A college that once appealed to North Carolina residents within a relatively small radius of the school has since captured the attention of the entire East Coast. Now, Elon University will show itself to the other side.

For the first time, Elon will have an assistant director of admissions based in California.

Brittany Werts, who previously headed Elon’s recruiting efforts in New England, will assume the position August 1. She will be based in Southern California but will travel throughout the state to attend college fairs and appear at high schools. While working with the schools, she will observe recruitment trends and advise the Elon Dean of Admissions on admission standards for West Cost students.

[quote] I hope to educate students and counselors on the West Coast about colleges and universities that exist beyond the ‘golden fence,’ and what opportunities are waiting out east for them. -Brittany Werts [/quote]

She will also work with schools and students in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii as an active member of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admissions Counseling and the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling.

Although Elon has employed a California representative for a number of years, the university created the new assistant director position in hopes of adding more geographical diversity to the student body. During the 2011-2012 academic year, the majority of incoming students came from Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.

“We’ve been seeing growth in (students coming from California) thanks to consistent work in the northern and southern parts of the state,” said Greg Zaiser, vice president of admissions and financial planning. “Our applicant pool has grown along with our enrolling numbers.”

Two hundred and thirty-five students from California applied to Elon for the 2012-13 school year, and 25 enrolled. Zaiser said he expects these numbers to increase after Werts assumes her new position. A Southern California native, Werts is “the ideal candidate for the job,” Zaiser said.

In an article on E-Net, Werts acknowledged her experience moving from California to the East Coast will help her relate to prospective students.

“I hope to educate students and counselors on the West Coast about colleges and universities that exist beyond the ‘golden fence,’ and what opportunities are waiting out east for them,” she said in the article.