Updates from the President

To prepare for the start of the semester and welcome students back to campus, Lesley's new interim president, Joanne Kossuth, offers her thoughts and advice for the first week of school.

What does the first week of the semester feel like on campus?
There's nothing like it. The quad fills with students catching up after months apart, it’s great to see everyone connecting, and there's a hum of excitement everywhere you turn. Welcoming new and returning students into our community is one of the best parts of the year.
What would you recommend first-year students do during their first week on campus?
First of all, all students should know it’s completely normal to feel both excited and nervous when they come to college – even if they are returning and sometimes you can feel both at the same time! Say hi and introduce yourself, you never know, your closest friend might be right next to you at an event. Take time to get to know our dining staff, public safety officers, and everyone else on campus—we're all here to help you make the most of your Lesley experience. Finally, explore our campuses and discover the spaces that make Lesley special - from our recently renovated chapel to the student center in Sherrill to the great dining options at University Hall.
A first-year student has never spent time in Cambridge. What's the first thing you send them to do off-campus?
Walk. Head toward Porter Square or Harvard Square, get a little lost, and come back. Invite a new friend or roommate to join you. Our neighborhood is one of the best parts of going to school here, and students who explore early tend to feel at home faster.
What's one campus activity you hope every student experiences before they graduate?
There are a lot of activities to do on campus year-round, so it’s hard to pick just one. Go cheer on one of our athletic teams, be a part of the many activities at Friends and Family weekend, attend our career fair, and take advantage of the clubs and other extracurricular activities Lesley has to offer.
How would you describe the Lesley student in one sentence?
Someone who wants their work to matter to other people. Whether that is in a classroom, a clinic, a studio, or a community organization, our students tend to come here with a sense of purpose that grows through the dedication of our faculty and staff.

Community Message from President Steinmayer: April 22, 2026

Dear Lesley faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members,

When I began here as President of Lesley in 2019, the University had just acquired the beautiful but renovation-needy Episcopal Divinity School campus, higher education had begun to change dramatically and very shortly we were challenged by the worldwide pandemic. It was not an easy time in higher education, and we had much work to do.

We met those challenges and in my seven years at Lesley, we have achieved so much together. We collaborated and created the Strategic Framework, which led us to focus on our strengths in Education, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Art + Design, Liberal Arts & Business, and the Threshold Program. We completed a $100 million campus renovation, using funds from the sale of real estate we no longer needed to create a beautiful and modern environment in which we can all work, learn, and live better. We created the Scholar Partnership Program, connecting students to employer-partners with guaranteed internships when they are admitted to Lesley and the Professional Learning Network, which, together with our Centers, provides a hub of resources and professional learning to support our graduates throughout their careers. We unified our administrative support systems in all areas, making it easier to do everything from class registration to accessing library materials, and strengthened athletics with full-time coaches. We built a strong financial framework for Lesley’s future, using a new approach to analytics and data that will allow us to better shape the future of our treasured University. We attracted significant gifts to support the University’s work, and we launched ways to more deeply support neurodiversity, and the Threshold Programs, and a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence.

Given where we are in this work, how all-consuming it has been in my life and the pull of life goals I have yet to pursue, I shared with the Board over a year ago that I had decided not to renew my contract for another term. Since then, the Board has been working to find the optimal time and way to make a smooth leadership transition that continues and builds on what we all have achieved together. With that plan in place, I am confident our work will continue when I step away on June 30, 2026.

Lesley is a very special place. We educate extraordinary teachers, clinicians, artists and others in the human-centered professions. They go on to impactful careers in the world. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to truly understanding who they are and how to equip them for these meaningful pursuits. As we developed our campus and more recently created additional opportunities for our students to engage with the community, we are grateful for the relationships Lesley has with its wonderful Cambridge neighbors and local professionals.

I am also deeply grateful for the great team of professionals I am blessed to have as colleagues at Lesley and for our Board of Trustees whose wisdom, guidance and skill at operating as a Board has made, and makes, so much possible.

Lesley has done in the last seven years the hard work to build a strong foundation so that its future in developing deeply caring professionals will only grow in impact. I am confident that this community will successfully continue this important path.

Thank you all for being part of Lesley’s journey.

Janet

In this month’s video update, President Steinmayer share several moments of momentum and connection across Lesley as we move into the final portion of the academic year. From the successful completion of our NECHE reaccreditation visit to encouraging enrollment trends and a growing network of professional partnerships, these past few months have affirmed both the strength of our foundation and the direction of our work.

This month, President Steinmayer shares several highlights from across our community, including the opening of the Chapel and the completion of Lesley’s multi-year Campus Plan, updates on the continued growth of our Scholar Partner network, evolving career support for students, progress on our NECHE reaccreditation process, and the contributions of retiring faculty and this year’s Distinguished Achievement Award recipient.

Progress on our NECHE accreditation process, reminders about campus safety procedures and training, and updates on academic programs, partnerships, and new initiatives underway this semester. Also, an exciting update about Commencement!