Flagel leaving for Brandeis after decade at Mason

Dean of Admissions Andrew Flagel explains his use of social media in his office on Friday. Flagel will be leaving Mason for a position at Brandeis University at the end of the month. (Kevin Loker) 

Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President of Enrollment Development Andrew Flagel will leave his position at George Mason University at the end of August to become the new senior vice president for students and enrollment at Brandeis University.

Flagel, who started his tenure at Mason in 2001 and who revitalized and founded several enrollment programs during a time of transition for the university, starts his new role on Sept. 1.

Brandeis University President Fred Lawrence made the official announcement Monday morning.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision for me and my family,” said Flagel on Friday. “Mason’s been the most important part of our lives for 10 years now.” Jennifer Flagel, Andrew’s wife, works as the associate vice president for Development Services and the Development Office. They have a nine-year-old son, Joshua.

In 2001, approximately a third of incoming Mason freshmen had high school grade point averages below a 3.0, according to the Office of Admissions.  Last year, less than 1 percent had GPAs below a 3.1, while the size of the freshman class has grown from less than 2,000 to over 2,600.

In 2001, less than 10 percent of Mason freshmen were classified as out-of-state residents.  Last year, more than a fourth of the class was from out of state.

Flagel, an avid blogger and tweeter, also directed the creation of the Mason Metro website, launched one of the first video essay application functions in the nation and managed Mason's transition to a paperless admission process.

Flagel also founded the Washington Journalism and Media Conference and the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment, established a Bachelor of Applied Sciences and collaborated on founding the Green Machine pep band. He helped relaunch the Mason Ambassadors program and was the faculty adviser for three student organizations.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of [Mason] and [to have worked] with some of the most brilliant, dynamic faculty, staff and students I think one could find anywhere in the country,” said Flagel. “I really didn’t think there would be another opportunity or institution that could draw me away because we do really love Mason.”

Flagel told Connect2Mason that the opportunity at Brandeis was founded on a mission of social justice.

“[Brandeis has a] very similar diversity and spirit to Mason,” Flagel said. “And the scope of the position—a senior vice president working with all the student life and enrollment management—was an opportunity, along with their new president, that was so exciting that I really needed to take that at this time.”

At Brandeis, Flagel will oversee two large segments of the private research university—the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Under these categories falls athletics, student activities, community living, the interfaith chaplaincy, orientation, the health center, psychological counseling services, the Office of Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid.

“My heart remains really mixed with a lot of emotion for the friends and family that we’ve built here at Mason,” said Flagel. “I’m very, very confident with the team that’s developed here and the reputation that’s built that Mason’s going to continue to dominate on the national stage.”

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Update 2:51 p.m., 8/9 An earlier version of this story said that Jennifer Flagel, Andrew's wife and the associate vice president for Development Services and the Development Office, will also be leaving at the end of the month. At this point in time, she will remain at the university as a transition is arranged.  
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