1. Janet L. Steinmayer named Lesley’s seventh president
April 23, 2019
Lesley welcomed our seventh president this spring — long-time trustee and parent to a Threshold Program alumnus, Janet L. Steinmayer.
2. Boston Speakers Series
March 21, 2019
Everyone was excited for the lineup of our 2019-20 Boston Speakers Series guests, and there was a lot of love for the 2018-19 speakers, including women's rights activist and Ms. magazine founder Gloria Steinem and Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of "Just Mercy."
3. Dance/movement therapists win national recognition
December 2, 2019
Six Lesley dance/movement therapists — including faculty and alumni — won national recognition for their contributions to the field at the American Dance Therapy Association conference.
4. 2019 Commencement
May 18, 2019
Anita Hill and Beth Harry gave inspiring and heartfelt speeches to our graduates at Commencement, and we also celebrated our 35th Threshold Program graduation with 19 students donning caps and gowns.
5. Celebrating our graduates
May 2019
This year's graduating class was outstanding, and we were pleased to hold the first Undocumented and Students of Color Graduation. We also profiled 2019 graduates Tamara Adams, the first music therapist in Barbados; Vita Franjul, a Dominican immigrant and new Boston Public Schools teacher; and Dee Genetti, who earned her PhD after suffering a traumatic brain injury that threatened to end her career.
6. Alumna enlists illustration training in military role
February 11, 2019
After learning about the history of military combat artists, illustration major Sgt. Elize McKelvey ’12 enlisted in the Marines. "Our mission is basically: Got to war, do art," says McKelvey.
7. Amy Green Deines selected as new Lesley Art + Design dean
April 19, 2019
Detroit-area sculptor and academic Amy Green Deines became the new dean of our College of Art and Design, succeeding Dean Richard Zauft.
8. Don’t go back to school without these ‘classroom essentials!
August 15, 2019
We started off the school year with wisdom and advice from alumni and faculty educators.
9. Lesley awarded grant for conversion of historic Brattle Street chapel
June 20, 2019
Lesley received a $30,000 grant to explore the conversion of the St. John’s Memorial Chapel on South Campus into a performing arts space.
10. Costa Rica program gives students mindful experience abroad
January 28, 2019
Our transformative Costa Rica study abroad program gives students the opportunity to practice holistic psychology concepts in paradise.
In memoriam
Sadly, some of our most viewed posts from 2019 were news we wish we never had to report. This year we mourned the loss of several members of our community. In February, longtime educator and administrator Allison Donovan ’01 was tragically killed when she was struck by a vehicle. We also learned of the untimely death of Manny Martinez, a 2019 art therapy graduate, shortly after Commencement.