Oregon State Ecampus enrollment marketing manager
“I really love the opportunity to be involved with people who have made the decision to reach for their goals and dreams. When people decide to look into what it would take to pursue college coursework, they are doing that because they know that education is an agent that will bring change into their lives. Working with people who are ready to improve their current situation is inspiring,” Amy says.
By Heather Turner
July 14, 2016
As the enrollment marketing manager for Oregon State Ecampus, Amy Theis works to improve the student experience with higher education by demystifying the enrollment process, creating institutional efficiencies and actively pursuing initiatives that provide greater access and preparatory measure for potential students. She’s worked within the marketing unit since 2011 to provide direct service to prospective students considering attending OSU Ecampus. Prior to Oregon State, Amy served as an enrollment counselor at the University of Phoenix. She earned a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Hometown:
Omaha, Nebraska
How long have you worked at Oregon State?
5.5 years
What excited you about the opportunity to work for OSU Ecampus?
“I was really excited to work with online adult learners at a state institution. I already had experience assisting online learners in a private institution when I moved to Corvallis, and the more that I learned about OSU, the more excited I became about being part of the Ecampus team. Ecampus offers a traditional college education in an online classroom, making it accessible and achievable for learners who are not going to take classes on campus between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to continue learning.”
Describe what you do in your role. Who do you serve, what types of questions do you answer?
“I think the best piece of advice is that it is OK to ask for more information or to request help. In fact, it’s a good idea to connect with the university and find out more before you apply. Not only are we happy to help, but we can offer clarity on processes and expectations,” Amy says.
“As the enrollment marketing manager, I work with the enrollment services specialists and on-campus partners all over the university to ensure that the enrollment pathways and processes are clearly communicated to prospective Ecampus applicants. In some cases, I can work to improve the experience for Ecampus applicants. Since most of the students we serve are unable to come to campus to see it all for themselves, we feel it’s important that we do all we can to connect with prospective applicants, get their enrollment questions answered and provide resources without sending them all over the university.”
What do you like most about your job?
“I really love the opportunity to be involved with people who have made the decision to reach for their goals and dreams. When people decide to look into what it would take to pursue college coursework, they are doing that because they know that education is an agent that will bring change into their lives. Working with people who are ready to improve their current situation is inspiring!”
What do you wish others knew about your job?
“I think that my job provides me with a very unique perspective of the enrollment experience. I hear about the challenges that prospective students face and how to overcome them, and I learn about the information that informs people’s decisions about whether or not to apply to a specific program or college.”
What is the most common question you receive from prospective students? And what do you tell them?
“Most prospective students want to know what their lives will look like if they commit to college. This question comes in many forms. People come to us with different resources, different backgrounds and different goals, so there really are no blanket answers. It’s best to work with people one-on-one on an individual basis to try and gain understanding of their goals and needs and respond accordingly, which means that I end up asking a lot of questions, too! The enrollment services team is prepared with knowledge of the university, awareness of the enrollment process and access to a lot of resources. We use everything we know to offer guidance through the process, but ultimately it is up to the learner to decide whether or not they will make the commitment to college and what their lives will look like after they have made that decision.”
“I really love the opportunity to be involved with people who have made the decision to reach for their goals and dreams.”
What’s the best piece of advice you can give to prospective Ecampus students?
“I think the best piece of advice is that it is OK to ask for more information or to request help. In fact, it’s a good idea to connect with the university and find out more before you apply. Not only are we happy to help, but we can offer clarity on processes and expectations.”
What made you decide to get into this field?
“I came to find myself in this field a bit by mistake. I needed a job and a friend of mine worked for a private university that had an opening, so I applied. Most of my professional background was in retail, finance and community organizing, so I knew how to talk to people and how to provide a good customer experience. I soon found out my new employer offered tuition reimbursement, so applied to graduate school. After taking my first online class, my eyes were opened to the amount of self-discipline, resourcefulness and dedication it took to be successful as a learner in an online program. I realized pretty quickly that it was important to support people like that, and that offering support to online learners had a great impact on their lives and the lives of their families.”
What is one surprising thing about you that not many people know?
“I don’t think I’m that mysterious…I suppose that many are surprised to learn that I come from a very large family. I have somewhere around 50 first cousins.”
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
“I really like to explore new restaurants, foods, towns and cultures. I have a bit of a travel bug and I love to discover places that are new to me.”
