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
Mary Ann Short
Associate Dean
Mary Ann Short
Associate Dean
Dr. Mary Ann Short has been with Antioch University since 2013, serving in a variety of roles, including academic leadership and faculty. Mary Ann has over 25 years of experience in higher education and the private sector. Her professional experiences range from large research universities to small private, nonprofit institutions and Fortune 500 companies.
Mary Ann’s professional and teaching interests stem from her experiences creating leadership development programs, change management initiatives, leading training and development teams, and academic programs. Mary Ann engages with her community by serving on several nonprofit boards of trustees. This board experience has led to academic and research interests in addressing organization and governance topics.
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.