Graduate School of Leadership & Change
About the School
Graduate School of Leadership & Change
The Graduate School of Leadership & Change prepares professionals from diverse fields to be reflective professionals, ethical leaders, and engaged researchers.
Our programs challenge you to think critically and act decisively, providing the tools to navigate and lead through complexity. By combining strategic management skills with a focus on values-driven leadership, we ensure that you are ready to address the evolving challenges in your industry, whether you're advancing in management, nonprofit leadership, or public service roles.
We support your journey to become a principled, impactful leader.
Meet the Dean
Amy Rutstein-Riley, PhD, MPH is a highly collaborative leader, seasoned educator, and interdisciplinary scholar. Her current research activities focus on Women’s Leadership in Higher Education, Trauma-informed Leadership, and girls’ and emerging adult women’s development.
Prior to joining the Graduate School of Leadership and Change, for the past eighteen years, she has served in a number of roles at Lesley University, including Director of the PhD Specialization in Adult Learning and Development, Dean of the Faculty, Chair of the PhD in Education Studies, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, and, most recently, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs
Dean's Team
Kenneth Baker
Associate Dean
Kenneth Baker
Associate Dean
With over two decades as an entrepreneur and business leader, I bring practical, real-world insights into the classroom. My approach emphasizes the application of theoretical concepts to real-life scenarios, fostering an engaging and dynamic learning environment.
I employ storytelling as a central pedagogical tool, recognizing its power to enhance memory retention and engagement across diverse learning styles. Research supports that storytelling appeals to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, making it an effective strategy for inclusive education.
Jen Swartout
Assistant Dean, Academic Operations and Student Success
Jen Swartout
Assistant Dean, Academic Operations and Student Success
Throughout her nearly two decades of experience in higher education administration, Jen has held a commitment to supporting and enhancing the academic journey of a diverse and global community of learners and educators as a centerpiece throughout her career. Her experience and expertise is focused in operations, project and budget management, strategic planning, policy development, and student success.
Jen holds a Master of Science in Professional Communication, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Culture from Clark University, as well as a Certificate in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.
Leslee Creighton
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives
Leslee Creighton
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives
With over 20 years of experience in the higher education industry, Leslee is a strategic communications leader who provides senior-level administrative direction for internal and external engagement strategies, including marketing, fundraising, constituent relations, communications, partnerships, advancement initiatives, and special projects.
She has a strong record of developing advancement and annual alumni activities, program recruitment and enrollment management, national and international event and engagement planning, systems integration, executive support, and organizational development. Leslee holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Political Science with a focus on American Politics, Comparative Politics, and Women's Studies from Ohio University.
Graduate School of Leadership & Change Faculty
Amy E. Lesen, PhD
Professor
Elizabeth Holloway, PhD, ABPP
Professor Emerit
S. Aqeel Tirmizi, PhD
Professor
Shana D.L. Hormann, PhD
Faculty Emeritus
Yulia Tolstikov-Mast, PhD
Teaching Faculty Union Cohort
Bob Lazzarini, MBA
Core Faculty
Harriet L. Schwartz, PhD
Professor
