President Ross Allen

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President Ross Allen Sixth President of Bethel University | Husband, Father, Grandfather, & Deeply Committed Christ-Follower | Bethel ’84 | Royal at Heart

I’m proud and honored to serve as the sixth president of Bethel University and the first alumnus turned president in Bethel's 150-year history. I'm passionate about working to live like Jesus every day and helping to develop whole leaders who own their faith, step into the world with boldness and confidence, and act with integrity as they answer God’s call to do and be more. I’m a Royal through and through. I attended Bethel as an undergraduate student, ran track and cross country, met my wife, Annie, and graduated with a Business Administration degree in 1984. Annie and I love spending time with our four adult children and seven grandchildren. In my free time, I also enjoy running, cycling, and spending time outdoors. I care deeply about faith-based social impact and am proud to serve on the Board of Overseers for Converge Worldwide as well as the Minnesota Private College Council Board of Directors. As president, I also have the great honor of representing Bethel University as a member of The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities as well as one of 13 Christian College Consortium member institutions serving more than 25,000 undergraduate and 7,500 graduate students across the country in the mission to serve the cause of Christ in the world of higher education. I’m honored to bring my business experience to Bethel and Christian higher education, especially when higher education is under such challenge and transformation. I’ve enjoyed a wonderfully rewarding career, including two decades at a great company where I specifically focused on helping organizations of varied sizes and complexities transform and maximize their results and mission.

50 years of business education at Bethel University! What a meaningful milestone and legacy to celebrate.For five decade...
10/23/2026

50 years of business education at Bethel University! What a meaningful milestone and legacy to celebrate.

For five decades, Bethel has prepared students not only with the knowledge and skills to succeed in business, but with a foundation of faith, integrity, and a commitment to serving others. That is what makes a Bethel education distinct. We want our graduates to be thoughtful leaders who see their work as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.

During Homecoming, I enjoyed connecting with alumni, faculty, and friends as we celebrated this milestone. I'm especially grateful for the faculty who have invested in generations of students and for the many graduates who continue to live out Bethel's mission in their workplaces and communities.

As we celebrate these first 50 years, I'm excited for what lies ahead for Bethel's School of Business and the students who will carry this legacy forward.

It's hard to believe it's already been a week since Bethel's Homecoming and Family Weekend!From the energy and excitemen...
10/16/2026

It's hard to believe it's already been a week since Bethel's Homecoming and Family Weekend!

From the energy and excitement of our students at the Homecoming Banquet, to reconnecting with alumni at reunions, cheering on the Royals, and welcoming families to campus, it was a wonderful weekend celebrating the Bethel community.

As an alum myself, one of the things I appreciate most is seeing how the relationships formed here continue long after graduation. Watching generations of Royals come together, reconnect with old friends, make new memories, and celebrate what Bethel means to them is a joy.

It's been a fun week of Homecoming at Bethel University so far! I've enjoyed watching our residence halls compete for th...
10/09/2026

It's been a fun week of Homecoming at Bethel University so far! I've enjoyed watching our residence halls compete for the Royal Cup.

The creativity and energy our students bring to these events is impressive, and the competition is certainly entertaining. But what I especially enjoy is seeing students come together as a community. It's particularly fun to watch our first-year students, most of whom have known each other for just a few weeks, work together and cheer each other on.

These are the kinds of experiences that make campus life at Bethel so special. I'm grateful for our students and the enthusiasm they bring to this community, and I'm looking forward to welcoming alumni and families to campus as the Homecoming celebrations continue this weekend!

For the second year in a row, Bethel has welcomed the largest incoming undergraduate class in our history, 1,179 student...
10/07/2026

For the second year in a row, Bethel has welcomed the largest incoming undergraduate class in our history, 1,179 students. What an encouraging way to begin the year!

I’m grateful for each student God has brought to Bethel, for the trust of our students and families, and for our faculty and staff whose commitment to our students and our mission makes this possible.

There is so much to celebrate, and I’m excited for what God will continue to do at Bethel.

Discover a top Christian university in Minnesota, offering undergraduate and graduate programs with affordable tuition and strong career preparation.

09/17/2026

The world our students are preparing to enter is changing quickly. AI is reshaping the workplace, entry-level opportunities are shifting, and families are asking important questions about the value of a college education.

At Bethel, we take those questions seriously. Our Career Commitment is one way we are responding, helping students connect their education with meaningful experiences, relationships, and career preparation throughout their time at Bethel.

We want our students to leave Bethel prepared for meaningful work and equipped to lead lives of impact, whatever changes the years ahead may bring.

We’re well into our first week of classes, but I’m still reflecting on what a meaningful Welcome Week we shared at Bethe...
09/03/2026

We’re well into our first week of classes, but I’m still reflecting on what a meaningful Welcome Week we shared at Bethel. A few highlights included move-in day, our Academic Connection session, and the Koinonia worship service.
I’m grateful for all who played a role in welcoming our newest students and their families so warmly. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for the year ahead.

A look back at some of the preparation that happened before Welcome Week.Before move-in began, Annie and I had the oppor...
08/28/2026

A look back at some of the preparation that happened before Welcome Week.

Before move-in began, Annie and I had the opportunity to spend time with some of the student leaders who would soon be welcoming our newest students to Bethel. I’m grateful for their energy, enthusiasm, and heart for community.

I was especially encouraged by those who gathered for a prayer walk across campus, praying for our incoming students and the year ahead. What a meaningful way to prepare for all that God will do at and through Bethel.

What a wonderful kickoff to the year! There is so much to celebrate at Bethel: tremendous enrollment growth, a strengthe...
08/26/2026

What a wonderful kickoff to the year! There is so much to celebrate at Bethel: tremendous enrollment growth, a strengthening financial position, encouraging employee engagement, and most importantly, powerful evidence of God at work in the lives of our students.
Earlier this week, we met for our university-wide fall kickoff, which featured sessions led by campus leaders so staff and faculty could explore our Strategic Plan together. Leaders from across campus focused on five key areas as we seek God’s wisdom and direction for the next five years.
There is much to be grateful for, and I look forward with anticipation to what God has ahead for Bethel.

For 170 years, God has faithfully used Converge to plant churches, equip leaders, and advance the gospel around the worl...
07/17/2026

For 170 years, God has faithfully used Converge to plant churches, equip leaders, and advance the gospel around the world. Bethel has been grateful to partner in that mission for more than 150 of those years.

While I wasn't able to attend Converge Together 2026, I was thankful members of the Bethel team could join more than 1,500 ministry leaders to celebrate God's faithfulness and the ways He continues to transform lives through His Church, at Bethel and around the world.

I'm grateful for our longstanding partnership with Converge and look forward with hope and anticipation to all God will continue to do.

Better Together.

Earlier this spring, Will Courneya was named as Bethel’s recipient of the Vechery Scholarship. This award recognizes stu...
06/23/2026

Earlier this spring, Will Courneya was named as Bethel’s recipient of the Vechery Scholarship. This award recognizes students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, character, and financial need as they complete their education at a Christian college. Congratulations, Will! We’re grateful for the impact you’ve made at Bethel and excited to see what God has ahead for you!

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3900 Bethel Drive
Saint Paul, MN
55112

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