Student Affairs
Executive Leadership
Dr. James S. Bridgeforth
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Keathley University Center, Room 212
Email: James.Bridgeforth@mtsu.edu
Dr. James S. Bridgeforth joined Middle Tennessee State University in July 2026 as the Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students. In this role, Dr. Bridgeforth leads the Division of Student Affairs in its commitment to creating a vibrant and supportive campus environment that empowers every student to follow their unique path. As a first-generation college student who grew up in southern rural Virginia, he knows firsthand that the college experience can transform a person’s life in ways they may never have imagined — opening doors to opportunities and a better quality of life. At MTSU, that purpose drives his work: partnering with students on their journey, helping them achieve their dreams, and delivering on the True Blue commitment to every student’s success.
Prior to joining MTSU, Dr. Bridgeforth served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Virginia Tech, where he was the inaugural leader of ExperienceVT, a Student Affairs initiative guiding students in understanding and practicing the Aspirations for Student Learning through engagement and reflection. During his tenure at Virginia Tech, he supervised the Cranwell International Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Engagement & Campus Life, the Office of Living-Learning Programs, and VT Engage: The Center for Leadership and Service Learning. He also served as interim Assistant Vice President for Housing, Dining and Student Centers, providing leadership for more than 2,500 faculty, staff, wage, and student employees. He additionally served as Senior Advisor to the Undergraduate Student Senate, where he and his team transformed the undergraduate student government experience to focus on servant leadership and experiential learning for all students.
Before Virginia Tech, Dr. Bridgeforth served as Director of University Housing at the University of South Alabama, where he also served as a Graduate Faculty Instructor in the Higher Education Administration program with research focused on racism and equality in American post-secondary education. He brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, spanning public universities, private colleges, religiously affiliated institutions, HBCUs, and land-grant universities. He has extensive experience working with college students and collaborating with both academics and student affairs to champion the student experience.
Dr. Bridgeforth completed the Harvard University Institute for Management & Leadership in Education in 2023 and was selected to participate in the EAB Presidential Intensive program that same year. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration & Institutional Research from The University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a B.A. in Sociology from Catawba College. His previous professional positions include Executive Director for Housing & Residence Life at Kennesaw State University, Associate Director for Housing & Residence Life at the University of South Alabama, Assistant Director of Residence Life & First-Year Experience at The University of Southern Mississippi, and Assistant Director for Business Services and Facilities Management at The Catholic University of America. Dr. Bridgeforth is a proud member of 100 Black Men of America and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. His professional strengths are: Futuristic, Achiever, Focus, Competition, and Significance.
Dr. Danny Kelley
Assistant Vice President for Student Life
Keathley University Center, Room 212
Email: Danny.Kelley@mtsu.edu
Dr. Danny Kelley has been in the field of student affairs for more than 30 years and currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Student Life. Prior to this role, Dr. Kelley served as the Associate Dean of Students from 2008-2010. Before joining the MTSU family, Dr. Kelley has worked in student affairs positions at American University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He also worked as a professional staff member for his national fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau in Oxford, Ohio.
Throughout his professional career, Dr. Kelley’s focus has been on supporting student leadership and engagement. Dr. Kelley has presented workshops and keynoted at various regional and national leadership conferences and conventions. He has also taught leadership courses at MTSU.
Dr. Kelley has been recognized regionally and nationally by several student leadership organizations. Some of those accolades include, Alpha Lambda Delta ( freshman/sophomore honor society) National Advisor of the Year and the Northeast Greek Leadership Association Fraternity and Sorority Advisor of the Year.
Dr. Kelley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio), a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel Services Counseling from the University of Dayton; and he earned his Ph.D. in Educational Management and Leadership from American University in Washington, DC. Dr. Kelley’s quantitative doctoral dissertation is titled The Impact of Collegiate Men’s Fraternities on Leadership Development: Perceptions of Former Chapter Presidents.
As the son of military parents, Dr. Kelley has lived in several US states and abroad in England, France, and Japan.
In his spare time, Dr. Kelley enjoys spending time with his Westies, watching his favorite athletic teams— MTSU Blue Raiders, NFL’s Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals, and rooting on MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals.
Justin Reed
Executive Director of Administration and Strategic Initiatives
Keathley University Center, Room 212
Email: Justin.Reed@mtsu.edu
A proud MTSU alumnus, Justin returned to his alma mater in August 2008 and currently serves as the Executive Director of Administration and Strategic Initiatives within the Division of Student Affairs. In this role, he oversees the Student Unions and MT Dining while leading projects across the division and university aimed at enhancing student life and advancing strategic goals. With a strong foundation in both student affairs and academic affairs, Justin brings expertise in facilities management, budget development, emergency management, and policy development — grounded in a conviction that every student deserves a clear path to the resources and opportunities that will define their journey.
Throughout his career, Justin has demonstrated a commitment to operational excellence and collaborative leadership, working at the intersection of administration and strategy to support the division’s True Blue mission. His deep institutional knowledge, built through an extensive tenure at MTSU, positions him to lead with both context and purpose.
A True Blue Raider in every sense, Justin earned both of his degrees from MTSU — a B.S. in Speech and Theatre and a Master of Education in Higher Education Supervision and Administration. Those who know Justin well know he is never shy about his True Blue pride, whether in his work, his words, or the color of the walls around him.
Outside of work, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and adding to a lifelong Lego collection. His Top 5 Clifton Strengths® themes are Arranger, Achiever, Futuristic, Ideation, and Activator.
Deborah Broome
Assistant to the Vice-President
Keathley University Center, Room 212
Email: Deborah.Broome@mtsu.edu
