Auburn University names two new executives to leadership positions in Enrollment Management

Auburn University recently named two new executives to key leadership positions in Enrollment Management.

Phil J. Verpil has been appointed as the assistant vice president for enrollment management and executive director of admissions. Verpil brings more than 19 years of professional experience in the kindergarten through higher education settings. Prior to his appointment at Auburn, Verpil served as the director of admissions at Louisiana State University (LSU) — where he held leadership roles since July 2017.

Celena Tulloss has been selected to serve as the assistant vice president and executive director for Financial Aid and Scholarships. Tulloss has more than 20 years of experience in financial aid, having served in community action scholarship programming, as the executive director of financial aid at Lincoln Memorial University and as the director of financial aid and scholarships at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Tulloss currently serves as the director of scholarship integration and operations at the University of Utah.

Both leaders have extensive experience in higher education.

Verpil is the product of a land grant, Carnegie R-1 flagship education. Driven by his educational journey as a first-generation college student and Pell Grant recipient, Verpil has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting students in realizing their dreams through higher education.  In the past decade, Verpil has led teams to historic results in student enrollment and retention through empirically based practices.  

In his capacity at LSU, Verpil provided leadership for all aspects of recruitment, selection, awarding and enrollment of new undergraduate students in support of the university’s strategic vision. He served in a leadership capacity as a strategic partner for the university’s Division of Enrollment Management & Student Success, Senior Colleges and the Honors College.  At LSU, Verpil previously served as associate director of admissions and assistant dean for music and dramatic arts.  In his tenure there, Verpil assisted the institution in enrolling the most academically accomplished classes in LSU’s history.  

Prior to joining LSU, Verpil served as lead academic advisor at the DePaul University School of Music, earning DePaul's Gerald Paetsch Advisor of the Year Award in 2017.  Verpil holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education from DePaul University, a master's degree in counselor education from the University of South Florida and a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tulloss is the child of a first-generation college student from rural Appalachia. Her personal experience fuels her passion for access and a mission to help others experience the transformative change that comes from education.

Tulloss is actively involved in leading professional organizations dedicated to the advancement of student financial aid, through training and advocacy. She has served in many roles, including as president of the Tennessee Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA), where she was awarded their highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award.

Tulloss served as the only two-term president of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA), comprised of nine states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Tulloss also volunteers with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) as a member of the Rapid Response Network, a frequent conference and webinar presenter and as a former member of the Board of Directors. Tulloss is a Certified Financial Aid Administrator, possessing an FAAC certification from NASFAA. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in history and political science and a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership and administration, both from Union College.