Lasell University President Michael Alexander To Retire After 16 Years

NEWTON, MA — Lasell University President Michael B. Alexander announced Thursday that he will retire from the position on June 30, 2023 after 16 years as the school’s chief educational and administrative leader.

“Serving as President of Lasell University has been a distinct honor and the highlight of my professional career,” Alexander said in a statement. “Together, along with an extraordinary team of professionals, we have grown enrollment, expanded our full-time faculty, attracted a significant increase in giving, established new partnerships, launched innovative new programs, and created a robust Graduate and Professional Studies division. I am especially proud of how we sacrificed and pulled together to work our way through the incredible challenges of the pandemic.”

In addition to his role at Lasell University, Alexander serves as Chief Executive Officer of Lasell Village, a model senior living community located on the school’s Newton campus. He is considered an expert on the financing of higher education and is the founder of the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges Consortium, which now includes 130 colleges across the country.

In addition to working with colleagues in higher education, Alexander has recently forged major partnerships with Newton Wellesley Hospital and Encore Boston Resort and Casino to expand academic offerings and create internship and career opportunities for students and alumni.

“Lasell University has been the beneficiary of Michael’s diverse background and leadership,” Gerry DeRoche, chair of the Lasell University Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “He brought a wealth of personal and professional experience to his presidency and Lasell has benefited greatly
from his many contributions. His creativity, vision, and spirit of collaboration have helped advance Lasell in ways that will resonate well into the future.”

During his tenure, Alexander oversaw Lasell’s transition from college to university status and guided the creation and implementation of a Campus Master Plan which included the construction of two major academic centers—the Donahue Center for Creative and Applied Arts and the Science and Technology Center.

Alexander is also widely recognized for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, DeRoche said. By fostering a community of care and making an early commitment to no-cost testing and vaccinations on campus, Lasell was able to maintain a high-quality college experience for students while safeguarding the health and wellness of the community at large.

“As expected, Michael Alexander demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our students, faculty, and staff during a time of tremendous uncertainty,” DeRoche said. "He kept our campus safe despite extraordinary challenges, all while remaining focused on our educational mission,”

Prior to joining Lasell, Alexander served as the managing partner and founder of Echo Bridge Entertainment, LLC, the global distributor of feature films. He also served as CEO of Intermetrics, overseeing its acquisitions and merging with the Titan Corporation, a publicly traded NYSE
telecommunications company.

Earlier in his career, Alexander was President and General Manager of WWOR-TV, a station serving the New York metropolitan area, an executive at MCA, Inc., the entertainment conglomerate, and an administrator at Barnard College.

Lasell University said the search for a new president will begin immediately.