Richard Shaw, dean of admissions and financial aid at Yale University will replace Robin Mamlet as Stanford’s new dean of admissions and financial aid effective Sept. 1, 2005.

Mamlet, who came to Stanford from Swarthmore College five years ago, announced her decision to leave in September and departed campus on June 1 to spend more time with her family. She remained active at her post throughout the 2004-2005 academic year.

“Shaw has extensive experience in admissions and financial aid at several public and private institutions,” said John Bravman, vice provost for undergraduate education and co-chair of committee charged with finding a replacement. “He has established an excellent record of success, and has all of the personal qualities we seek in one of Stanford’s most visible representatives.”

Shaw told The Stanford Report that he has been respectfully aware of Stanford’s exceptional educational opportunities for his entire career.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the community, especially the admission and financial aid staff, and excited to work with faculty, staff and students to develop outreach and admissions programs,” he said. “Identifying and selecting the Stanford incoming class is one of the best opportunities in the country, and I look forward to the challenge.”

Shaw, who boasts 33 years of experience in undergraduate admissions, arrives during a period of steady growth in the number of students applying to Stanford. For the first time in the University’s history, the total number of applications for the class of 2009 rose above 20,000. Accordingly, the admit rate was lower than ever, with just under 12 percent of the 12,194 applicants admitted.

According to Provost John Etchemendy, who was also involved in the search for a new dean, Shaw’s experience at other top universities distinguished him from other candidates for the position.

“Rick Shaw offers proven experience in several areas of vital importance to Stanford, including creating a diverse student body,” he said. “He also knows the challenges involved in selective admissions, in making the case for the liberal arts and for ensuring that higher education is accessible to everyone.”

Shaw has led Yale’s undergraduate admissions and financial aid office since 1993. Beforehand, he was appointed director of admissions at the University of Michigan from 1988 to 1993, and associate director of admissions and records at UC-Berkeley from 1983-1988.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in college student personnel, guidance and counseling from the School of Education at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he is a member of a number of national admissions groups, including the College Board and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

According to Bravman, Shaw will be responsible a host of duties as dean.

“Shaw will hold full responsibility for all freshman and transfer admissions, financial aid decisions and for recruiting and yielding each new class of students,” he said. “He will supervise the staffs of Admissions, Financial Aid and Visitor Information Services and will serve on the University Cabinet. This is all quite similar to his post at Yale.”