Roberts Wesleyan University has named Kristen Nielsen as the new Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions. In this role, Nielsen will oversee the university’s traditional undergraduate recruitment and admissions strategies, collaborating closely with marketing and communications in support of overall enrollment strategy, growth and retention. Her appointment follows more than a decade of experience in higher education with increasing responsibility and leadership, as well as a track record of strong results year over year in prior admissions-focused roles at the institution.
Nielsen joined the Roberts Wesleyan team in 2012 after working in broadcast news and pharmaceutical training. Throughout her career at the university, she has served in a variety of enrollment and admissions roles, working with students across various majors and degrees to plan campus visits, recruitment events and on-campus experiences to promote the school’s education programs.
In 2016, Nielsen transitioned from the world of Undergraduate Admissions to Adult and Graduate Enrollment, to recruit prospective students for Roberts Wesleyan’s Teacher Education offerings. In that role, she exponentially grew interest and enrollment rates for several programs and exceeded yearly enrollment goals. Most recently, Nielsen served as director of recruitment in Adult and Graduate Enrollment, where she applied her creativity, data-informed approach, and love for learning and development to lead a strong and collaborative team of recruiters.
“While her career started in the newsroom, crafting stories and working in high-intensity environments, Kristen found her calling as she began her career here at Roberts, helping students start their next story in a place of transformation,” said Kimberley Wiedefeld, vice president of enrollment strategy and marketing. “Her resilience, servant-leadership approach, and love of Christian higher education make her the right leader for this important work we do at Roberts. I look forward to the impact she will make as she leads our Undergraduate Admissions Office.”
Nielsen earned a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Roberts Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in media studies from Gordon College.
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