Janet Steinmayer, who has served as president of Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for the past seven years, will step down on June 30. During her tenure, Steinmayer navigated the university through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and financial instability, overseeing a $100 million campus renovation and the expansion of programs for neurodiverse students. Despite these achievements, her presidency was marked by controversies, including three votes of no confidence and layoffs of 24 professors in 2023, alongside a significant drop in undergraduate enrollment. The university's board praised her leadership, noting that fundamental changes were necessary for financial stability. In light of ongoing issues, including slow contract negotiations with the faculty union, which has initiated a strike authorization vote, Steinmayer expressed confidence in the university's future. Joanne Kossuth, the chief operating officer, is set to replace her on an interim basis while the search for a new president begins.