Scott McDonald From Texas A&M University Named First UK Dean of Admissions

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 26, 2017) — Scott McDonald, currently the assistant vice president for academic services and director of admissions at Texas A&M University, has been named the first dean of admissions at the University of Kentucky, effective June 1, 2017.

As dean of admissions, McDonald will serve as the senior undergraduate enrollment officer for the university. In this capacity, he will be responsible for developing and implementing marketing and recruitment strategies to achieve enrollment goals for undergraduate students, including transfer and international students, while also representing the Office of Admissions to internal and external constituencies and instilling confidence in the policies, practices and procedures for recruitment and admissions. In addition, as dean, McDonald will oversee the work of the director for undergraduate students and the director of admissions for transfer students.

McDonald will report to Don Witt, associate provost for enrollment management.

McDonald’s expertise will be pivotal to the university's efforts with regard to retention and graduation — ambitious goals established by the Strategic Plan.

"The UK Enrollment Management family is very excited to welcome Scott to UK and Kentucky," Witt said. "We are very fortunate to have someone who has such an outstanding admission's portfolio and related experiences on the team. I have known Scott for several years and I am proud to have him as a colleague and now a member of the UK team!"

McDonald earned his bachelor's degree in public administration and his master's degree in adult education from the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville. McDonald has served in admissions for two decades, beginning as the associate director for admissions for the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in 1997.

He has served in the Office of Admissions at Texas A&M University since 2006, and in his current role of assistant vice president for academic services and director of admissions since 2011.