When nearly 2,000 prospective students and their families filled Goggin Ice Arena this past fall for an open house, it was the culmination of nearly four years of work for the Office of Admission.

Bethany Perkins counts the open house among her favorite professional memories so far at Miami University. In her new role as interim vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success, Perkins now leads a group that includes Admission, Bursar, the Center for Career Exploration and Success, One Stop, Student Financial Assistance, the Student Success Center, and University Registrar.

“It was really about gaining buy-in from partners across campus, and everyone showed up for prospective students and their families,” Perkins said of the fall open house. “It was an amazing day and an example of true collaboration across divisions.”

Perkins takes over the role formerly held by Brent Shock, who will remain as a special assistant to the president for strategic planning through the spring semester. Shock’s work focuses on the MiamiTHRIVE project, which will guide the university in reimagining Miami to serve the dynamic needs and interests of current and future students.

Brent Shock

Shock’s career spans more than 30 years at Miami, and he’s been connected to the university even longer. A 1992 alumnus, Shock soon followed his graduation with a six-week “temporary” job in financial aid that led to three more decades in Oxford.

“It was something that just kind of happened,” said Shock, whose time on campus began in fall 1988, his first year as a student.

“I love Miami, and if there is anything I can do to ensure Miami is positioned for continued success, both now and in the future, then I want to help.”

Those are sentiments shared by Perkins, who plans to move forward with the “fantastic foundation” built by Shock during his time as vice president. “I have learned a lot about the importance of building and cultivating relationships,” Perkins said. “It has been the honor of my career to work for and alongside Brent as a leader.”

Humbled by the opportunity, Perkins said she accepted without hesitation when offered the interim position. “The leadership team is really very talented,” Perkins said. 

While Perkins is excited for the interim role, she is also eager to work alongside a new permanent leader for the division.

Before joining Miami in 2018, Perkins served as associate vice president for enrollment management at Bethel University in Minnesota. She also had multiple roles during a decade spent at Southern New Hampshire University.

“Bethany is extremely talented in the enrollment field,” Shock said. “Miami is very fortunate to have her.”

Like Perkins, many of Shock’s favorite professional memories revolve around the thousands of students he worked with for 30-plus years at Miami.

“You see the outcomes of a Miami education and how that impacts them,” Shock said. “You get to see them as they are starting out and then when they graduate. You get to see the growth that happens in between, and that is pretty special.”