Bucknell Names Kevin Mathes '07 Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions

Bucknell University President John C. Bravman has announced the appointment of Kevin Mathes '07 as vice president for enrollment management & dean of admissions. Mathes, who has served in multiple admissions leadership roles at Bucknell since 2017, including most recently as interim vice president for enrollment management, began his tenure in the permanent role Oct. 21.

A 2003 graduate of nearby Danville Area High School, Mathes earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and education from Bucknell in 2007 before completing a master's degree in education at Ohio University. His career in higher education began at St. Lawrence University, where he served as assistant and later senior associate director of admissions from 2009 to 2013. He then joined Dartmouth College, where he rose to the position of senior associate director of admissions before returning to his alma mater as Bucknell's dean of admissions in 2017.

Since then, Mathes has been instrumental in shaping Bucknell's strategic approach to enrollment and student recruitment. As dean of admissions, and later as assistant and associate vice president for admissions, he has presided over five consecutive years of record opening enrollment, including three of the largest incoming classes in University history — the Classes of 2026, 2027 and 2029 — consistently generating record applicant pools in the process.

Under his leadership, Bucknell has also expanded access and opportunity, including entering into a partnership last year with Matriculate, a national nonprofit organization that helps high-achieving students from historically underserved communities navigate the college admissions process.

"It became more than clear over the past several months that Kevin is ideally suited for this role ... and especially at this time," says Bravman. "As an alumnus and long-term servant of the institution, he is highly regarded, not only here but in the national admissions profession. Kevin understands deeply the subtle and profound challenges and opportunities we face, and is eager to lead Bucknell to new levels of success."

In his new capacity, Mathes oversees the University's admissions and financial aid operations, guiding strategy for student recruitment, selection and affordability. His leadership will continue to shape the University's efforts to attract and enroll talented, diverse and mission-aligned students from across the country and around the world.

"I'm thrilled to serve Bucknell in this role and continue working with the most incredible admissions and financial aid teams," Mathes says. "As a Bucknellian, I take great pride in the University's commitment to providing transformative educational experiences to students from every background. It's an honor to help expand that opportunity and ensure that Bucknell continues to thrive for generations to come."