Christopher Watson will serve as Northwestern University’s dean of undergraduate enrollment and associate vice president for student outreach, according to a Thursday news release.

Watson, currently the dean of undergraduate admissions, manages “all aspects” of the undergraduate admissions process, including first-year and transfer recruitment and outreach, as well as international student and multicultural student recruitment, according to the release.

As dean of undergraduate admissions, Watson helped to increase the percentage of students enrolled through early decision from 33 percent to 53 percent and to double the international student population to 10 percent of the first-year class, the release said.

“The most important thing we have accomplished is to increase diversity among the students at Northwestern in all the ways it is measured,” Watson said in the release. “I am especially gratified we have been able to increase the number of Pell-eligible students to 20 percent in the class of 2022, admitted last fall.”

In his new position, Watson will supervise the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as well as Operations and Financial Aid, and will remain on University President Morton Schapiro’s senior staff, the release said.

Watson will succeed Michael Mills, who will leave the University in April. Mills announced his plans to retire in December.

“Working with Mike Mills, Chris (Watson) has helped the Office of Admission raise Northwestern University’s academic profile and reputation nationally and globally, and he has helped triple the number of students enrolled at Northwestern from Chicago Public Schools,” Jake Julia, the vice provost for administration said in the release.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @cam_e_cook

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