John L. Hoffman

2022-Present

John L. Hoffman headshotDr. John L. Hoffman became president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College on July 1, 2022.

Dr. Hoffman has served as the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University of Minnesota Crookston since 2018, and he also assumed duties as acting 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, and students of color and their white counterparts and increasing performance on two-thirds of core learning outcomes for all students during their first year of college. Other accomplishments include overhauling enrollment management functions which, pre-COVID, increased new student enrollment, increased yield, reduced summer melt and increased proportions of students of color, low-income students and first-generation students.

This past year, he co-authored the University of Minnesota system-wide strategic enrollment management plan. He also led UMN Crookston aspects of system-wide plans addressing COVID-19 response and related educational initiatives.

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.

Prior appointments include service as dean of students at Concordia University, Irvine from 1998 to 2004, multiple student affairs roles at Concordia University, St. Paul from 1995 to 1998 and a year of service as a major gifts officer at Concordia University, Nebraska from 1994 to 1995. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Nebraska and a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Hoffman is the husband of Dr. Joy Hoffman and the proud stepparent of Hanna and CJ. He enjoys daily walks with his dog, occasional home improvement projects, listening to music, and the annual hope and heartbreak of being a Minnesota Vikings fan.