Senior Leadership

Stacey Kostell

Vice President of Enrollment

Stacey Kostell was appointed Vice President of Enrollment at Northwestern University in July 2023. Prior to her arrival at NU, Stacey served as Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for College, an organization that helps students access resources to find a college that matches their academic, financial and social needs. She also has held leadership positions overseeing initiatives to help students graduate on time and with limited debt at major universities in Vermont, Arizona, Indiana and Illinois. Throughout her career of more than 20 years in admissions and enrollment management, Stacey has been dedicated to expanding higher education access, prioritizing affordability and ensuring student success. 

David Bender

Director of Administration and Finance

Arriving at Northwestern in 2007, David Bender held several positions in Admissions and Enrollment before moving into his current role, Director of Administration and Finance, in 2024. The administrative division of University Enrollment oversees and manages a variety of areas and supports staff across its units. Its areas of responsibility include: financial processes, budgeting, payroll, travel oversight, policy compliance, IT equipment management and support, Facilities projects, HR coordination and compliance, position and performance management, and project support as-needed. Under David's leadership, University Enrollment has prioritized innovation, launching a number of new initiatives aimed at increasing collaboration among units. New processes, including those for onboarding new staff and hiring temporary and student workers, have led to more thoughtful and transparent work. Outside of his work at Northwestern, David is a photographer and digital collage artist.

Jaci Casazza

Assistant Provost for University Records and University Registrar

Jaci Casazza has worked in higher education administration for twenty years, and as Northwestern’s Registrar since 2011. In that time, her role and impact as a higher education professional have developed significantly from focusing exclusively on managing the staff and services of a registrar’s office to representing university interests in vital national and university-wide conversations ranging from student information systems development to calendar change and support for at-risk students. At the same time, her team continues to transform and expand core services. Together they have created in the Office of the Registrar a trusted campus partner with deep collaborations across the university orientated to solve problems and facilitate change. Under Jaci’s leadership, Northwestern’s Office of the Registrar has become known for its expertise, robust collaboration and concern for equity across the student experience. The Office centers student success and inclusion as it implements policies and regulations and support the work of partner offices throughout the University. Outside Northwestern, Jaci serves on the board and as conference co-chair for the Association of American Universities Registrars’ group and has participated in national work groups on the changing nature of academic credentials and transcripts and the role of the registrar.

Erin Herrick

Director of Student Finance

Erin Herrick joined NU in October 2024 as the Director of Student Finance. The Student Finance department provides essential support to students by helping them navigate financial aspects of their education, including billing, payments, and financial aid inquiries. Its teams serve as the primary resources for questions about student accounts, student loans, and all related transactions, ensuring students have access to the information they need to manage their finances effectively. Before arriving at Northwestern, Erin spent 15 years at the University of Illinois. As Director of Accounts Receivable Operations, Billing Services, Student Loans, she oversaw the implementation of process improvements in key business functions to streamline operations, reducing staff workloads while enhancing customer experience through faster, more efficient service.

Liz Kinsley

Dean of Undergraduate Admission

Liz Kinsley began in Northwestern’s Office of Undergraduate Admission in 2015 , first serving as Associate Director of Admissions & Director of Communications before stepping into her current role, Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Admission, in 2019. Leading a staff of over thirty, Liz and the Office of Undergraduate Admission oversee the recruitment and selection for all full-time, degree-seeking first-year and transfer students. Under her leadership, NU’s Admissions Office paved new avenues for college access through both virtual and in-person opportunities for engagement. And, in Fall 2021, NU welcomed the Class of 2025, which included historic numbers of students who identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a/x, Native, Indigenous or first-generation and/or low income and was the first Northwestern class in which more than half the students identify as Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). Liz also holds a faculty appointment in NU’s Communication Studies department and teaches undergraduate seminars in popular adaptation and cultural studies, and she is a fellow of Northwestern's Shepard Residential College. Her prior experience includes positions at University of Chicago, Yale University, and Riverdale Country School.

Ben Yost

Director of Enrollment Analytics

Ben arrived at Northwestern in 2024 as Director of Enrollment Analytics, leading a team that develops data-driven enrollment strategies and provides critical analysis to inform decision-making. As one of Ben’s earliest priorities in his role, the Enrollment Analytics team initiated a comprehensive data audit to ensure accuracy and integrity, laying the groundwork for more reliable and actionable insights. The team is also actively building a central repository for key data elements, which will support advanced modeling and inform both division- and institution-wide goals. In his previous roles as Associate Director of Admissions & Information Systems at Western Washington University and Academic & Student Affairs Data Analyst at College of DuPage, Ben has leveraged and democratized data, making it accessible as a key institutional asset to inform strategic decisions. With over a decade of experience across various higher education systems, Ben has gained valuable insights into the needs of functional users. His commitment to openness, transparency, and collaboration helps break down data silos and unlock critical insights for colleagues.