Southern New Hampshire University’s board leadership transition is now in its second year under President Lisa Marsh Ryerson after Paul LeBlanc’s departure, with Ryerson describing a long, structured handoff and an emphasis on listening during the change period. The interview revisits how a six-month runway was used to align strategies and gather input from students, faculty, and staff before the presidency fully transferred. Ryerson, previously SNHU’s provost and a former trustee, assumed the top role in July 2024 after the board unanimously selected her in December 2023 and extended her contract through 2030. The account frames the transition as deliberately timed to preserve continuity at an institution built around online education growth. The focus for governance professionals is the operational mechanics of succession planning—particularly how SNHU used proximity to the outgoing president and structured listening before reshaping priorities.