Lawrenceville Welcomes New Dean of Enrollment Management

Edwin R. Núñez has been appointed The Lawrenceville School’s Shelby M.C. Davis ’54 Dean of Enrollment Management, effective July 1, 2025. As a member of the school’s senior staff and a direct report to Head of School Steve Murray, Núñez will lead all aspects of Lawrenceville’s approach to student recruitment, admission, and retention, as well as scholarship aid.

“Edwin brings to Lawrenceville a remarkable blend of professional experience, programmatic innovation, and deeply personal understanding of the impact that a school can have on a young person’s life trajectory. Indeed, for the new holder of the Shelby Davis Chair at Lawrenceville, this appointment seems to come full circle in a rather remarkable, almost providential way,” said Murray. “A Davis Scholar himself, Edwin spent his high school years studying at Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, then continued at Middlebury College on his Davis Scholarship. We look forward to the lasting impact Edwin will have on our community in the years ahead.”

A Proven Leader in Enrollment Management

Núñez is a seasoned leader with a track record of success in independent schools, guided by data-informed decision-making. He brings extensive experience from his role as Director of Enrollment Management at The Pingry School, where he led transformative initiatives that not only set a record for the number of applications but also achieved a record high in the number of families choosing to enroll.

Seeking continual improvement and a shared understanding throughout the school, he implemented a Student Impact Score across academics, arts, athletics, and leadership to help evaluate the effectiveness of admission criteria as a predictor of a student's long-term success. Núñez enhanced ninth grade recruitment by launching an Early Action admission process and refining the admission visitor experience. His demonstrated collaboration with department heads, teachers, and school leaders has been instrumental in his ability to drive meaningful growth.

Prior to his tenure at Pingry, Núñez served as Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management at Hebron Academy, where he oversaw both the admissions and marketing teams. During this time, the school achieved historic highs in net tuition revenue and enrollment, and expanded its reach through new efforts like the addition of an eighth grade boarding program.

Núñez’s experience also includes roles as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid and Director of International Relations and Recruitment, reflecting his broad experience within the admission landscape of secondary school education.

Leading at Lawrenceville

In his role as Dean of Enrollment Management, Núñez will oversee Lawrenceville’s 16-member admission and scholarship aid team, supervising key leaders across the department, including the Director of Admission, Director of Data Management Strategy and Operations, and Director of Scholarship Aid. He will be responsible for shaping a holistic enrollment approach that strengthens all aspects of the student enrollment cycle – from recruitment and application to scholarship aid and retention.

“Throughout the search process, what stood out most about Edwin was his ability to balance strategic vision with an extensive understanding of school culture and community engagement,” said Assistant Head of School Marquis Scott, who chaired the Dean of Enrollment Management Search Advisory Committee. “Edwin’s personal history and professional experience in enrollment management, combined with his commitment to diversity, inclusion, and student success, make him an ideal fit for Lawrenceville.”

Meet Edwin Núñez

Núñez holds a B.A. in Economics and Chinese Language and Literature from Middlebury College, where he was a United World College Davis Scholar. A native Spanish speaker and fluent in Mandarin Chinese, he brings a global perspective to his work and is committed to expanding access to independent school education.

Núñez believes that admissions is about more than reviewing applications. “It's about uncovering strengths, dreams, and untapped potential, and creating an environment where every student feels valued and has a fair chance to shape their future,” he said. “I approach admissions with empathy, focusing on helping students navigate their academic and personal growth to become the best versions of themselves.”

While Núñez is passionate about using data to identify patterns and inform decisions, he believes that the most important aspect of his work is supporting and guiding young people as they grow. “Young people are complex and wonderfully unpredictable, and as such, their potential cannot be fully captured in metrics alone. Their stories, challenges, and aspirations require more than just data — they demand our full attention and understanding,” he said.

“Education is not just my profession, but my calling, and I feel an immense gratitude for this opportunity at Lawrenceville to help create environments in which students can thrive. I am eager to bring my experience and energy to the school, confident that together, we can elevate Lawrenceville to new heights,” Núñez said.  “I look forward to helping set bold new standards for admissions and, in doing so, enabling every student to unlock their fullest potential.”

Thank You to the Search Advisory Committee

Murray extended his “deepest gratitude” to Scott for chairing the search process and to the entire Search Advisory Committee for “their dedication and thoughtful contributions in selecting our next Dean of Enrollment Management.” Along with Murray and Scott, members of the Committee were Doug Davis (history faculty), Ben Hammond (chief financial and administrative officer, Cynthia Hill (science faculty), Courtney Roach (associate director of college counseling), Ashish Shah (English faculty), Tripp Welborne (dean of athletics and co-curriculars), and Jessica Welsh (director of communications and external relations). 

“The role of the Dean of Enrollment Management is critical to Lawrenceville’s future, and in Edwin we have found a visionary leader whose expertise and innovative thinking will help us continue to strengthen our enrollment strategy and attract and retain exceptional students,” said Murray.

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.