Beth Bristol

Beth J. Bristol, PhD, serves as the Assistant Provost for Graduate Affairs at Boston University. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs, Beth supports all aspects of university-wide graduate education policy, academic program development and review, graduate fellowships, and student support coordination. She works to strengthen alignment across graduate academic units on both the Charles River and Medical Campuses, fostering collaboration among faculty, university leadership, and staff. Her role includes supervising policy, compliance, and fellowship teams to ensure cohesive and effective graduate affairs initiatives.

Before joining Boston University, Beth served as Associate Dean at Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, where she oversaw academic operations and student services for a diverse portfolio of graduate programs. During her tenure, she led cross-functional teams in academic advising, career services, student life, and experiential learning, while championing initiatives in shared governance, accreditation, and new program development. Beth’s leadership extended to implementing curricular innovations, advancing technology transformation projects, and leveraging data-driven insights to enhance institutional effectiveness and the graduate school’s growth.

Beth earned a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where her dissertation focused on aligning specialized master’s programs with institutional missions and market demands, showcasing their potential to foster organizational learning and innovation. With over 23 years of higher education experience, Beth is deeply committed to advancing graduate education through innovative leadership, fostering a vibrant academic community, and ensuring that graduate programs deliver transformative and enduring impact.