Victoria Neason Wallace

Bates College has announced the appointment of Victoria (Tori) Neason Wallace as its vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, effective July 1. Bringing over a decade of undergraduate admissions leadership and strategic enrollment experience, Neason Wallace joins Bates from nearby Colby College in Waterville, where she currently serves as executive director of strategic initiatives in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

During her tenure at Colby, which began in 2020, Neason Wallace held several pivotal roles, including deputy dean of admissions and senior advisor to the vice president. Her work emphasized data-informed analysis and cross-departmental collaboration, spanning admissions, financial aid, student outcomes, athletics recruitment and institutional advancement. Notably, she led initiatives to explore artificial intelligence tools for enrollment operations, secured grant funding for access-oriented programs and strengthened global high school counselor networks.

“I am thrilled to welcome Tori Neason Wallace to Bates,” said President Garry W. Jenkins. “This is a critically important position, and Tori has a breadth and depth of experience that — along with a deep commitment to the liberal arts, talent for strategic thinking and innate collegiality — will make her an outstanding asset to the enrollment endeavor at Bates.”

Prior to her time in Maine, Neason Wallace spent six years in undergraduate admissions at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Across her career, she has developed a reputation for creating innovative campus visit experiences and fostering deep connections with student volunteers and employees.

“Enrollment is a collaborative endeavor for the entire campus,” Neason Wallace said. “In my interactions with the Bates community so far, I’ve been struck by how talented, curious and grounded each individual is. I know we’ll be able to do good work together, and I look forward to leading that effort.”

At Bates, Neason Wallace will oversee the offices of admission and student financial services. She expressed immense enthusiasm for promoting the college’s core mission on a global scale.

“There is a powerful story to tell about the phenomenal resources, opportunities, outcomes and impact that a Bates education provides,” Neason Wallace said. “Alongside the exceptional admissions and financial aid teams, I hope to share that story in meaningful ways...helping talented students from across the globe see themselves at Bates.”

Neason Wallace holds a master of education from Harvard University and a bachelor of arts from Washington University in St. Louis.