Effective July 8, Jason Locke, director of undergraduate admissions at Cornell since 2003, has been appointed interim associate vice provost for enrollment (AVPE), and Shawn Felton, deputy director of undergraduate admissions at Cornell, will serve as interim director of undergraduate admissions.

As interim AVPE, Locke will provide leadership for undergraduate enrollment management, undergraduate admissions and financial aid programs, continuing Cornell’s commitment to attracting a highly qualified, diverse student population and providing access to students regardless of economic circumstances. Locke will oversee the offices of undergraduate admissions and financial aid and student employment, strategically deploying staff, financial and technological resources. He will report to Vice Provost and Dean Barbara Knuth.

Knuth noted that Locke already has substantial experience related to the role of AVPE, having overseen undergraduate enrollment processes in 2010-11, when the position was vacant. “I am delighted that Jason is taking on this leadership role. His vision, commitment and keen sense of strategy regarding recruiting a diverse student body will keep Cornell on our strong trajectory of enrolling outstanding undergraduate classes,” Knuth said.

Locke has more than 16 years of experience in undergraduate admissions at Cornell, having started as a college admissions officer in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, then serving as acting director of admissions for the college and later director of recruitment and marketing in the university’s undergraduate admissions office before being promoted to director. He has been actively engaged in Cornell’s academic enterprise, having held an additional appointment as a lecturer in the Summer College Program teaching a course on Critical Reading and Thinking, serving as a Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars Executive Mentor, and serving as a member of the Health Careers Evaluation Committee. 

Felton, who will report to Locke, has 10 years of service in undergraduate admissions at Cornell. He joined Cornell in 2003 as associate director of admissions in the College of Engineering to coordinate diverse student recruitment and selection, then became senior associate director and communications coordinator in the university’s Undergraduate Admissions Office to oversee admissions communication strategy and visitor programs. In 2007 he was promoted to senior associate director and recruitment coordinator, and more recently as deputy director he oversees multicultural admissions, international admissions and aid, and the Cornell Commitment selection process.