Two major leadership moves hit U.S. institutions as boards reshaped senior management. Notre Dame of Maryland University’s board unanimously selected Abagail Van Vlerah as the next president, bringing in a leader from Manchester University, where she served as vice president for student success and institutional strategy. The transition follows the departure of Marylou Yam, who led the Catholic institution for 12 years, and comes as the university has grappled with declining enrollment and rising costs, including recent enrollment expansion efforts such as going co-ed in 2022 and acquiring a graduate health college in 2025. Meanwhile, New Mexico Highlands University’s board fired President Neil Woolf after roughly two hours of a closed meeting, citing only that personnel matters are governed by New Mexico law and declining to provide details. The move escalates an ongoing leadership dispute that began with an administrative leave earlier in May.