This is too bad. Jeff Weiss has been a wonderful leader for the University. From: "Sullivan, John" <jsulli24@lesley.edu> Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 2:51 PM To: Ruth Ryals <rryals@comcast.net> Subject: Some important information from Lesley University Hello, Ruth, I just wanted to alert you that Lesley University President Jeff Weiss is resigning due to personal health reasons, and that Interim Provost Richard Hansen will be serve as interim president effective Sept. 1. We are sending the media a notice, which appears below my signature, but I wanted to be sure to inform you first. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. Regards, John Sullivan Director of Communications Lesley University 617-349-8514 (office); 617-945-6994 (mobile) jsulli24@lesley.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Sullivan or Amanda McGregor at news@lesley.edu Lesley University President Jeff Weiss to step down for personal health reasons Experienced educational administrator and current Interim Provost Richard S. Hansen will serve as interim president CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University President Jeff A. Weiss will step down on Aug. 31 because of personal health reasons. Lesley’s Interim Provost Richard S. Hansen will serve as the interim president effective Sept. 1. Since he began as interim provost in July 2017, Dr. Hansen has worked closely with President Weiss and the entire university community, and the university will continue to benefit from his experienced leadership as Lesley’s Board of Trustees launches a search for the next president. The Board of Trustees will aim to appoint a new president to assume responsibilities on July 1, 2019 and is currently developing the search process, which will include a search committee of selected trustees, faculty and administrators. “Because Rich Hansen has been working closely with President Weiss and the entire university community in his current role, his willingness to serve in an interim capacity ensures that the university will benefit from experienced leadership and institutional knowledge while we continue to move forward with current initiatives and launch a search for our next president,” said Hans Strauch, chair of Lesley University’s Board of Trustees. “Jeff will be available as a resource to Rich during the transition.” President Weiss assumed leadership of Lesley on July 1, 2016, serving as Lesley’s sixth president in the university’s 109-year history. His tenure has been marked by his socially conscious leadership, an action-oriented focus on growing Lesley for the future, and extending Lesley’s reputation as an inclusive environment committed to effecting positive change on campus and in the larger community. “Jeff has done a wonderful job. A great deal has been accomplished under his leadership during the past two years to strengthen and grow Lesley, and we look forward to building upon this as we move ahead,” said Strauch. Dr. Hansen, in his role as interim president, will work closely with the university’s new provost, Dr. Margaret Everett, who begins on July 1, 2018. Prior to his service at Lesley, Dr. Hansen most recently held the role of provost at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Before that, he held interim provost roles at the University of New Orleans and the University of Louisiana System through The Registry, a placement firm specializing in interim placements for higher education institutions. Before joining The Registry, Dr. Hansen served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs and as the executive vice president for administration at Union Institute and University in Ohio, and as the senior vice president at Norwich University in Vermont. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Denver, a Master of Science in Education in college personnel administration from Indiana University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration from the University of Denver. Lesley University empowers students to become dynamic, thoughtful leaders in education, mental health counseling and the arts. Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley combines an intensely creative environment with the practical experience students need to succeed in their careers. Each year, more than 7,000 students pursue degrees on campus, regionally, online, and through our low-residency programs. Along with our 88,000 alumni, they are discovering the power of creativity to overcome obstacles, foster connections, and reveal fresh answers to the world’s problems. ###
