Dr. Monica Orsot Named Executive Director of Enrollment Management

Dr. Monica Orsot is the new executive director of McNeese State University’s Office of Enrollment Management. 

“I am deeply honored to have the support and trust of so many people I’ve worked with over the years,” Orsot said. “I look to leverage those connections across campus to engage in meaningful projects which help support our students, faculty, staff and our local community.” 

Recently, Orsot held the director of advising, retention and advanced placement position in the Office of Enrollment Management. As director, Orsot developed and implemented new advising models, oversaw the launch of a comprehensive online orientation for online students and overhauled communication practices to improve student understanding of the registration process. She was part of the team that implemented Cowboy Commitment Day and reversed a declining enrollment trend. 

“I feel that my time as director of advising helped me to cultivate relationships across campus that are vital to me in my new role,” she said. “It gave me a unique vantage point to link processes in enrollment management to campus wide processes and disseminate that information for a variety of audiences both internal and external.” 

Orsort began her career at McNeese as an academic adviser and instructor of orientation in 2021. There she guided approximately 700 students in course selection, degree planning and understanding academic policies. She mentored new academic advisers, collaborated on retention initiatives and assisted with freshman orientation programs. 

“Dr. Orsot has been a rising leader at McNeese for the last couple of years. She is well respected by the employees in enrollment management and colleagues throughout the campus. It’s beneficial to have her step into the executive director of enrollment management role because she brings a structured and creative vision for leading the operation. Dr. Orsot’s years of experience as the department head for academic advising, connections she has to other campus divisions, the recent completion of her doctorate and other professional development experiences position her well for an elevated leadership role,” said Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, McNeese interim president. 

Orsot earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from McNeese and her master’s and doctorate degrees in adult learning and development from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. 

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Monica Orsot into this important leadership role at McNeese. Throughout her career, she has built trust and valued relationships within enrollment management and across campus. Her proven accomplishments reflect a deep understanding of recruitment, retention and student success strategies, as well as a commitment to data-informed decision-making. We are confident that the experience and perspective she brings will position our university for continued growth and success in serving current and future students,” said Dr. Michael Buckles, McNeese provost and vice president for academic affairs.