Bethany Alford

Bethany Alford is the Director of Military Student Affairs at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and currently serves as a U.S. Navy Senior Chief with 24 years of distinguished service.

Joining the Navy in July 2001, Beth served six years on active duty before transitioning to the Navy Reserves, where she continued to serve while pursuing higher education. She completed three deployments, aboard the USS O’BANNON (2003), in Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq 2006), and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan 2012), and will retire on December 1, 2025, after an honorable and impactful military career. Her decorations include two Joint Service Commendation Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals, and numerous unit and personal awards recognizing her exceptional service.

Since joining SVSU in 2017, Beth has transformed military student support on campus. Her leadership has led to the creation of direct academic equivalencies for military students and earned national and state recognitions such as Military Times’ “Best for Vets” designation and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s Gold-Level designation. Her efforts were further validated through multiple flawless Department of Veterans Affairs audits.

Beth has coordinated major community events, including the 9/11 Heroes Run and Military Appreciation Games, and serves on multiple veteran-focused organizations, such as the National Association of Veteran Program Administrators, the Michigan Women Veterans Coalition, and the Great Lakes Bay Veteran Coalition. She also co-chairs the Military and Veteran Education Committee for the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

A magna cum laude graduate of SVSU with a B.A. in Communication (2011), Beth has remained deeply connected to her alma mater, continually fostering opportunities, recognition, and advocacy for military-connected students. Her achievements were recognized with the Ruby Award, celebrating her lasting contributions to the broader veteran community. Beth attributes much of her success to the invaluable mentorship she received at SVSU while transitioning from active-duty military service to a student and is committed to providing exceptional support to military-connected students.

Originally from Indiana, Beth moved to Michigan following her active-duty service in 2007. She currently resides in Saginaw Township with her husband, Darren, and their three children: Grace, Molly, and Cannon.

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