Rodriguez Named New Admissions Dean at Carleton College

Following a national search, Carleton College has named alumnus Art D. Rodriguez as its new vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid. Rodriguez is currently dean of admission and student financial services at Vassar College and will begin his new position on July 1, 2019.

Rodriguez is a 1996 graduate of Carleton and previously served as Carleton’s director of multicultural affairs and director of the pre-freshman math and science program before embarking on a career in college admissions. He will succeed longtime admissions dean Paul Thiboutot, who announced his retirement from Carleton effective at the end of the academic year.

“I could not be more thrilled at the prospect of Art returning home to Carleton to lead our admissions and financial aid efforts,” Carleton President Steven Poskanzer said. “He is a visionary and charismatic leader in the vital domain of student recruitment, who shares Carleton’s core values and will push us to achieve our highest aspirations.”

“We are thrilled that he’ll be joining us,” said Timothy Raylor, professor of English and chair of the search committee. “The committee was impressed by the sophistication of Art’s attitude toward the dynamics of recruiting a class; by the depth of his knowledge of financial aid metrics; by his forward-looking attitude to communications as a means of helping us reach new markets; by his compelling articulation of the value of a Carleton education; by his deep concern for the well-being and development of his staff; and by his clear connection with the Carleton community.

Rodriguez has worked at Vassar since 2014, serving as the chief enrollment officer and member of the president’s senior staff with day-to-day management of the offices of admission, financial aid, student accounts, and student employment. He also has served on several Vassar committees related to admissions, student affairs, and planning, including the Board of Trustees committee on admission and financial aid.

Prior to Vassar, Rodriguez was the senior associate dean and director of admissions at Pomona College. He began his career at Pomona in 2000 and also served as the college’s assistant, associate, and acting dean of admissions.

Rodriguez graduated from Carleton with a BA in environmental geochemistry. He went on to attend Harvard University, where he earned his master’s in education in administration, planning, and social policy in 2000.

As the first person in his family to attend college, Rodriguez is passionate about his work to advance college access and affordability.

“I am honored to be returning to Carleton,” Rodriguez said. “Thank you to the search committee for supporting my candidacy and to President Poskanzer for trusting me to lead Carleton’s enrollment efforts. I had a profoundly transformative undergraduate experience at Carleton. Carleton’s commitment to the liberal arts places it in an enviable position, and I am thrilled to return to the college to promote its excellent academic reputation and exceptional efforts at remaining accessible and affordable to all students. To be in the position to enroll the next generation of Carls with the talented team in admissions and financial aid is a privilege, especially in succeeding longtime dean, friend, and mentor Paul Thiboutot.”

Ranked among the nation’s top liberal arts institutions, Carleton is a private coeducational college of 2,000 students located 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. High academic standards, an excellent faculty, a commitment to teach and learning, and a diverse student body contribute to Carleton’s outstanding reputation.

Learn more: Art D. Rodriguez ’96 remembers his time on campus and looks toward giving forward.