Evangel adds retention office, director

The new office is part of Evangel’s Division of Enrollment Management. Evangel has a higher retention rate than the approximately 50 percent of students nationally who start and finish college degrees, according to spokesman Paul Logsdon, though the school is still determining its exact rate.

Despite its higher-than-average rate, the school wants to help students overcome obstacles that could derail them, such as finances, career options or conflicts with roommates, according to a news release.

Spain, who began Sept. 24, is responsible for developing a comprehensive retention plan, assessing needs of incoming students, developing a strategy to identify and work with students who are at risk of dropping out, and conducting student and graduate surveys.

Spain previously was incentive manager at the T-Mobile customer service center in Springfield. Before that, she was work force and business development manager at Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Spain is an Evangel graduate; she has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.

Evangel’s enrollment is about 2,000 students.