March 27, 2026
Hampden-Sydney College is excited to announce the successful conclusion of its search for two key leadership roles. Dr. Ashley Nickell has been hired as the new director of financial aid, and Doug Brady has been hired as the new dean of admission.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have exceptionally strong candidate pools for both roles and frankly would have been in great shape with any of our finalists,” says Vice President of Enrollment Chrystal Russell. “This search required thoughtful consideration and careful assessment by the search committee and our enrollment team and speaks to how exceptional the candidates we ultimately chose are.”
Dr. Nickell is a graduate of the University of Missouri, receiving a Doctor of Education in higher education student services, a Master of Education in adult and higher education, and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. She brings a wealth of experience to her new role, currently serving as director of financial aid at Randolph College. Nickell has also worked in associated roles at Logan University and Brown Mackie College. She describes herself as a lifelong learner who excels at critical thinking and collaboration.
Brady graduated from Radford University with a Master of Fine Arts in design thinking and a Bachelor of Science in sports management. He brings extensive experience in the fields of marketing and higher education admissions, including his current role as senior client strategist at Spark451. Brady possesses a strong track record of leadership, previously serving as director of admissions at both Francis Marion University and St. Bonaventure University, also serving in associated roles at Radford University and Old Dominion University. He champions strong interpersonal communication and has a passion for building meaningful relationships with students.
Both Nickell and Brady will begin their new roles in April, providing three weeks of overlap in the director of financial aid position with the departing Zita Barree, who will retire on April 21 after many years of service to the College.
“There is no replacing Zita or the impact that she’s had on our work over the last 16 years, but I am confident in our continued success,” says Russell. “The foundation she built allows for a smooth transition to the next generation of leadership.”
The search committee and enrollment team are pleased to welcome Nickell and Brady and are eager to expand on the department’s successes and continued mission of serving students and the College community.