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June 28, 2012

New head of OAFA appointed

Marc Harding

Marc Harding

The assistant vice president for enrollment and director of admissions at Iowa State University has been named Pitt’s chief enrollment officer, effective July 15.

Marc L. Harding will lead Pitt’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA) and be responsible for attracting, recruiting and retaining classes of undergraduate students.

His responsibilities will include enrollment planning and policies, student financial aid, the PittStart summer orientation for new students and undergraduate admissions. He also will hold membership on the Council of Deans.

Harding will succeed Betsy Porter, who is retiring June 30, after serving as director of OAFA since 1986.

Harding has served in his positions at Iowa State University since January 2011. He joined Iowa State’s staff in 1997 as director of admissions and was promoted to director of admissions and enrollment services in 2003.

Since 2006, his efforts there have resulted in a 50 percent increase in applications, a nearly 30 percent increase in freshman enrollment, increased geographic and ethnic diversity and enforcement of high levels of student achievement for admission.

Prior to joining Iowa State, Harding held positions in the admissions departments of the University of South Florida, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Harding has held leadership positions in the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and regularly makes presentations at national meetings on topics including the recruitment of high-ability students, multicultural student recruitment, staff training and development and the use of technology in recruitment and admissions.

He earned his BA in communication studies with minors in psychology and Chinese from UMass-Amherst in 1985, and his Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies degree from Iowa State in 2004. He currently is a PhD candidate at Iowa State in the field of educational leadership and policy studies.

In announcing the appointment, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson said: “Mr. Harding’s vision for the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is well matched to our overall vision for the University of Pittsburgh. He is committed to recruiting and retaining a talented and diverse population of students who are poised to take advantage of all the University has to offer.

“I am confident that his student-centered approach, passion for working with people and emphasis on service and innovative thinking among his colleagues will help him advance these goals within the culture of the University community.”


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