Long Island native Gary Lupinacci has been named the school’s new director of recruitment.
Before starting at Bonaventure on Wednesday Sept. 16, Lupinacci worked in admissions at other institutions including SUNY Oneonta, Pace University, Dowling College and most recently at Hunter College.
“A very large decrease in high school enrollment in the Northeast has affected both public and private school enrollment,” said Lupinacci.
Lupinacci said he plans to think strategically in order to avoid a decrease in demographics.
“We are using a lot of new marketing techniques,” said Lupinacci. “We are now using texting in three of our territories, trying to get more interaction with students, in addition to what we already have in terms of print and emails.”
Lupinacci added he wants to highlight the school’s adaptability to market trends by showcasing new majors such as cybersecurity and environmental science.
Another way to connect to students: through guidance counselors, according to Lupinacci. He said they are a medium between institutions and students.
Lupinacci also said the admissions team is trying to strengthen guidance counselor relationships by doing receptions, one on campus and three in other markets, to teach and show guidance counselors what the school has to offer.
Another goal is to maintain enrollment in primary markets and expand in secondary and tertiary markets, said Lupinacci. He hopes to expand in the markets of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The school has experienced growth in the New England areas, and he said he wants to expand on the growth there as well.
A new market that is being researched is the international market mainly in Brazil and China, said Lupinacci.
Lupinacci also said he hopes to maximize the potential of the young and new admissions staff in order to make them the best.
In addition to bringing his 13 years of admissions experience, he said he is looking forward to working with the admissions staff and the school community.
“What really attracted me to St. Bonaventure was, ranging from the admissions staff to the campus community, they all are genuinely passionate,” said Lupinacci.
“In order to work in admissions and promote an institution you have to believe in it, it was easy to believe in [Bonaventure] by the level of passion shown by staff and students.”
Lupinacci said he feels more at home being here two weeks than he did at Hunter College where he worked for five years.
fieldsbj14@bonaventure.edu
