Dr. Jeremy Moreland, President of William Woods University (WWU), today announced the appointment of Dr. Andy Otto of Ottawa, Kansas as the University’s new Vice President of Enrollment Services, effective May 31, 2022. Dr. Otto comes to William Woods from Ottawa University, where he has served as the Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions for the past five years.
Dr. Otto joins the WWU administration with more than 10 years of higher education admissions and enrollment experience in both the traditional and non-traditional settings, working with residential, graduate, online, and non-traditional students throughout his career in college admissions and enrollment management. In his new cabinet-level role at William Woods, he will be responsible for leading the university’s efforts in undergraduate, graduate, and online student recruitment and enrollment.
With Dr. Otto at the helm, Ottawa University enjoyed its largest incoming class for five consecutive years, while also experiencing its largest total enrollment at its residential campus in more than 40 years. Dr. Otto served as academic advisor for first-year students and taught first-year seminar courses.
“Enrollment is the lifeblood of every university, and William Woods is fortunate to have a consummate enrollment management professional of Andy Otto’s caliber joining our leadership team here at the University,” said President Moreland. “Dr. Otto’s years of experience in college admissions and enrollment, particularly his track record of successful enrollment strategies and results at an institution that is in many ways similar to ours, will be extremely valuable to WWU. With his leadership, we will be well-positioned for the foreseeable future to engage with potential students,” he said.
The appointment of Dr. Otto comes after the WWU hired its first-ever Student Experience Officer earlier this year in Dr. Ted Blashak.
“Dr. Otto’s expertise in enrollment strategies, along with our new focus on the positive experience for every student that attends William Woods, will have a profound effect on our efforts to both attract and retain students,” said Dr. Blashak.
Dr. Otto recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy (2022) in Educational Leadership from Northwest Nazarene University, with a research focus on the use of texting within the advising function and its influence on students’ intent to persist. He earned both his Master’s (Business Administration, 2014) and Bachelor’s (English, 2010) from Ottawa University.
A native of Drexel, Missouri, Dr. Otto is married to Dr. Courtney Otto, a specialty pharmacist, and together they have three children.
