living—particularly housing—

is higher than the national average, Point Loma

Nazarene University provides meaningful support

for new faculty and senior administrators relocating

to the area. PLNU provides moving assistance for

eligible faculty and senior administrators, including

payment of moving expenses through a designated

moving company (up to 12,000 pounds of household

goods) or reimbursement for self-move expenses,

along with a relocation stipend ranging from

$1,000 to $5,000 depending on distance moved.

In addition, the university offers a comprehensive

Employee Housing Program to help employees

establish long-term housing stability in the

San Diego market. Options may include rental

assistance for up to seven years based on the

circumstances of each participant, with monthly

support that gradually steps down over time, as well

as a housing purchase co-investment program in

which the university may invest alongside eligible

employees to help make homeownership in the

region more attainable. These programs reflect

PLNU’s commitment to supporting faculty and

leadership in a high-cost housing environment.

Together, San Diego’s coastal setting, thriving Christian community, cultural vitality, and PLNU’s intentional

relocation and housing support create an environment where faculty and leaders can flourish personally,

professionally, and spiritually while serving the university’s mission.

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PROCESS OF CANDIDACY

If you believe that your talents and experience may be a good fit for the position of VP for Enrollment and

Marketing of Point Loma Nazarene University, we invite you to begin the inquiry process. Inquiries and

expressions of interest regarding this search may be forwarded to Laura Coverstone at JobfitMatters Executive

Search (615.261.4623) and will remain confidential.

Please submit the following for review:

1. Current Resumé

2. Responses to the following essay prompts:

• Describe your testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. How is God using you in your work, in your church,

and in your community? How has your relationship with Jesus shaped your career and influenced your

decision to apply for this position?

3. Using what you have learned about PLNU from the PLNU website and the Opportunity Profile, describe how

your life, career, and leadership development have equipped you to lead and grow PLNU’s VP for Enrollment

and Marketing.

4. Provide the names and contact information (phone number and email address) of four references who

know you and your career well enough to comment on your suitability for this position. (Note: References

will only be contacted after we have received your permission to do so later in the candidacy process.)

Submit this information in one pdf to:

LAURA COVERSTONE

JobfitMatters Executive Search

resumes@jobfitmatters.com

Phone: 615.261.4623

Please include “PLNU VP for Enrollment and Marketing” in the email subject line.

SEARCH TIMELINE: All candidate materials will be reviewed upon receipt and continue until the position is

filled. For fullest consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit materials by April 20, 2026. The university

anticipates the successful candidate beginning service prior to Fall 2026.