Strategic Enrollment Management

Strategic Enrollment Management includes the offices of Undergraduate Admissions, Recruitment, New Student Orientation, Financial Aid, Scholarship, and the Registrar. Our offices are located in Wilder Tower and are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

The Vice Provost’s office staff and the unit leadership are featured below. We are committed to offering excellence in service to our current and prospective students in an effort to support the attainment of higher education goals for our students.

Strategic Enrollment Management Administration

Dr. Darla Keel
Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management and University Registrar
Phone: 901.678.5775
E-mail: darkeel@memphis.edu 
Office: 003 Wilder Tower

Dr. Darla Keel came to the University of Memphis as an undergraduate student in 1991 and after graduating, she began her higher education career here in Institutional Research. She has worked as the Associate Registrar and Director of Technical Services and Support at Arkansas State University, the Registrar at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and as a senior consultant for Ellucian. She was excited to have the opportunity to become the Registrar at the University of Memphis in August 2016. Dr. Keel continuously seeks ways to improve all processes through the use of technology and new approaches.

Dr. Eric M. Stokes
Assistant Vice Provost Strategic Enrollment Management
Phone: 901.678.2111
E-mail: mstokes3@memphis.edu
Office: 204 Wilder Tower

Dr. Eric Stokes is the Assistant Vice Provost Strategic Enrollment Management at the University of Memphis. He proudly joined the Tiger family in the summer of 2017. In his 14 year admissions career he has traveled nationally to recruit students, coordinated overnight visit programs, and mentored students to become college graduates, leaders, and young professionals.

Eric is an enthusiastic educator with a passion to serve his community. His mission at the UofM is to increase freshmen and transfer enrollment, while also enhancing the academic quality and diversity of the class.

Eric is a native of Knoxville, TN. He is an alumni of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2002) and The University of Tennessee in Knoxville (2004, 2017). His dissertation title was: The impact of non-cognitive factors on first-year GPA for university eligible students from low-performing high schools. Eric is a 2017-2019 board member of SACAC (Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors), as well as the 2015-2018 co-chair for NACAC’s (National Association of College Admissions Counselors) African American Special Interest Group.

Kenya Sanders
Associate Director for Strategic Enrollment Management Administration
Phone: 901.678.1375
E-mail: klsander@memphis.edu
Office: 200 Wilder Tower

Kenya Sanders has over 15 years of higher education experience. Kenya started her career at the University of Memphis in 2006 as an Administrative Associate in the Office of Academic, Planning, Assessment and Innovation and then Business Officer for the Office of the Provost. She currently serves as the Associate Director for Strategic Enrollment Management Administration for the Strategic Enrollment Management Division. With her experience and years of knowledge, Kenya provides budgetary leadership and executive support for the Strategic Enrollment Management Office.

Courtney Orians
Associate Director for Dual Enrollment and Special Programs
Phone: 901.678.3995
E-mail: cckelly@memphis.edu
Office: 200 Wilder Tower

Courtney Orians has over twelve years of combined experience in secondary and higher education that includes dual enrollment course design and six years of experience teaching Business Technology, dual enrollment courses for a public school system. Currently, Courtney serves as the Associate Director of Admissions for Dual Enrollment & Special Enrollment Programs. Other work that Courtney has enjoyed while at the U of M include External Activities Coordinator for the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning, adjunct instructor for University College, Program Coordinator and Instructional Designer for the Adult and Higher Education program under the Department of Leadership.

Adam Johnson
Assistant Director for Recruitment and Strategic Enrollment Management-Lambuth Campus
Phone: 901.678.1964
E-mail: ljhnsn35@memphis.edu
Office: 705 Lambuth Blvd, Jackson, TN

Adam has worked in higher education for the past decade, starting out as an admissions counselor at UT Martin in the fall of 2008. Adam joined the University of Memphis to coordinate recruitment efforts at the UofM Lambuth Campus in 2013. Adam has a great passion for higher education and strives to make the transition easy for students and parents as they enter college. Adam values the many relationships that he is able to develop with students, guidance counselors, and other people in the Admissions field.

Britney McGhee-Walls
Assistant Director, Strategic Engagement and Communication
Phone: 901.678.3983
E-mail: bmcghee2@memphis.edu
Office: 200 Wilder Tower