WINONA, Minn. – The assistant registrar at Winona State, Tania Kokott Schmidt, has been appointed as recruiting director as the university struggles to reverse enrollment e declines. Schmidt has 22 years experience in higher education, mostly at Winona State. Her new job description lists Schmidt’s responsibilities as “leadership in student recruitment and operational agility.” She will focus on recruiting first-year and transfer students and building relationships with high school and community college counselors. Her salary: $88,600. Schmidt fills responsibilities that have shifted among several persons in recent months. These include Kendra Weber, who left in November; Andrea Northam; and Kim Hill.

The mission ahead

Schmidt reports to Denise McDowell, the university vice president for enrollment. This, said McDowell, is “a pivotal time” for Winona State. “Demographic changes, coupled with the accelerated impact of the CoVid pandemic, are challenging institutions of higher education nation-wide. Winona State enrollment has reflected these trends in recent years. As a result, we are actively exploring how WSU can best serve prospective students with diverse needs, as well as the business community in the Minnesota Southeast region and state-wide.” McDowell said the university is prepared to “embrace the disruptions and opportunities ahead with agility.”