After a national search, Cynthia Demetriou has been appointed the associate provost for student engagement, enrollment and retention at UNCW, according to a news release.

Demetriou, who began her new role Oct. 4, joined UNCW from a similar position at the University of Arizona, where she served as vice provost for student success and retention innovation.

The associate provost of student engagement, enrollment and retention is a newly created position that provides leadership for the student recruitment, undergraduate admissions operations and graduate admissions processing; registrar operations; financial aid and scholarships; student advising; student retention; student-athlete support services; and military-affiliated student support functions.

Demetriou will report to the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and is a member of the provost’s cabinet.

“Dr. Demetriou brings a robust set of experiences to UNCW that will ensure our enrollment and retention efforts are driven by institutional values and excellence in the student experience,” said Provost James Winebrake in the release. "I am confident under Dr. Demetriou's leadership, we will be able to integrate enrollment, engagement and retention functions in innovative new ways that best serve the needs of our students."

Retention efforts are increasingly important as part of an effective enrollment management plan, the release stated.

“Enrollment and retention are not separate, individual steps; rather, they are part of a continuous process that must occur repeatedly until a student crosses the finish line to degree completion,” Demetriou said. “The goal is to provide an integrated roadmap supporting students throughout their collegiate journey.”

Demetriou held several positions at UNC Chapel Hill, including associate dean and director of retention, retention coordinator, The Finish Line Project executive director, interim coordinator of the Chancellor’s Science Scholars and director and founder of Carolina Firsts.

Her research focuses on student success, including positive development and student retention. She earned a Ph.D. in education from UNC Chapel Hill, an Ed.M. from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in English at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.