Jefferson R. Blackburn-Smith

Jefferson R. Blackburn-Smith 1172 Rockwood Place Columbus, Ohio 43229 614-841-1956 [email protected]

Leadership Skills______

 Leadership - the ability to create a common organizational vision and lead within a multi-layer, complex organization  Strategic Planning - the ability to create and implement strategic and tactical plans to reach University enrollment goals  Enrollment Management - proven ability to manage undergraduate recruitment for institutional and student success at an aspiring national institution  Financial Aid Leveraging - an understanding of how to use need- and merit-based financial aid to reach institutional enrollment and retention goals  Project Management - the ability to supervise staff in the creation of new programs and products to increase institutional competitiveness  Excellent communication skills

Employment______The Ohio State University Office of Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience Senior Associate Director 2004 - Present Associate Director 2000 - 2004 Assistant Director, Telecounseling 1995 - 2000

 Lead the Outreach and Recruitment team, a staff of 40 professionals and over 125 student employees. Supervise 7 direct reports.  Developed and implemented Ohio State’s long term and annual strategic undergraduate recruitment plans. Successfully increased the profile of the freshman class to reach University goals. Worked with university partners and UAFYE staff to achieve the following metrics 2004 - 2011: . 74% increase in applications, to 29,246. . Increased Average ACT from 25.4 to 28.0 . Increased Average SAT from 1176 to 1230 . Increased Top 10% of class from 35% to > 52% . Increased Non-resident enrollment from 13.4% to 22% . Increased International freshman from 1.7% to 5.5% . Increased Freshman 1st Year retention from 88% to 92.8%%  Worked with university partners and UAFYE staff to successfully respond to 2003 Supreme Court case Gratz v Michigan: . Implemented additional recruitment efforts to combat 28% drop in African American applicants . Increased academic profile and retention rates of African American and Hispanic freshmen . Increased enrollment of students of color by 32%, from 191 to 1213.  Managed an operations and personnel budget of more than $2.7 million dollars.  Oversaw the development of recruitment tools to help reach institutional enrollment goals, including predictive models and territory management applications that push data down to front line recruiters.  Worked with Ohio State’s 14 undergraduate colleges to develop strategic recruitment plans at the college level, ensuring integration with the centralized University plan.  State, Regional and National Committee Service . College Board EPS User’s Group 2005 – 2008 . College Board Forum Program Planning Committee 2007, 2008 . Ohio ACT Research Committee 2005 – present, Chair 2010 -13 . Ohio ACT Council 2010 - 2013 . ACT Model User’s group 2003 – 2006

The Hayward Company Vice President, Marketing 1988 - 1995

 Created and led marketing efforts for a central Ohio home remodeling company. Managed print, door-to-door and phone marketing.  Managed 25 construction crews and construction schedule.  Specified and purchased all construction materials.  Managed all customer service requests.  In-store and in-home sales.  Projected sales/installation revenues against projected costs.  Managed bank financing process.

International Readers Service Bureau, Inc. General Sales Manager 1985 - 1988

 Managed telemarketing sales staff of 40.  Increased new sales revenue from $360,000 annually to $1,000,000 annually.  Hired and trained all sales staff.

Education______

The Ohio State University

Master of Arts, English 1997 Master’s Thesis: Bitchery and Abomination: Identity and Otherness in Dracula and Light in August

Bachelor of Arts, English 1985