Centenary University president Dale Caldwell won election as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor while a slate of colleges announced presidential appointments, signaling rapid leadership churn across higher education. Caldwell, Centenary’s first Black president, will leave the Hackettstown campus to assume statewide office in January, prompting interim leadership planning at the small Methodist institution. Separately, multiple institutions named new presidents or interim leaders: appointments include a new president at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt; Brad Mortensen moving from Weber State to Utah State University; Eduardo M. Peñalver named president of Georgetown University starting July 1, 2026; and other shifts across public and private campuses. Several transitions are effective in early 2026. The spate of moves matters for boards and systems as institutions navigate succession, donor relations and continuity of strategic plans. When campus presidents depart for public office or other roles, boards must balance interim governance, search timelines and preserving momentum on enrollment, fundraising and academic priorities.