Dr. John Hoffman became president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College in July 2022.  senior vice chancellor in 2021. His responsibilities have spanned all of academics, student affairs and enrollment management.

Signature accomplishments have included implementing multi-faceted student success programs credited with increasing student success and retention rates, reducing the first-year retention rate disparities between Black and Indigenous students, students of color and their white counterparts, and increasing performance on two-thirds of core learning outcomes for all first-year students. This past year, he co-authored the University of Minnesota system-wide strategic enrollment management plan.

Previously, he held faculty and a variety of administrative positions within the California State University between 2004 and 2018 including chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and director of the Doctor of Educational Leadership Program. Over 10 years at Cal State Fullerton, he earned tenure and advancement to full professor, and his leadership contributed to significant diversification of the faculty, significant enrollment growth including increases in the racial and ethnic diversity of students and enhanced graduation rates with no measurable achievement gaps by race or gender.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Nebraska and a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.