Lesley University announces the inauguration of our sixth president, which will be marked through a multi-day celebration of scholarship and inquiry culminating in Jeff A. Weiss’s installation on Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m.
President Weiss is a socially conscious leader who has worked for nearly three decades on complex negotiations between and within organizations. The inaugural events will celebrate Lesley’s 108-year history of academic excellence in service to others, while showcasing the creative spirit of discovery, experiential learning and social justice.
An inaugural procession from Lesley’s Brattle Campus to First Church of Cambridge will kick off the March 25 ceremony. In addition to faculty, alumni, students, trustees and friends, special guests at the ceremony will include Rabbi Robert Goldstein, of Temple Emanuel in Andover, Mass., who will deliver the invocation, and educational leader Robert Oden, the former president of Kenyon and Carleton colleges, who will give remarks.
“This exciting event will be an opportunity to celebrate President Weiss at this turning point in Lesley’s history as we shape our vision for the future,” said Board of Trustees Chair Deborah Schwartz Raizes (Class of ’69). “Jeff has a deep respect for Lesley’s mission and values, and extensive and varied experiences. His passion for education, social justice and collaborative leadership position him perfectly to guide our unique university, opening up new vistas while remaining true to our mission.”
The inaugural celebrations will encompass the university’s annual Community of Scholars symposium on Friday, March 24, which showcases scholarship and research at the university. This year’s focus is on social justice, diversity and inclusivity. All presentations, workshops and events are free and open to the public.
INAUGURAL EVENTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 6 P.M.
Community of Scholars Opening Reception
Gallery tours and curator talks
Lunder Arts Center, 1801 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 8:30 A.M. TO 8 P.M.
Community of Scholars Day
University Hall, 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
10 a.m.
The Inauguration of Jeff A. Weiss as Lesley University’s sixth president
First Church of Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Cambridge
12 p.m.
Inaugural reception
Washburn Commons, Lesley University Brattle Campus, 10 Phillips Place, Cambridge
About President Weiss
Prior to leading Lesley, President Weiss was a founding partner of the Alliance Practice and Healthcare Group of Vantage Partners, an internationally recognized consulting firm. In his work at Vantage, he helped organizations build capacity, work across departments, solve problems and innovate together, all in the context of shared governance or shared decision-making.
Weiss also taught at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was awarded the faculty prize for innovation in teaching. He is also a co-founder and co-director of the West Point Negotiation Project. He helped found Conflict Management Group (now part of Mercy Corps), a not-for-profit that works with governmental and community leaders to resolve international conflict and effect social change, such as post-apartheid constitutional reform in South Africa and peace negotiations in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Weiss succeeded Dr. Joseph B. Moore as president on July 1, 2016, following Moore’s retirement after nine years of distinguished service.