Christopher Connor serves as the vice provost for enrollment management at the University at Buffalo. A graduate of UB, he now promotes the importance of higher education to students across the United States and around the world. He has a strong record of success in increasing enrollment and diversity by leveraging innovative, data-driven strategies. Connor oversees the offices of financial aid, undergraduate domestic and international admissions, graduate admissions operations, enrollment analytics, Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program, marketing and communications, and 1Capen/1 Defiendorf. In conjunction with campus partners, Connor collaborates with schools, colleges and units to lead UB’s enrollment management strategy.
Connor most recently served as the senior assistant dean for enrollment management in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Under his leadership, the school has experienced a 77% increase in enrollment to record levels, including a 74% increase in international student enrollment and historical increases in diversity. During his tenure, the school has also developed numerous new interdisciplinary professional science master’s degrees closely aligned with employment market demand, which have grown to over 1,129 enrollments in just five years.
Connor, a strong advocate for access, diversity, equity and inclusion, served as the primary author of UB’s proposal for membership into the GEM National Consortium to enhance the value of the nation’s human capital by increasing the participation of primarily underrepresented groups at the master’s and doctoral levels in engineering and science. He is also responsible for establishing the SEAS Future Leader Award, which is given in conjunction with the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship to enhance access by providing full funding to master’s-level students as a pathway to doctoral study.
With over 25 years of experience in higher education, Connor has served in leadership roles at the undergraduate and graduate levels, working closely with international and domestic students from both institutional and academic unit perspectives. Before joining SEAS in 2016, Connor served in various enrollment roles, including graduate enrollment management services and undergraduate admissions. He also served as the campus functional lead for the UB 2020 Student Services Transformation enterprise implementation of the current HUB student system.
A recognized expert in enrollment management, Connor actively works with many professional higher education-focused organizations. He currently serves as a member of the IELTS Higher Education Advisory Council, the ETS Research Advisory Board, the UB SEAS JEDI committee and as a mentor and trainer with the European Association for International Education. He was recently awarded the IELTS Best Practices Award in International Enrollment Management and the UB SEAS for Justice, Equity, Diversity at Inclusion (JEDI) Award.
Connor holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in communication and psychology from the University at Buffalo.
Ebony Dixon is the associate vice provost and director of admissions at the University at Buffalo. Dixon provides leadership to the office of undergraduate admissions, overseeing initiatives that advance UB’s enrollment strategies and goals. Dixon holds a bachelor’s degree in business logistics, a master’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in library and information science from Wayne State University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in organizational change and leadership. Dixon joined the University at Buffalo in 2023.
John Gottardy is the director of UB’s Financial Aid office. As the unit’s chief financial aid officer, he oversees the awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation of all federal, state and institutional funding. John holds a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University. He has been with the university and in this role since 2013.
Kira Love is the Office of Admission’s director of transfer experience and summer/winter sessions. Kira is responsible for the strategic vision that drives transfer student recruitment and enrollment, with a focus on developing partnerships that enhance the transfer student experience. Additionally, she is responsible for growing and enhancing the university’s summer and winter sessions. Kira holds a master’s degree from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from UB. She joined the university in 2011 and has been in her current role since 2014.
Jennifer Vick currently serves as interim strategic operations manager for 1Capen and operations coordinator for 1Diefendorf. In that capacity, she collaborates closely with both teams to ensure seamless student services across various departments, including Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Office of the Registrar, Accessibility Resources, and the Career and Design Center.
Jennifer first joined UB in 2020 as part of the Controller’s office. Her contributions have been pivotal in advancing university initiatives such as ShopBlue, Concur, and Purchasing and Contract Services.
Holly Evert is the director of marketing and communications for the Office of Enrollment Management. She leads the development and implementation of comprehensive marketing and communications strategies to support UB’s enrollment objectives. Holly holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from SUNY Brockport and a master’s in Strategic Marketing from Roberts Wesleyan College. She joined UB in 2013 and began her current role in 2024.
Ben Olsen is the associate director of data analytics for the Office of Admissions. He coordinates the processing and output of strategic data that enables the university to make informed, evidence-based decisions in support of its recruitment, enrollment and retention goals. Ben earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. He joined UB in 2013 and has been in his current role since 2016.
Betsy Rodriguez is the director of UB’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), an academic and student enrichment program for students who have demonstrated their potential to succeed at UB despite economic or social barriers. In her role as director, Betsy oversees all aspects of EOP’s program development, delivery and promotion in accordance with state and university requirements. Additionally, Betsy leads her staff in fostering relationships campus-wide that lead to meaningful opportunities for EOP students. Betsy is a licensed clinical social worker and diversity advocate who joined EOP in 2019. She has been with the university since 2010.