W. Steven Peterson currently serves as the Executive Director of Retention and Student Success in Enrollment Management at Howard University. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, he is a dedicated leader in admissions, recruitment, marketing, retention, and student success. Peterson joined Howard University in 2015 as a Data Retention Analyst in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, where he played a pivotal role in enhancing retention, graduation rates, and overall student success. In 2016, he was appointed Associate Director in the Office of Admission, overseeing undergraduate application review, recruitment efforts, and admission processing. His leadership contributed to a record-breaking 30,000 undergraduate applications and helped drive a historic increase in undergraduate enrollment. These efforts resulted in the largest freshman classes in Howard's history in Fall 2021 and Fall 2023.
Beyond his contributions to student success, Peterson is a committed advocate for Howard University staff. He currently serves as Vice President of the Howard University Staff Organization, focusing on initiatives that enhance the employee experience. In 2019, he was invited to join the President's “Howard Forward” leadership group and was honored with the Provost's Distinguished Service Award for his exceptional service. Before joining Howard University, Peterson held several leadership roles at Central State University, including Admission Processing Center Coordinator, Associate Director of Admission, and Interim Director of Admission. During his tenure, he led initiatives to reimagine the admissions office and successfully established in-state tuition reciprocity agreements with Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
Peterson's expertise and leadership extend beyond his institutions. He has served on AACRAO's Black Caucus and participated in the White House's “Reach Higher” initiative in 2019, which supports high school students in transitioning to college. His dedication to student success and institutional excellence has earned him numerous awards recognizing his impact in the field of higher education.