Jerry W. Pope

Jerry W. Pope Named Next Dean of Admission at Illinois Wesleyan

Feb. 6, 2003

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Jerry W. Pope, associate dean of admissions at Illinois Wesleyan University since 1998, has been named to succeed James R. Ruoti as dean of admissions on August 1, 2003. The announcement was made by Illinois Wesleyan President Minor Myers jr.

Ruoti has worked in admissions at Illinois Wesleyan for 40 years including the last 13 as dean. He will become dean emeritus and will continue to work at the University for the next two years during which he will develop a formal network of alumni to assist in the University’s alumni and admissions efforts.

Pope has worked in the University admissions office since his graduation from Illinois Wesleyan in 1980 with a degree in political science.

"Jerry Pope’s enthusiasm for Illinois Wesleyan is infectious," said Myers. "Throughout his career, Jerry has worked with hundreds of families in bringing several generations of Illinois Wesleyan students to our campus. We are especially eager for him to strengthen programs that improve the University’s diversity and to extend our reach to new markets around the country."

Pope, who was selected through a national search, has been an active member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), having served as one of seven elected executive board members. In that capacity, Pope headed the organization’s admission practices and ethics committee. He also served as chairperson of a recent NACAC task force that examined admission decision options and addressed the controversial issues surrounding the use of early decision and early action programs in admissions.

"I am excited with the prospect of building on the success that we have enjoyed under Jim Ruoti," Pope said. "In particular, I am anxious to begin working closely with the University’s faculty so that we can make the strengths of our academic program better known to talented high school students and their families throughout the country."

Myers noted that the decision to name Pope was made particularly difficult because of the presence among the finalists of two other current members of the University’s admissions operation, Associate Dean of Admissions Robert Murray and Associate Director of Financial Aid and Admissions Scott A. Seibring.

"Without question, we are blessed with a remarkable group of talented admissions professionals," said Myers. "As the search process unfolded, the strength of our admission operation became more and more evident, and made our task of choosing among these excellent candidates all the more difficult."

In addition to his work with NACAC, Pope has become a sought-after speaker at college events. He has helped Illinois Wesleyan develop a travel consortium in which representatives of the University have held joint programs with admission representatives from several other highly selective universities. He has also been active on the regional level as a member of the executive board of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC).