Robert Bedford appointed RU's director of Student Involvement

Robert E. Bedford has been named Radford University's director of Student Involvement.

The position is one of two new director jobs created by the university to foster its increasing student involvement.

Barry Miller, who most recently served as the director of the Peninsula High Education Center at Old Dominion University, fills the second new position as RU's director of the Department of Recreation and Wellness.

"Our involvement numbers with students have been increasing over the past 5-10 years," said Kenneth Bonk, associate vice president for student affairs/activities. "There's more of a focus on the out-of-the-classroom experience. So, we were looking for that mid-management level position in which to enhance what the department is already offering. We asked: what else can we do to help partner with academics in providing a true student-centered experience for the RU community?"

As director of Student Involvement, Bedford will provide vision, oversight and management of campus co-curricular events and activities and identify and facilitate opportunities to increase student engagement in campus life, among other responsibilities.

Bedford, who recently served as assistant dean of students at Northeastern Illinois University, has more than 25 years of higher education experience, including positions in multicultural student affairs and enhancement, academic counseling and student development and activities.

Having worked with students at multiple academic levels, Bedford said he is excited to again interact regularly with students.

"This position encompasses a lot of the things I'm most passionate about, and my No. 1 passion is student leadership development," Bedford said. "I like to be with students. I like to have daily interaction. I like students to know my door is open."

Bedford said he is looking forward to working with the assistant directors to stretch the impact campus events and involvement has on students.

"I think creating an experience through events is critical to how students look at their student satisfaction on any college campus," Bedford said. "If you have a good experience, it stays with you. I want to assist through my staff with a lot of 'I remember when' experiences."

Bedford earned a B.S. in education in 1982 and an M.S.E. in guidance in 1984, both from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.