Dr. Allen J. Bedford

Dr. Allen J. Bedford is an academic leader with three decades of experience in higher education, serving most recently as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bemidji State University (June 2019 – November 2024). He is currently engaged as a consultant for a large midwestern comprehensive university, assisting with academic portfolio analysis.

During his tenure at Bemidji, he implemented strategic enrollment and student success initiatives that led to a 25% increase in new student enrollment (FY2022 to FY2025) and a 33% increase in online student enrollment from FY2020 to FY2025. Through focused and innovative efforts to improve support and programs for transfer students, transfer student persistence rates increased from 73% (previous five-cohort average) to 80% (fall 2022 and fall 2023 cohort average). To improve operational and financial outcomes, he led a comprehensive reorganization of academic units that increased instructional net income by $2.9MM (FY2023 to FY2025) and improved multi-disciplinary collaboration. He championed institutional adaptations to better welcome American Indian students, leading to an increase in Native American student enrollment (from 5.6% of the student body in FY2020 to 8.7% in FY2025). He had a leading role in securing $2.5MM of external funding for student support, institutional advancement, and program development.

Prior to Bemidji, Bedford served in a series of progressively responsible academic leadership roles over 24 years at Bryn Athyn College, including as Chief Academic Officer (2010–2017). He led in developing and executing an enrollment and financial turnaround plan that increased enrollment by 43% while increasing direct instructional expense by 7% (FY2011 to FY2016). His tenure also saw marked gains in BIPOC student representation from 13% to 32% (FY2011 to FY2017) and BIPOC student graduation rate (67%) that outperformed the rate for students overall (50%). As science division chair, he contributed to the design of a $24MM LEED Gold-certified science facility.

Bedford has served as a peer reviewer for institutional accreditors and participated in and contributed to national academic leadership development programs. He is active in professional and civic organizations, including participating in the Education Advisory Board’s Research Advisory Council and serving on the boards of a Regional Development Commission and a local chapter of Audubon Society.

A chemist by training, Bedford holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Chemistry from Temple University and a B.A. in English and Science Interdisciplinary Studies from Bryn Athyn College.