Rider names new vice president for Enrollment Management

Following an extensive national search, Rider University announced on May 9 that Drew Aromando ’94, ’01 has been named the new vice president of Enrollment Management, effective immediately.

He had served as the interim vice president of Enrollment Management since July 2017.

"The University’s strategic plan outlines aggressive enrollment growth over the next several years, and I am confident that Drew has the leadership, vision and entrepreneurial ability to work with our University community to meet these enrollment goals," said Rider's president, Gregory G. Dell'Omo.

In the interim position, Aromando worked closely with Dell'Omo and his administration, as well as other members of the University community, to develop and execute enrollment plans for undergraduate, graduate and adult students, as well as regional, national and international populations. He played a major role in Rider's plan to launch 10 new undergraduate and three new graduate programs by fall 2021. In collaborations with deans and Rider's Teaching and Learning Center, he helped to evaluate and propose a long-term distance education strategy for online program development and program growth.

Aromando began working at Rider in 2004 when he was hired as the assistant director of financial aid. From there he became associate director of financial aid, director of One Stop Services and eventually executive director of Enrollment Management, a position he held since October 2007.

A proud two-time Rider alumnus, Aromando earned his bachelor ’s in 1994 and a master's in 2001, both in business administration. Among his many honors and awards, he has received the Rider University Distinguished Service Award four times, as well as the Frank N. Elliot Distinguished Service Award, in 2010.

"As an undergraduate alumnus of the Class of 1994 and a graduate alumnus of the Class of 2001, I can personally attest to all that Rider offers its students," Aromando said. "I am fortunate to love what I do and where I do it.  Rider transforms thousands of students every day, developing the skills, confidence and courage for them to build new futures."

Aromando led the University through successful federal program reviews of the U.S. Higher Education Opportunity Act and the N.J. State Management Review — each resulting in no penalties. He has assisted in many grant proposals for programs such as Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program and Robert Noyce STEM Teachers Scholarship, among others.

In addition to his work at Rider, Aromando serves as chair of the New Jersey Financial Aid Association's Government Relations Committee, focusing on legislative topics related to college readiness and affordability.