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Randolph-Macon announces Brenda Poggendorf as Vice President for Enrollment Management

From the website of Randolph-Macon College

Randolph-Macon College President Robert R. Lindgren is pleased to announce the appointment of Brenda Porter Poggendorf as the College’s Vice President for Enrollment Management. Poggendorf brings decades of successful enrollment leadership experience to the College and will start at RMC on May 8.

Poggendorf currently serves in the same role at her alma mater Roanoke College, a position she has held since 2007. Earlier, she served as the Vice President for Enrollment at Carthage College from 1991-2007.

“We enthusiastically welcome Brenda to the Randolph-Macon family! Her strong track record of data-driven and results-oriented management and a creative approach to reaching students portends a wonderful next chapter for RMC,” Lindgren said. “We have experienced unprecedented growth—a 25% increase in student enrollment in little more than a decade—under David Lesesne’s leadership, and we look forward to a successful new era with Brenda at the helm.”

“I've long known Randolph-Macon College as one of the strongest private colleges in the Commonwealth,” Poggendorf said. “Its mission to cultivate the mind and character of students is appealing and is critically important in preparing graduates for lives—and communities—of success.”

In addition to a strong knowledge of the higher education landscape in Virginia, Poggendorf brings a proven track record of enrollment growth to RMC. During her tenure, Roanoke College saw a 60% increase in applications between 2006 and 2022, and consistently ranked among the top Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities in freshman enrollment. She oversaw a similar rate of growth as the VP of Enrollment at Carthage College.

Poggendorf earned a B.A. in psychology from Roanoke College and both an MBA and Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago.

“The distinctive combination of Randolph-Macon's focus on students, its location, its commitment to forward-thinking programs, and the dedicated faculty and staff make this the ideal next step for me,” Poggendorf said. “My husband and I are excited to join the Randolph-Macon community.”