Judith M. Dobai named Director of Undergraduate Admission | Press Releases

Judith M. Dobai has been named Director of Undergraduate Admission, effective July 1. Edwin Wilkes, associate academic vice president for enrollment management, announced the appointment last week at the conclusion of a national search to fill the position.

Dobai has served as acting director of admission since last August and as an associate director of admission at Fairfield since 1997. Prior to joining Fairfield, she worked in the admission offices at Mount Holyoke College, New York University and the University of Connecticut.

As director of admission, Dobai will be a member of the enrollment management team and will be responsible for implementing a strategic undergraduate recruitment and admission plan for Fairfield while managing the daily operations of the admission office.

"Judy understands the importance of our Jesuit history and mission, and the role that must play in our recruitment efforts," Wilkes said. "She shares my vision of what is necessary to increase Fairfield's visibility and diversity and move the University to the next level of selectivity among the prestigious institutions of the East and among our various constituencies and markets."

Wilkes cited Dobai's respect "across campus and within the admission profession" in announcing her appointment and said, "She has excellent managerial, organizational and creative skills, important in an office that has seen tremendous growth in terms of increased admission applications over the past four years and dynamic change in the proactive manner in which we approach undergraduate recruitment and admission."

Dobai said, "It is truly a privilege to continue to serve Fairfield as director of admission. During my time at Fairfield, I have been impressed by the campus-wide support for the admission efforts, including faculty, administrators and students. I am also gratified to work with such a dedicated, hard-working group of individuals in the Office of Admission. Through their efforts, we have surpassed our goals for nearly every measure of the incoming class, including overall selectivity, academic talent and diversity. I look forward to continuing these gains into the future."

Dobai is a 1988 graduate of Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and she received a master's degree in education and higher education administration from the University of Connecticut in 1991.

She served as a senior assistant director of admission at NYU from 1991-1994, a period when that university experienced a 45 percent increase in undergraduate applications. From 1994-1997 she was an assistant director of admission at Mount Holyoke, where she coordinated the activities of more than 600 admission volunteers and selected, trained and managed a team of paid admission tour guides. While at Fairfield, she has managed communications activities for the admission office, organized on and off-campus events for prospective students and their families, and managed the admission office's use of online application technology and web site presence. Since last August, she has overseen the undergraduate admission activities, managing a team of 18 full-time and four part-time staff in planning and achieving recruitment goals.