Natara Gray Joins ENC as Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Diversity Outreach

Eastern Nazarene College is excited to announce that Natara Gray will be joining the college as Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Diversity Outreach starting on September 10, 2020. Natara comes to ENC with over 10 years of Admissions/Student Affairs experience within higher education. Her life’s work is to provide educational access and opportunities to youth. Passion and dedication for supporting and empowering students, along with her deep commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Christ, is what brought her to ENC. Natara captures these commitments, stating, “Often, one simply needs to know that you believe in them, so that they may have the courage to believe in themselves. I cannot wait to be a part of the journey our students will embark upon at ENC! I am both excited and thankful for the opportunity to join such an amazing team.”

Prior to ENC, Natara served as the Associate Director for Student Diversity, Inclusion and Undergraduate Admission at Babson College. Natara led Babson’s undergraduate diversity admission and recruitment initiatives with particular focus on cultivating a diverse and inclusive student body. She worked to establish and foster internal and external community partnerships while serving as an ambassador of the institution, managing the recruitment process for 18 territories. She sat on multiple scholarship committees, facilitated an MOU for a New York based CBO, increased applications and enrollment in her territories, and managed Babson’s overnight fly-in program. Natara was also responsible for the diversity training of all admission staff and is a certified implicit bias and bystander intervention facilitator.

Gray also served as the Assistant Director for Student Diversity and Inclusion at Harvard Kennedy School, where she worked to create a more inclusive environment, and grow enrollment at HKS. She was an ambassador of the institution and a vital member of admissions, financial aid, and the HKS diversity committee. Natara also managed the Public Policy Leadership Conference, a program dedicated to underrepresented and underserved first and second year undergraduate students.

“We cannot wait to welcome Natara to the ENC community and the traditional admissions staff. Her desire and demonstrated ability to build relationships will be critical to the success of the admissions team and play a central role in extending partnerships with alumni, churches, and schools in New England. The experiences and abilities that Natara brings to ENC are obvious, but it is her faith and love for students that will be a joy to see integrated as she leads the recruiting efforts of the college,” notes Dr. Brad Zarges, Vice President of Enrollment.

Natara received her BA in Communication Studies from Bridgewater State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration. She is also a certified Zumba instructor. When she isn’t recruiting, supporting, or advocating for students, she is probably spending time with her family, instructing a Zumba class, or singing on her praise and worship team. Natara states, “It is not every day that you are able to bring your professional aspirations and your spiritual life, authentically, to your place of work. I consider myself blessed to have the opportunity to do that at ENC. It is important for me to acknowledge that I am not alone on this journey. I would not be where I am without Faith, and the love and support of my husband and children. I would not be who I am without God, my parents, my brothers, and the many family members who helped pave the way.” Proverbs 3: 5,6.