Michelle M. Searer, an alumna of College of DuPage, was recently named the College’s Associate Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment Management.
In her new position, Searer oversees Admissions, Registration, Records, Financial Aid, Publications and Creative Services. She is responsible for the successful integration and synchronization of the enrollment process, which includes setting the organization’s student acquisition strategies, executing and analyzing all lead generation marketing and branding strategies, and achieving a high level of student matriculation and retention.
"To have the opportunity to help further position College of DuPage as the premier institution for quality education is extremely exciting and challenging,” said Searer, who resides in Wheatfield, Ind. “I am equally pleased to serve in this capacity and give back to the College.”
A native of Lombard and a graduate of Glenbard East High School, Searer received her Associate in Arts degree from College of DuPage. She then earned both a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Indiana University Northwest.
Searer comes to C.O.D. after serving as director of marketing and communications at Indiana University Northwest for nearly eight years. While Searer was at Indiana, the university achieved its largest enrollment growth in 10 years. Other career highlights include working for Dearborn/Kaplan, the nation’s largest publisher of real estate and financial education and training materials.
Since coming to College of DuPage in June, Searer has launched a new marketing campaign. “The Value of a Lifetime” promotes College of DuPage as a top-notch institution that is both desirable and affordable. Searer knows she has plenty of work ahead of her and credits College of DuPage President Robert L. Breuder for understanding this challenge.
Searer truly believes in education as a vehicle to help people carve out a better future for themselves.
“This is exactly the value that College of DuPage provides,” she said. “Marketing is about more than promotions and advertising. It’s about how we’re packaging ourselves, what we’re offering, when we’re offering it, and how we are meeting the needs of the community.”