Lee H. Melvin is the vice provost for enrollment management at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. He serves on the president’s and provost’s leadership teams and is responsible for leading, developing, articulating, and implementing an enrollment management strategy with the primary vision of maintaining academic momentum and moving UB to higher levels of institutional distinction. Melvin oversees the offices of financial aid, undergraduate domestic and international admissions, graduate admissions operations, enrollment analytics, Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program, marketing and communications, and 1Capen.
Melvin came to UB from Cornell University, where he was the associate vice provost for enrollment management. Prior appointments included his service as the vice president for enrollment management and director of admissions at the University of Connecticut.
Vice Provost Melvin has extensive experience in creating and implementing strategic enrollment plans and in developing and managing data-driven strategies that leverage financial aid. He has expertise in the use of predictive modeling software and is nationally recognized as an expert in strategic marketing, recruiting and yield programs.
He is a member of numerous professional and national organizations, including the National Association of College Admission Counseling, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, College Board and the National Association of Graduate Enrollment Management. Melvin is also a founding member of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success.
Melvin earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Houston Baptist University and a master’s degree in music from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
John Gottardy is the director of UB’s Financial Aid office. As the unit’s chief financial aid officer, he oversees the awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation of all federal, state and institutional funding. John holds a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University. He has been with the university and in this role since 2013.
Kira Love is the Office of Admission’s director of transfer experience and summer/winter sessions. Kira is responsible for the strategic vision that drives transfer student recruitment and enrollment, with a focus on developing partnerships that enhance the transfer student experience. Additionally, she is responsible for growing and enhancing the university’s summer and winter sessions. Kira holds a master’s degree from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from UB. She joined the university in 2011 and has been in her current role since 2014.
Jennifer Markee is the strategic operations manager of 1Capen, the university’s centralized destination for essential student services. In this capacity, she provides the operational support and guidance critical to division-wide efficiency and effectiveness. Jennifer holds a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from UB. She joined UB in 2003 and has been part of enrollment management since 2013.
Ben Olsen is the associate director of data analytics for the Office of Admissions. He coordinates the processing and output of strategic data that enables the university to make informed, evidence-based decisions in support of its recruitment, enrollment and retention goals. Ben earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. He joined UB in 2013 and has been in his current role since 2016.
Dawn Reed is the director of Interdivisional Marketing & Communications – Enrollment Management, a unit dedicated to delivering best-practice, coordinated and focused communication services across a wide range of digital and print media. In her current role, Dawn oversees the strategic vision, development and deployment of elevated communications that advance the university’s recruitment and retention initiatives. Dawn holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree from SUNY Empire State College and has been a member of the UB community since 1999. She has been in her current role since 2015.
Betsy Rodriguez is the director of UB’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), an academic and student enrichment program for students who have demonstrated their potential to succeed at UB despite economic or social barriers. In her role as director, Betsy oversees all aspects of EOP’s program development, delivery and promotion in accordance with state and university requirements. Additionally, Betsy leads her staff in fostering relationships campus-wide that lead to meaningful opportunities for EOP students. Betsy is a licensed clinical social worker and diversity advocate who joined EOP in 2019. She has been with the university since 2010.
