Ringling College of Art and Design is pleased to announce that Dr. John A. Chopka has joined the College as Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. Dr. Chopka began his new role last month and hit the ground running, getting to know members from the Admissions, Design Center, Financial Aid, and Marketing and Communications departments he oversees, and the many others that he will be working closely with.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Chopka to the Ringling College creative community,” said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design.
“John brings to this role more than three decades of admissions experience and a remarkable track record in building enrollment strategies centered on student success, access, and institutional values. His thoughtful, holistic, and data-informed approach to enrollment management will be vital as we advance our vision of becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world.”
Dr. Chopka will oversee Ringling College’s comprehensive enrollment and marketing operations and collaborate across departments to support the full student lifecycle—starting with their first contact with the College. His approach prioritizes retention and student satisfaction, leading to notable success at Messiah University, including first-to-second-year retention rates of 85–88% and five-year graduation rates of 77–79%.
As a first-generation college student from West Virginia and Ohio, Chopka is an unwitting scholar and administrator whose life has been dramatically transformed through higher education. His story is one of overcoming cultural barriers to higher education to ultimately become an impassioned champion.
A passionate advocate for inclusion and belonging, he led strategic efforts at Messiah University that more than tripled the enrollment of students of color and expanded international student recruitment through teams focused on cultural intelligence and global outreach.
His deep belief in the power of education, along with his strategic vision, collaborative nature, and data-driven leadership, will strengthen Ringling’s ongoing commitment to building a diverse and thriving student body.
Chopka and his wife, Debbie, recently relocated to Nokomis and are eager to immerse themselves in the Sarasota region’s rich arts and cultural landscape. This year has been particularly joyful for the Chopka family, as both of their adult children were married in 2025. He is also an avid hiker who has backpacked in many of the U.S. national parks. In their free time, they look forward to exploring Southwest Florida’s many parks and beaches.
“I want to extend my deepest thanks to our faculty, staff, and the dedicated members of the search committee who worked diligently with our search partners at NES to bring this search to a successful conclusion,” added Dr. Thompson. The committee members supporting the search chair included Jeff Bleitz, Ashley Burt, Christina Hess, Tiffany Holmes, Alejandra Lance-Henterly, Darren Mathews, Martin Murphy, Seongwoo Nam, Jennifer Price, Sara Robinson, Dr. Tracy A. Wagner, Jon Walsh, and Dr. Tammy S. Walsh.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. John Chopka to Ringling College of Art and Design.
Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008
