Associate Director

Sherylynn Chapman-Thomas

Associate Director
Division of University Outreach and Engagement

Education

• BA, Mass Media, University of Mount Union
• MA, Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent State University
• Fourth-year Doctoral Student, Cultural Foundations, Kent State University

    
Job Description

The Associate Director of University Outreach and Engagement is responsible for pipeline initiatives and directly oversees the enrollment and retention of District of Columbia College Access Program students as well as LeBron James Family Foundation students. Additionally, this role oversees the recruitment and retention efforts of Choose Ohio First Scholarship students and assists with the recruitment needs and retention tracking of Upward Bound Classic, Upward Bound Math and Science as well as Akron Public Schools students.

BIO

Sherylynn Chapman-Thomas has worked in higher education for 19 years. She began her career in retention as an Assistant Director for the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Mount Union where she assisted in the development of the multicultural orientation program Kaleidoscope, and executed the programmatic efforts of the office and served as the co-advisor to the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Director of the Great Expectations Program. 

For the past thirteen years, Sherylynn has assisted in the recruitment efforts for the Enrollment Management Division at Kent State University. She served as the Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Recruitment in the Admissions Office and for the past year has served as a Senior Assistant Director of First-Year recruitment. In these roles, Sherylynn has worked directly with prospective students and families throughout Northeast Ohio with their enrollment goals and has planned several recruitment and yield events such as Multicultural Visit Day, the Northeast Ohio College and Career Day, and Golden Flash Night. 

Sherylynn values community, communication and collaboration and believes in the potential of all students. She strives to work smarter and in doing so advocates for opportunities to learn and grow. Sherylynn encourages professional development and has hired, trained and supervised both student and professional staff. Currently Sherylynn works closely with our Lebron James Family Foundation (LJFF) and District of Columbia College Access Program (DCCAP) partners to assist in the enrollment plans and continued success of these students. 

Sherylynn is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is a native of Akron, Ohio where she attended Akron Public Schools and resides with her husband Courtney, her son Brendan who will be a new freshman at Kent State this fall, her daughter Kortlyn who will be a new freshman at Firestone Community Learning Center and their pug lavender. Sherylynn earned a Bachelors of Arts in Media Studies from the University of Mount Union, a Masters of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Kent State University and is anticipated to receive her PhD in Cultural Foundations, in the College of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State University in May 2024. 

Contact

slchapma@kent.edu, [o] 330-672-8886