Few things are as inspiring as a university campus in September.

The walkways buzz with voices. First-year students search for their classrooms. Seasoned graduate students reconnect with friends they haven’t seen since spring.

Nervousness mixes with hope, and a tangible energy fills the air as the next generation of leaders in every field take their first steps into the future.

This annual ritual of arrival reminds us of what a university is all about. As students flow through the hallways, they are its bloodstream. Their aspirations are its beating heart.

There are challenges facing Memorial University just as there are challenges facing universities across Canada. A reduction in international study permits and a decrease in Newfoundland and Labrador’s school-age population are causes for concern.

But by appointing Andrew Kim as the university’s new lead in enrolment innovation, Memorial has made one thing clear: the future will be focused on students.

Mr. Kim earned both his bachelor of science degree and his MBA from Memorial.

He began working at the university in student services where he saw first-hand the complexities of student life.

Every conversation, whether about housing, finances or academics, reminded him that success in the classroom depends on support outside of it. Those early years gave him an understanding of what students need in order to feel a sense of belonging and what the university must do to provide it.

From there, he moved into leadership roles that required balancing policy with people.
Mr. Kim became known for his ability to listen, to take a broad challenge and distill it into workable solutions. He helped streamline services, making it easier for students to navigate university bureaucracy. And he built bridges between departments, ensuring that enrolment, advising and student support worked together towards their common goals.

 

Andrew Kim was appointed university lead in enrolment innovation at Memorial in September 2025. Photo from Memorial University Archives.

 

These efforts became especially visible during times of transition. Whether responding to shifts in demographics, changes in funding or the pressures of global events, Mr. Kim worked with colleagues to keep students at the centre of decision making.

Now, as lead for enrolment innovation, he steps into a role that comes at a pivotal moment.

Like universities across the country, Memorial faces an era of change. Student expectations are evolving. Competition for enrolment is fierce. Technology is reshaping how students learn and plan their futures. The stakes are high, but so are the possibilities.

Mr. Kim’s vision draws from both his experience and his optimism. He sees enrolment not just as recruitment, but as the full arc of a student’s time at Memorial.

From the excitement of orientation to the pride of convocation, every step matters. His approach is practical, but it is also rooted in the belief that Memorial thrives when its students do.

Colleagues describe him as a steady hand and a collaborative voice. Students remember him as approachable and as someone who takes their concerns seriously while doing everything he can to help. And the university recognizes him as a leader capable of guiding Memorial through the challenges of the present while building toward the future.

He received the Memorial University President’s Award for Exemplary Service in 2012.

And in 2025, as Memorial’s director of graduate enrolment services, Mr. Kim was recognized by the Association for Graduate Enrolment Management with its Distinguished Service Award.

What sets him apart is his ability to connect the big picture with the everyday. He understands that enrolment isn’t just about institutional goals — it’s about individual lives. It’s about the student who almost gives up before finishing an application or the international student who needs one more piece of guidance to feel at home.

For Mr. Kim, success is measured on a human scale.

As Memorial faces a future defined by demographic shifts, financial pressures, and the demand for new approaches to teaching and learning, Mr. Kim’s experience matters more than ever. He knows the terrain because he has been navigating it for years. Now, with a mandate to lead, he’s positioned to help the university not only respond to change but stay ahead of it.

“Enrolment isn’t just about filling seats,” he has said. “It’s about creating the conditions where students can thrive.” That philosophy — practical, forward-looking, and deeply student-centred — has guided his career and will shape Memorial’s next chapter.