05-06-2025
Western New England University names interim president
SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University has appointed Michael B. Alexander as interim president, effective July 1.
Current university President Robert E. Johnson will step down in August.
There is also a search underway for a permanent president.
Alexander served as president of Lasell University in Newton from 2007 to 2023, Western New England University said Thursday in a statement.
During Alexander's tenure, Lasell's endowment more than doubled, graduate enrollment expanded 14-fold and facilities were constructed or renovated. While president, he also served as CEO of Lasell Village, a continuing care retirement community on the Lasell campus.
'I have long admired Western New England University and am honored to join the WNE community,' said Alexander in a written statement. 'WNE's legacy of preparing students for meaningful careers and active, engaged citizenship resonates with my own professional priorities and philosophy. I look forward to working with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to build on that legacy and position the university for an even stronger future.'
During the 2023-24 academic year, Alexander was a Judith McLaughlin president-in-residence at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. There, he co-taught courses on the future of American postsecondary education and ethical leadership in higher education, and served as a resource for Harvard graduate students.
He holds a bachelor's degree in history and American literature from Harvard University; a master's in education from The Ohio State University; and completed all coursework toward a doctorate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters by Lasell University in 2023.
Western New England University has more than 3,700 students, including more than 2,500 full-time undergraduates.
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