Kevin J. Stensberg, Ed.D., will join the Bemidji State University and NTC campus communities as interim senior student affairs officer and dean of students.
Stensberg, who uses he/him pronouns, brings more than two decades of experience to the appointment, with multiple leadership roles held at campuses in the U.S., Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
“Kevin is an exceptional student affairs professional with a deep range of experiences on campuses around the world,” BSU and NTC President John L. Hoffman said. “He has a keen understanding of current student success and DEI issues in higher education and he has a proven track record of holistically supporting students. He will be a thoughtful, visible leader for our campuses and a significant addition to our executive cabinet. I cannot wait for the opportunity to work for him.”
At BSU and NTC, Stensberg will provide leadership for campus life and community standards, which includes housing & residential life, dining services, the Hobson Memorial Union, student conduct and crisis response, among other responsibilities. He also will oversee professional educators working in the Gillett Wellness Center and the Student Center for Health and Counseling. In addition, Stensberg will serve as the executive cabinet’s liaison with the BSU and NTC Student Senates and will lead the BSU President’s Student Commission.
Stensberg said he is “deeply honored” to be selected for this position.
“As a first-generation college student from Wisconsin who embarked on my academic journey at my local technical college and subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree within the state system, this position holds profound personal and professional significance,” he said. “The campus culture, the determination of the BSU and NTC students I encountered during the interview process, and the dynamic forward-thinking energy of the leadership team have invigorated me for the challenging and rewarding work ahead.”
Stensberg’s most recent experience has been at The George Washington University, where he has served as assistant vice provost for student support and residential engagement. In that role, he held responsibilities that closely mirror the portfolio of services he will manage at BSU and NTC including oversight of military and veteran services, health promotion and education, first-generation student services, the university’s CARE Team — which helps connect students who may need additional support with resources they need to be successful — the campus food pantry and the university’s Residential Education operations.
Prior to his tenure at George Washington, Stensberg was assistant vice president for student living and Title IX investigator at Syracuse University; manager of student life and academic review manager at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia; site director for Northeastern University campuses in London and Thessaloniki, Greece; and assistant executive dean for the Semester at Sea program. Additionally, he has served as dean of students at the Beijing Center for Chinese Studies in Beijing, China; as assistant director of residence life at Georgetown University; assistant director of residential education at Montclair State University; and area director for residential properties at Rutgers University–Newark.
Stensberg has bachelor’s degree in service management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, a master’s degree in higher education leadership from the University of Central Missouri and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Northeastern University. He also holds a certificate in international business management from Georgetown.
Stensberg’s appointment begins September 3.
CONTACT
Office of the President — (218) 755-2011, president@bemidjistate.edu