After a national search, the University of Oregon will welcome Erin Hays as the next assistant vice president and director of admissions beginning July 5.
Hays comes to the UO from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where she served as the director of undergraduate admission and brings extensive expertise, including more than 25 years in admissions and education work.
During her time at Gonzaga, the size of the enrolling class increased 27 percent, with concurrent increases in the academic profile and diversity of enrolling students. She led her team through challenges with COVID-19 restrictions and worked to return the university’s enrollment to record-level, pre-pandemic incoming class sizes.
In her new role, Hays will advise the vice president for student services and enrollment management on student services goals. In addition to that work, she will oversee the Office of Admissions team and lead efforts on strategic enrollment goals, working to continue success in growing the UO’s enrollment and increasing student diversity .
“I am pleased to welcome Erin and look forward to her visionary leadership in advancing educational access to better serve the student experience,” said Roger Thompson, vice president for student services and enrollment management. “She will be instrumental in continuing our success with record-breaking enrollment goals, promoting the University of Oregon as a top choice for prospective students.”
Hays is known for her dedication to student success, strategic thinking and planning, and collaboration with campus partners. During her career she was a past president and served as a board member of the National Catholic College Admissions Association, working to promote higher education across the nation.
During her time at Gonzaga, Hays was on the university’s strategic planning committee, helping to support the goals and mission of the entire campus.
“I have great respect for the University of Oregon, and I’m honored to be given this opportunity to continue advancing the work of admissions and, more broadly, SSEM and the university,” Hays said. “It is clear I am stepping into an office full of talented and dedicated professionals, and I look forward to collaborating with many university colleagues on strategic initiatives that attract, serve and enroll new students and their families.”
Hays holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Arts in education with a focus on equity in education from Stanford University.