Michael Bedell, Ph.D.

Dean of the College of Business & Technology

Northeastern Illinois University

Dr. Michael Bedell is the Dean of the College of Business and Technology strategic business unit at Northeastern Illinois University. The College houses approximately a thousand diverse students majoring in business and computer science. Dr. Bedell is also the owner of a small HR consulting firm. Dr. Bedell is an active advisory board member for several companies in the educational technology industry vertical. He also participates on several civic boards/non-profit boards including the Illinois CPA Society Diversity Council and the Petersen Pulaski Business and Industrial Council (Chicago LIRI).

Dr. Bedell brings specialized human resource and DEIB expertise provides a unique focus to develop and implement a strategic vision for the human capital needs of the future. Complimentary strategic expertise focuses on the fields of change management, information systems, branding, and operations management.

Prior to joining NEIU, Dr. Bedell was a Professor of Management and M.B.A. Program Director at California State University Bakersfield. Dr. Bedell’s research interests include teams, training, HR information systems, and entrepreneurial HR. Dr. Bedell’s participation on the PeopleSoft Academic Advisory board provided his students with the opportunity to be some of the first students to use a modern ERP-class HR Information System in the college classroom. Dr. Bedell also served for a decade as part of the board of directors for the Kern County Chapter of SHRM.

Dr. Bedell enjoys a challenge and has consistently identified ways to develop new operational capabilities in situations where resources are few. Recent accomplishments include successful initial and subsequent maintenance of AACSB accreditation of the NEIU College of Business and Technology. Dr. Bedell’s newest challenges include ABET accreditation for the computer science programs in the College; and the post-pandemic relaunch of the CBT Business, Innovation, and Growth center, which expands the educational reach of the College to provide students, faculty, and community members with business incubation, acceleration, and commercial product development assistance within three of the most diverse Chicago neighborhoods (Albany Park, Bronzeville, and Avondale).

Dr. Bedell’s Ph.D. from Indiana University provides foundation expertise in Human Resource Management, Operations Management, and Statistics. His M.B.A. and Baccalaureate degrees are from the University of Kansas. Dr. Bedell has also worked for a billion dollar retailer (Payless ShoeSource/Collective Brands) in their corporate organizational development group where he focused on strategic HR processes and HR Information Systems. He also worked for a mid-sized bank focused on improving processes and service quality. In his spare time, plays trumpet and piano, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, swimming, family barbeques, and home improvement projects.