Christopher Lydon Offers More than Four Decades of Successful Enrollment Growth
Regis College President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN, announced today the appointment of Christopher P. Lydon as the university’s vice president of undergraduate enrollment management. Lydon brings to Regis 40 years of experience in higher education admission, including seven years at The Catholic University of America where he oversaw a division of 48 full-time employees in the offices of undergraduate admission, enrollment management operations, student financial assistance, and enrollment services. Under Lydon's leadership, enrollment of students from underrepresented backgrounds increased by more than 20%.
At Regis, Lydon will develop and oversee the strategic direction of the university's undergraduate enrollment initiatives and serve as an essential member of the President’s Cabinet and Administrative Council.
"Christopher's decades of experience and vast knowledge of higher education’s evolving enrollment challenges, complemented by his innovative approach and commitment to meeting the needs of today's students, will be invaluable to current and future Regis students. I am confident in his ability to enhance and expand an undergraduate admission and enrollment strategy that will effectively reflect the mission and values of the university,” said President Hays.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to become part of the Regis community and to work with President Hays and the Cabinet. I’m also excited to work with the university's team of talented admission professionals to attract and nurture a diverse and energetic class of undergraduate students. My most recent experiences in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia have reinforced the critical importance of identifying and attracting students from all backgrounds, and providing appropriate financial assistance so that they can benefit from a Catholic education,” said Lydon.
Lydon has devoted his entire professional career to Catholic higher education admission and enrollment management. Throughout his career, Lydon has reinforced his fundamental appreciation for the critical importance of a holistic admission review process. At The Catholic University of America, Lydon implemented a new application review process designed to improve the consideration of academic preparation and institutional fit. He also spearheaded the use of full-time regional admission officers to increase recruitment efforts in New England, Florida, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, the Midwest, and the west coast. He has conducted recruitment travel in 30 states and nine countries forging a number of key partnerships.
Lydon most recently served as interim vice president of enrollment management at La Salle University; his prior leadership positions include vice president of enrollment management for the Catholic University of America (2015-2022), vice president for enrollment management and marketing at Stonehill College (2011-2015) and associate vice president for enrollment planning and dean of admission at Providence College (1997-2011). Lydon also held positions at the University of Dallas, Irving and Anna Maria College. He began his professional career at Providence as assistant director of admission in 1983.
Lydon earned a BA in English from Providence College and an MA in professional communication from La Salle University. He previously served on the Admission Practices Committee for the New England Association for College Admission Counseling and has also served on the New England College Board's Regional Council. He is also a past president of the National Catholic College Admission Association. He lives in Cumberland, R.I. with his wife, Lisa, where they raised their three children, Patrick, Sean, and Meghan, and will begin his new role in August.
