Bryant University

Q A &

with Incoming NAGAP Treasurer Jamie R. Grenon

Incoming Treasurer Jamie R. Grenon, MBA, Director of Graduate Programs, Bryant University

What led you to your career in graduate enrollment management? For instance, how did you find your first role in GEM? Why have you continued in this field since?

My career trajectory was more happenstance than intention. After graduating from Boston College with a degree in music, I became a volunteer music and science teacher at the Nativity Prep School in New Bedford, MA, along with seven other recent BC grads. After two years of teaching, I landed a job as an admissions advisor at Berklee Online - Berklee College of Music’s fully-online school, where I then began working in marketing. This was really the impetus for my career in higher education as my experience at Berklee was incredible, and their investment in online learning is top notch. I then moved to New York to try my hand in teaching again, which (fortunately) didn’t work out. I landed at Roger Williams University where I worked in the School of Continuing Studies, which then merged with graduate education, which was my first foray into graduate enrollment management. After a second re-organization at RWU, I landed on the graduate side, which became my future professional path, but which also allowed for my first experience in international admissions where I took three international trips to promote both undergraduate and graduate degrees around the world. From RWU, I worked in graduate admission and financial aid roles at Bridgewater State University, Boston College, and am now at Bryant University, where I head up the Graduate Programs Office, a concierge model approach to graduate programs at the university. My path was anything but direct, but I am grateful for the opportunities I was presented and am beyond excited to be where I am today.

Tell us about your current role in graduate enrollment management. What do you enjoy most about it?

Earlier in my career, the travel and excitement of meeting new students and colleagues was my primary motivation. I enjoyed connecting with prospects, then seeing them all the way through to graduation. Much like teaching, it’s a long and sometimes difficult road, but the reward at the end is worth the challenge. Now, with three young children, travel is not as appealing as it once was, but I do enjoy the novel travel that NAGAP and NEGAP afford me. Having years of experience, I now most look forward to the strategic aspect of the job, the analytical nature of what we do, and how to maximize our resources to enhance and grow our programs.

How long have you been involved in NAGAP, and what led you to becoming involved?

I originally volunteered for NEGAP’s Marketing Committee but eventually wanted to get more involved in the group once I met other colleagues. I’m analytical in nature so I put my name in for the treasurer position, which I took over in 2014. I then served as vice president and president, although I had to cut my time as president short when my third child was born, as I wanted to devote time to my family. I haven’t been formally involved in a leadership capacity in NEGAP or NAGAP since that time, which is why I was eager to become a NAGAP board member.

What are you most excited to work on or accomplish in your new role on the executive board?

As the incoming treasurer, I am excited to work to find new and exciting ways to support our members in their professional development and to create new opportunities for our organization to thrive for many years. I am also very excited about the potential for returning to in-person events, since it has been so long since I’ve seen many of my long-distance colleagues face-to-face.

What do you like to do for fun?

My three kids (10, 7, and 3) keep me pretty busy, but I still enjoy playing soccer and hockey as well as woodworking, which is a new hobby of mine (when time allows). n