Clockwise from left: Sophie Lyons, College of Art + Design Commencement student speaker Madalena Almeida, our new Interactive Media Program, Threshold Program Commencement speaker Helen Slager, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Commencement speaker Andrew Solem, Cindy House with David Sedaris
1. Lesley University adds premier Interactive Media Program, March 30, 2021
Our College of Art and Design launched the Interactive Media Program, which "will put Lesley at the forefront of a fast-growing field that will help us expand accessibility and reach across all our signature programs in the human arts,” said President Janet L. Steinmayer.
2. Commencement, May 7, 2021
Leadership made the tough decision to keep Commencement virtual due to covid concerns, but we still celebrated our graduates with a ceremony that included speeches from some of our outstanding students as well as guests Dr. Elizabeth Broun and Dr. Laurie R. Santos.
3. Lesley honors teammate and friend Molly Sarson ’13, June 22, 2021
We mourned the loss of softball star and alumna Molly Sarson, who died at age 29 after battling the coronavirus. “Molly was best known as a great softball player, but she was also one of kindest and most hardworking people at Lesley,” recalled her friend Kevin DeCosta ’12.
4. Design students helping to replace Massachusetts seal, motto, Feb. 25, 2021
Our Community Design Studio course partnered with Native leaders, historians and legislators to help shed light on the racist history of the state's seal and motto and to advocate for new flag.
5. Sandra St Fleur is first VP of equity, inclusion and justice, Jan. 13, 2021
Lesley named Sandra St Fleur as our inaugural vice president of equity, inclusion and justice, a new leadership position created to prioritize equity and social justice.
6. Celebrating new faculty, milestones, June 14, 2021
One of our top reads in 2021 celebrated some of the (many) faculty and staff who make Lesley a welcoming place for students to learn.
7. Working through racism and writing, Feb. 24, 2021
As our Black History Month featured speaker, bestselling young-adult author and Lesley faculty Jason Reynolds discussed the necessity of reaching kids and staying true to one’s authentic self.
8. Sophie Lyons ’21: Using yoga therapy to promote recovery and healing, Aug. 3, 2021
Recent alumna Sophie Lyons found healing in yoga as a high school student and now pairs it with her training in Holistic Psychology to provide trauma-informed yoga practices to her students.
9. Cindy House ’17 on David Sedaris, kicking heroin and why she wants to send 'everybody a cupcake’, Aug. 11, 2021
The MFA in Creative Writing alumna spoke candidly of her struggles with drugs and motherhood, and how her friendship with best-selling author David Sedaris saved her life.
10. J’Nye Sibley '24 and Maya Volaitis '24 receive the McKenna Scholarship, July 8
Two of our current students were recognized for their commitment to public service and leadership, each receiving $5,000 through our annual scholarship.
In case you missed them, here are some of our other popular stories from 2021: