About Michael B. Alexander

Michael B. Alexander is a visionary higher education leader with a deep commitment to academic excellence, affordability, and student-centered innovation. With more than 16 years of presidential experience, he has built a reputation for driving institutional growth, cultivating inclusive learning communities, and advancing access to higher education. 

Born in Springfield, Ohio, Alexander spent his first year living in the President’s House at Antioch College, offering an early and symbolic start to a lifetime in education and leadership. 

From 2007 to 2023, he served as President of Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts. During his tenure, Lasell saw significant transformation: the university’s endowment more than doubled, graduate enrollment grew fourteen‑fold, and the campus was revitalized through extensive construction and renovation projects. He also served as CEO of Lasell Village, a pioneering retirement community integrated into the university, where residents actively participated in educational life. 

Alexander is the founder of the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges, a national consortium of more than 135 institutions working together to reduce the cost of a private college education. 

In 2023–24, he was named the Judith McLaughlin President‑in‑Residence at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he co-taught courses on the future of American postsecondary education and ethical leadership while mentoring graduate students. 

He holds an A.B. in History and Literature of America, cum laude, from Harvard University and an M.A. 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. 

On July 1, 2025, Alexander was named Interim President of Western New England University, a role he embraces with enthusiasm and purpose. 

“I have long admired Western New England University and am honored to join the WNE community,” said Alexander. “WNE’s legacy of preparing students for meaningful careers and active, engaged citizenship resonates deeply 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.”