Rasmussen College President Dr. Trenda Boyum-Breen to Retire, June 2020

Dr. Ann Leja, Rasmussen’s vice president of Academic Affairs and chief academic officer, will assume the role of interim president, effective June 2.

“On behalf of the Board, we are grateful to Dr. Trenda Boyum-Breen for her leadership and numerous contributions over the past eight years,” said Dr. Henry Bienen, chairman of the Rasmussen College Board of Directors. “Her commitment to transformational change for equity and social justice will leave a lasting impact on Rasmussen and the communities we serve. We thank her for her leadership during one of the greatest periods of growth and innovation in the College’s 120-year history. We are also pleased to have the expertise, commitment and continuity of leadership that Dr. Ann Leja will bring to her new role, supporting Rasmussen as we continue to meet the evolving needs of our diverse communities.”

Dr. Boyum-Breen joined Rasmussen College in 2012. She successfully launched the College’s graduate education portfolio and has positioned the college to become Rasmussen University later this year. Under her leadership, Rasmussen College has increased access and student success rates, specifically for students traditionally underserved by higher education, and built the foundation for Rasmussen’s emergence as one of the largest Schools of Nursing in the nation. 

“As a pioneer in higher education, Rasmussen College’s guiding principles of being student-centered and future-facing have been in place for 120 years,” said Dr. Boyum-Breen. “I am proud of the innovation and increased access the College accomplished during my tenure, as well as its upcoming move to Rasmussen University. This is the perfect time to usher in new leadership to take Rasmussen University to yet another level in serving our students, employers and communities.” 

Dr. Leja will continue to advance the College’s mission and commitment to student success in her new role. She joined Rasmussen in 2015 and has been responsible for the overall strategy and vision for Academic Affairs. Her work has included oversight for teaching and learning, curriculum and programs, assessment and evaluation, and academic services and operations. Under her leadership, a systematic process for assessing student learning and program quality was introduced, and competency-based education was expanded. She has built a strong, innovative leadership team in Academic Affairs.