John L. Hoffman

John L. Hoffman serves as the president of Bemidji State University (BSU) in Minnesota and Northwest Technical College (NTC), Bemidji’s technical college. These two institutions are joined in a unique shared service alignment designed to serve the higher educational needs of northern Minnesota and its three largest Indigenous nations. Following significant declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, BSU and NTC have experienced growth in enrollment, improvements in student persistence rates, and decreases in equity gaps under Hoffman’s leadership. Among other accomplishments, Hoffman has diversified his executive cabinet, enhanced alumni and community engagement, and significantly increased fundraising.

Hoffman previously served in a variety of academic and student affairs roles. Signature accomplishments included implementing multifaceted student success programs credited with increasing student retention and graduation rates, reducing first-year retention rate disparities between Black, Indigenous, and people of color and white students, and diversifying faculty and student affairs personnel. He holds bachelor’s degrees from Concordia University, Nebraska and graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota.