A wave of leadership changes landed across higher education: ten colleges announced new presidents this cycle, including Laurel Bongiorno (Hartwick) and David Cook (Iowa State), signaling institutional renewal and strategic shifts at public and private campuses. Appointments emphasize enrollment recovery, applied research and digital learning. Contrast came from Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina, where the board rescinded a resignation agreement and fired President Kyle Wagner effective immediately amid accreditation and dual-enrollment controversies. The NETC action highlights how governance crises and compliance failures can accelerate leadership turnover and prompt immediate board intervention.