As a distinguished biologist, accomplished educator and admired dean, Kelly Bidle has served Rider University in many ways since joining the school in 2001.
As she prepares for her next role — provost and vice president of academic affairs — she brings an attribute that is equally as impressive and important: A vision for the future of higher education.
Bidle is a firm believer in the transformative power of higher education — especially when paired with pragmatic career development — and views this combination as a critical path to social mobility for students.
“I am honored to step into this role at such a pivotal time for Rider,” she said. “I look forward to continuing our efforts to provide a rich, student-centered education that prepares graduates for meaningful careers and lives as engaged and informed citizens.”
Throughout her career at Rider, Bidle has led numerous institutional initiatives, spanning academic restructuring, strategic planning, new program development, recruitment and retention and facility renovations. Known for her strong organizational skills and thoughtful approach to problem solving, she has consistently strengthened the university’s academic operations and student experience.
It’s for these reasons and more that Rider President Gregory Dell’Omo was thrilled to make the announcement.
“Dr. Bidle has earned the admiration of her peers and students alike through her collaborative leadership, unwavering focus on student success and her energetic approach to academic innovation,” he said. “I have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead our academic enterprise forward.”
Her scholarly work, which focuses on the molecular adaptations of microbes in extreme environments, has been widely published and was supported for over 20 years by the National Science Foundation.
Throughout her tenure, she has served in numerous key leadership roles at the University, including as chair of strategic planning committees and the University’s promotion and tenure committee, and as Rider’s NCAA faculty athletics representative. Her service and leadership have earned her several of Rider’s highest honors, including the Nancy Gray Award for Campus Leadership and Service and the Frank N. Elliott Award for Distinguished Service.
In addition to her administrative leadership, Bidle has mentored more than 100 students conducting scientific research at Rider, many of whom have received prestigious fellowships and gone on to complete their education at professional schools or graduate programs at top institutions such as Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.
Bidle earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Rutgers University, her doctorate in molecular and cell biology from the University of Maryland and completed her postdoctoral studies at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She lives in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with her husband, Kay, and has three grown sons.
