Hired
Richard Bierschbach – Wayne State University (Mich.)
Richard A. Bierschbach has been appointed the 14th president of Wayne State University after serving as the institution’s interim president since September.
Bierschbach previously spent eight years as dean of Wayne State University Law School, which rose 45 spots in U.S. News & World Report rankings under his leadership, The Detroit News reports. He also helped launch Wayne State’s Institute for AI and Data Science, which is focused on interdisciplinary collaboration and workforce development amid cutting-edge technology disruption.
Robin Lynn Cautin – Regis College (Mass.)
Robin Lynn Cautin will become the next president of Regis College on July 1. She steps into the role as Regis continues to grow its health sciences portfolio and refine its mission as a student-centered Catholic institution.
The current provost at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, Cautin has promoted student success and retention efforts and cross-disciplinary program growth. Cautin had previously served as the university’s dean of the College of Arts, where she helped establish three new schools and lead faculty development initiatives.
Maureen Finney – Nazareth University (N.Y.)
Maureen Finney has been selected as the next president of Nazareth University, Rochester Beacon reports.
As provost since 2022, Finney restructured academics from five schools into three colleges and launched new academic programs, such as a hybrid master’s physician assistant degree and an online music education. She also implemented an innovative portfolio review strategy that better analyzes enrollment and retention trends.
Finney, who starts on July 1, enters the role as Nazareth focuses on increasing enrollment stability and strengthening partnerships across the Rochester region.
Sherry Kollmann – Vermont State University
Sherry Kollmann has been appointed the next president of Vermont State University, stepping in at a pivotal moment for the young statewide institution, WCAX reports.
Chancellor of New Mexico State University Global Campus, Kollmann has grown online enrollment to over 3,500 students, developed more than 80 academic programs and secured $17 million in state appropriations while helping generate $30 million in tuition revenue.
Her selection signals a continued push to stabilize campus and online enrollment and unify the institution’s multi-campus identity.
Ramesh Kolluru – University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has selected Ramesh Kolluru as its next president.
Kolluru previously held key academic and administrative roles at UL Lafayette and served as interim president before his permanent appointment. Kolluru helped the university achieve and reaffirm Carnegie R1 status, quadruple research expenditures and recently narrow a $50 million deficit to about $12 million, while also securing around $25 million in federal appropriations.
Stacy Leeds – University of Tulsa (Okla.)
The University of Tulsa has named Stacy Leeds as its next president, beginning in July.
The dean of Arizona State University’s law school, she is the former vice chancellor at the University of Arkansas, where she secured funding for faculty inventors and startups.
Leeds is an alumna of Tulsa’s law school and a sixth-generation Oklahoman.
Sarah Wisdom – William Woods University (Mo.)
Sarah Wisdom has been named president of William Woods University, beginning on July 1, Columbia Missourian reports.
Wisdom has served as a public K12 educator for the past 21 years at New Bloomfield R‑III in Missouri. Superintendent for the last nine years, Wisdom has helped the school district gain recognition for its smart budgeting and facility improvements.
Retiring
Ali Malekzadeh – Roosevelt University (Ill.)
Roosevelt University President Ali Malekzadeh will retire at the end of his contract in June, according to an emailed announcement, concluding 12 years of leading the Chicago institution.
During Malekzadeh’s tenure, the university reset tuiton and created the Roosevelt Pledge, which covered tuition for 262 Illinois first-year students in 2025 and contributed to one of Roosevelt’s largest incoming classes in recent years.
Malekzadeh also led the integration of Robert Morris University, expanding academic programs, boosting enrollment and strengthening Roosevelt’s status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Stepping down
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. – The Ohio State University
Walter Carter Jr. is stepping down from The Ohio State University less than three years into his presidency, the university announced on Monday.
The resignation came after Carter disclosed to university leadership that he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a person seeking public resources for a private venture. The Board of Trustees accepted his resignation and said a transition plan is forthcoming.
During his tenure, Carter oversaw a period of high research activity, enrollment stability and strategic planning across one of the nation’s largest public universities. His departure triggers one of the most closely watched presidential searches in the country.
Andy Feinstein – University of Northern Colorado
Andy Feinstein will step down as president of the University of Northern Colorado after eight years in the role, citing the “life cycle” of the “always-on role.”
“I’m not someone who can do this job halfway,” he said in a university statement. “And I want to make sure I leave UNC at the right time—strong, stable, and positioned for its next chapter.”
During his presidency, Feinstein shepherded the institution through budget realignment, residential campus improvements and community engagement initiatives. UNC now begins the process of identifying new leadership to guide its next chapter.
Montserrat Fuentes – St. Edward’s University (Texas)
Montserrat Fuentes has announced she will step down from St. Edward’s University on July 1 after “deep reflection, prayer and heartfelt gratitude,” KUT News reports.
As president for the past five years, Fuentes oversaw the establishment of the School of Health Sciences and was recently designated as a research university by the Carnegie Foundation.
Fuentes received campus-wide backlash after the university removed an LGBTQ+ pride flag from a campus coffee shop. The move prompted faculty to cast a vote of no confidence in Fuentes, which arose from greater concerns around changes to pay, student retention, “program priorities” and other reasons drafted by the Faculty Senate.
