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Sivakumaran to Lead New Division, Reorganized to Enhance Campus Enrollment

05/14/2021

JONESBORO – Chancellor Kelly Damphousse announced today that he has eliminated one vice chancellor position by combining two cabinet-level divisions at Arkansas State University. Pending approval by the ASU System Board of Trustees, the new Division of Enrollment Management and Global Engagement will be led by Dr. Thilla Sivakumaran.
 
“Vice Chancellor Sivakumaran has led our online and international recruitment efforts for several years, and his Division of Global Engagement and Outreach had considerable overlap with the Division of Enrollment Management,” Damphousse said.  “I have been very impressed by his leadership as the Interim Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management over the past six months, with fall 2021 enrollment projections significantly outpacing fall 2020. As A-State moves toward a more holistic admissions process, this is an ideal time to combine the two divisions under one leadership umbrella. I am confident that Thilla will bring the same level of energy, innovation, and organization to our main-campus recruiting operation that he has used to make A-State the largest online degree provider in Arkansas.”
 
“I am humbled by the confidence the Chancellor has shown in me, and in our team,” Sivakumaran said. “At A-State, we are changing the lives of our students – whether they earn their degree in Jonesboro, at one of our degree centers around the state, or online. The goal of our new division will be to fulfill the goal of our Discover 2025 strategic plan of increasing on-campus enrollment, by improving how future Red Wolves find their way to A-State.”
 
Sivakumaran has led A-State’s international student recruiting program and national recruitment efforts for A-State’s large online program since 2012.  Recently, he led the drive to reinvigorate A-State’s non-semester learning opportunities (Summer Session, Winter Session, and Maymester). He also oversees A-State’s Campus Queretaro and the A-State University Centers located at community colleges across the state.

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Thilla Sivakumaran
Thilla Sivakumaran