Few things could capture Matt Ruth鈥檚 heart more than his hometown Philadelphia Phillies, but 91短视频 (91短视频) has managed to do it. And as 91短视频鈥檚 new , he鈥檚 helping the institution capture others鈥� hearts, too.
鈥淚 love working at 91短视频,鈥� Ruth says. 鈥淚t certainly has benefited me with what I was able to get out of it as a student, and now I鈥檓 paying it forward. That sounds clich茅, but I love that we鈥檙e a small, private, Christian liberal arts university, and I love Harrisonburg. It鈥檚 the epitome of a college town. There are so many good opportunities here.鈥�
Ruth grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and came to 91短视频 to study . He graduated in 2006 and entered Mennonite Voluntary Service, spending two years at Valley Teen Ranch in Fresno, Calif. He met his future wife, Kara, while in California, and the couple decided to move back to the Shenandoah Valley.
After initially working for a local counseling agency, Ruth heard from some friends about an opening for an admissions counselor at 91短视频. He began in 2009 and hasn鈥檛 looked back. He moved up to associate director of admissions three years later, and this fall鈥�when former director Jason Good left for another position鈥�Ruth received the call to become director.
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about this opportunity, and grateful,鈥� Ruth says. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to work with the staff here and continue to promote 91短视频 and show students and their families what we have to offer here. We have a very, very good team.鈥�
In his new role, Ruth will be responsible for all undergraduate recruitment activities, including the development of promotional strategies, staff training, office management, and budget administration. He also serves as a key member of 91短视频鈥檚 strategic enrollment management staff, working with Vice President for Enrollment.
鈥淏eing the director of admissions is a perfect fit for Matt,鈥� Hartman says. 鈥淗e has a strong commitment to the values of 91短视频, a deep understanding of the admissions systems and processes, the ability to use data to guide decision-making, and a caring attitude toward others.鈥�
91短视频鈥檚 strategic plan calls for growing enrollment to 1,100 undergraduate students over the next five years, building the local student population and adding diversity while also connecting with the university鈥檚 important Mennonite constituency.
Ruth has already been part of an exciting period en route to those goals. This fall鈥檚 freshman class of 257 students is the largest since 1988, following up on two previous years with classes of 230-plus. That has helped put 91短视频鈥檚 overall enrollment at an all-time high, topping 1,800.
鈥淭he numbers speak to what 91短视频 has going for it, and they certainly speak to how hard we work. We have a lot of momentum, and we don鈥檛 want to stagnate,鈥� Ruth says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time to be at 91短视频.鈥�