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BEMIDJI 鈥� Bemidji State University recently named Marah Jacobson as its next provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Jacobson currently serves as the associate provost for academic and student affairs and Title IX coordinator at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. BSU and Northwest Technical College President John Hoffman said he selected Jacobson for the position based on her wealth of experience as a student-centered institutional leader.

鈥淒r. Jacobson is an outstanding academic leader with a proven track record of shaping institutions that truly serve their students,鈥� Hoffman said in a release. 鈥淪he brings a deep understanding of higher education鈥檚 evolving landscape and the ability to turn vision into action. Her leadership has strengthened academic programs, expanded student opportunities and fostered innovative solutions to complex challenges.鈥�

Jacobson said she is honored to join the BSU campus as well as the Bemidji community.

鈥淚t was immediately obvious to me that BSU is a distinct place with many special people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get up there and start working on our strategic priorities, identifying and addressing challenges and capitalizing on our opportunities. This is an amazing opportunity for me to lead and give back to the Minnesota State system, where I completed my education.鈥�

Jacobson holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in community psychology and master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees in higher education administration, all from St. Cloud State University.

In her associate provost role at Augsburg, Jacobson has served as senior advisor to the provost and vice president of academic and student affairs.

She is responsible for operational and administrative processes in Academic and Student Affairs, serves as Augsburg鈥檚 Title IX coordinator, oversees the college鈥檚 Registrar鈥檚 Office and Career Services, and is the Provost鈥檚 Office liaison with the university鈥檚 Office of Planning and Effectiveness, Human Resources, Chief Financial Officer, Information Technology, Enrollment Management, Grants and Sponsored Programs and all academic programs.

In addition, she has helped oversee approximately $20 million in the university鈥檚 academic affairs budget and served as primary administrative liaison to Augsburg鈥檚 union of adjunct faculty members.

Paula O鈥橪oughlin, Augsburg's provost and senior vice president, said Jacobson has been a valued and trusted leader.

鈥淢arah is well-known for her tenacity, creativity, commitment to inclusion and deep belief in the gifts of our students,鈥� O鈥橪oughlin said. 鈥淚n addition to her significant responsibilities within academic and student affairs, Marah has been a key leader on major university-wide initiatives over the past several years, from the pandemic to a new general education curriculum to co-leading our successful reaffirmation of accreditation in 2024.

鈥淲e are excited to see how a sister school in Minnesota will benefit from her leadership.鈥�

Prior to her tenure at Augsburg, Jacobson oversaw Title III grant compliance at Inver Hills Community College and served in several roles at Russel Sage College and Sage College of Albany in New York and at the College of St. Benedict and St. John鈥檚 University in Minnesota.

As provost, Jacobson will serve as BSU鈥檚 senior academic affairs officer, establishing and administering academic budgets, policies and priorities and overseeing curriculum and student research.

She also will oversee several academic support units including grants administration, the Center for Professional Development, the A.C. Clark Library, and BSU鈥檚 honors, general education and McNair Scholars programs.

Through BSU鈥檚 administrative alignment with NTC, Jacobson will collaborate with NTC鈥檚 executive vice president and senior academic affairs officer to enhance and expand the collaborative relationship between the two institutions particularly in the development of academic and educational programs that serve northern Minnesota鈥檚 industries, workforces and economies.

Jacobson will succeed Jeff Ueland, who has served BSU as interim provost since September 2024. Her appointment begins on Monday, April 7.