Former UTA leader heading Student Enrollment Services
By Lin Lofley
Shannon L. Williams, former Director of Student Services at UT Arlington, has been appointed to UT Southwestern Medical Center’s newly created position of Director of Student Enrollment Services.
Ms. Williams joined the campus’ leadership team in November after more than 24 years of service and leadership at UTA.
A graduate of Southern Methodist University, she joined UT Arlington in 1993 as an Academic Advisor to the school’s highly regarded School of Nursing, before becoming first Associate Director and later Director of the University Advising Center. She then served as Associate Registrar for seven years prior to her promotion in 2013 to Director of Student Services.
As the chief administrative officer of Student Enrollment Services at UT Southwestern, Ms. Williams is responsible for maintaining admissions credentials and academic records for the institution’s three schools – UT Southwestern Medical School, the UT Southwestern Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, and the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions – and directing policy implementation and processes necessary to achieve the institution’s goals and objectives.
As leader of the Student Enrollment Services team, Ms. Williams supervises and directs the activity of the staff while effecting collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of related offices across the three Schools.
She credits Dr. Charles Ginsburg, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Administration, as one of the reasons she chose to come to UT Southwestern. “He was the first person, among many, to talk about the importance of doing things right,” Ms. Williams said. “Not that UT Arlington doesn’t do things right, but it was refreshing and exciting to hear that made part of the dialogue. This set UT Southwestern, and its superior leadership team, apart and made this position very attractive to me.”
A resident of Denton, she said the interviewing process made her realize that UT Southwestern is a place where she can contribute as a member of a unified team. “I am so impressed with what I’ve found at UT Southwestern. The level of teamwork across campus and the positive atmosphere here are both impressive,” Ms. Williams said. “I’ve also found deep levels of respect, integrity, and dedication. The Office of Student Enrollment Services will build on all of those characteristics and on UT Southwestern’s vision.”
Ms. Williams’ goal for her office and herself is to help develop systems that make the business of being a student more seamless, and supports students and their faculty and staff in all three Schools. “Our client base is students, but also includes faculty and staff who work with students in each of the Schools we serve.”
The Office of Student Enrollment Services maintains UT Southwestern’s student records from application to degree conferral, including grades and grading procedures. The Office also works closely with administrators of the three Schools to provide degree progress and academic achievement for their students, as well as class scheduling.
“I’m very interested in any thoughts about what services this Office can offer members of the UT Southwestern community to support what they’re doing as a student, a faculty member, a staff member, an administrator, or a community colleague,” Ms. Williams said.
The Office of Student Enrollment Services, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, is located in the Bryan Williams, M.D. Student Center. For additional information, call 214-648-3606 or visit the Registrar's Office. Ms. Williams can be reached by phone at 214-648-3134 or shannonl.williams@utsouthwestern.edu.
