Meet Justine Whitfield – Director of Admissions

Justine Whitfield, Meredith’s new Director of Admissions, brings to the College a passion for education and a strong background in admissions and enrollment management, most recently as Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at East Carolina University.

According to Whitfield, Meredith has been on her radar for a long time but said the timing for this new role aligned perfectly with her career aspirations and her long appreciation for a personalized education.

“Growing up in Memphis, Tenn.., I attended a small school from kindergarten through twelfth grade, with the perfect balance of small class sizes, passionate teachers, and vibrant traditions,” she said. “It taught me so much about myself and my future goals and inspired my life-long love of learning. Attending an institution that truly cares about its students and inspires future changemakers left me seeking an institution of higher education that does exactly that for its students.”

An Emphasis on Women’s Education

Meredith’s focus on advancing women was another draw for Whitfield, having experienced significant moments in her career that were shaped by experiences designed for women.

“One of the most significant was when I was the co-chair of the Women’s Network at William & Mary for three years planning professional development, networking, and informal opportunities for female faculty and staff to learn from one another,” she said. “Then at Duke, I led a scholarship and luncheon program for sophomore women to discuss goals and dream up careers with women all over the Triangle who had many twists and turns in their careers.”

Another moment occurred when she was teaching a higher education course. Whitfield assigned a project that required students to research significant college traditions.

“In my class of roughly 18 students, four chose to study Meredith College. While one of them attended Meredith for their undergraduate degree, this stuck with me and I was impressed by the idea that Meredith seemed to have that secret sauce.”

An Experienced Admissions Professional

Throughout her career, Whitfield has learned admissions best practices working at large and small public and private institutions. In particular, she has focused on the campus visit, touring dozens of institutions to determine the right balance of components to make a visit stand out and help students gain the information they need. She also has a passion for fostering professional development among her colleagues.

“I love to develop rich stories, assist with crafting personal marketing materials, and help to encourage my team to develop themselves personally and professionally. I have facilitated organizational development and change to develop and meet strategic enrollment goals and fostered an incredible office and campus community by building connections and networking across campus,” she said. “Last year, my team and I also celebrated receiving the highest number of freshman applications to date.”

What’s Next at Meredith?

Looking ahead, Whitfield is excited to take in the full Meredith experience.

“I look forward to conversations with faculty, staff, and students to learn and develop my storytelling arsenal so I can better convey what makes Meredith so unique and special to prospective students and families,” she said. “I am excited about participating in traditions like Corn and Alice in Wonderland!”

Whitfield said she and her team will be working to recruit students in new ways.

“Our team is looking to make more connections with out-of-state students, international students, and adult learners hoping to finish their degrees. Knowing the landscape of admissions in the coming years, we need to shift our approach as necessary to recruit students who are a great fit for and will truly benefit from the Meredith experience,” said Whitfield. “I am thrilled to work with a smart, passionate, and fun team in the Admissions office, and look forward to setting our mission and vision together for the future.”

Read more about Justine Whitfield