Emily Ragland, an accomplished leader in college admissions, has been hired as Columbus College of Art & Design’s new vice president for enrollment management. In this role, Ragland will lead the Admissions, Financial Aid, and Registrar teams as well as oversee recruitment strategy and efforts. Ragland also will be part of CCAD President Melanie Corn’s President’s Cabinet and Senior Leadership Team and will collaborate on collegewide matters such as student retention and tuition and scholarship modeling.
Ragland says CCAD’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the college’s role in fostering the education of creative people who will have impact across all industries “is truly special.”
“I'm excited to join and contribute to the great work already taking place to promote student success at CCAD,” she says.
Ragland is due to start at CCAD Sept. 6, 2022. Immediately prior to CCAD, she held several leadership roles in Capital University’s Admissions department, most recently as Assistant Vice President for Admission (Ragland herself is a graduate of Capital, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology). Before joining Capital University, Ragland worked as an Admissions Counselor at Otterbein University.
Ragland’s experience in the nonprofit world includes co-founding Ohio Gap Closers in 2018. The organization delivers college planning training for foster parents, social workers, teachers, and community members.
In addition, she worked for Americorps Vista/I Know I Can, and currently serves or has served in such community organizations as the Capital University Alumni Advisory Board; the Enrollment Leaders Academy, College Board; the African American Leadership Academy; the Ohio Association of College Admission Counseling (including as past Guiding the Way to Inclusion chair); and the Parkmoor Elementary School Community Site-Based Council. Ragland also is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Ragland brings to her work at CCAD a background in designing personalized experiences, implementing recruitment strategies, and enhancing on-campus visits. As an enrollment leader, she is laser-focused on removing barriers so students can access higher education and be successful through completion of their college experience. This interest was born of Ragland’s own experience applying to college.
“As a high school student, I remember being unsure if college was truly an option for me,” she says. “As a first-generation college student, the process was overwhelming. The support I received from the admission and enrollment professionals as an incoming student was life-changing.”
The college admissions process has only become more challenging in the passing years, Ragland says. “My goal as an enrollment leader is to remove barriers, not only for students to gain access to higher education, but so they can be successful through completion of their college experience.”
Ragland, who was raised as one of 13 children, enjoys spending time with her family and attending music events with her husband, Robert, a music educator. She lives in Canal Winchester with her husband and daughter, Ella.
