Former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey is joining Babson College as its new president and taking herself out of politics through 2019, the date of the university’s centennial.
Healey, who served as lieutenant governor under Mitt Romney, is the first woman to lead Babson, according to a press release announcing her selection by the Babson College Board of Trustees.
Gov. Deval Patrick in 2006 defeated Healey to win his first term and after a hiatus from politics, Healey was an active campaigner for Romney last year during his unsuccessful bid for president.
Babson plans a reception for Healey Monday at 3 p.m. and will formally introduce Healey at an 11 a.m. press conference.
On a short list of potential statewide Republican candidates in Massachusetts, Healey confirmed her plans to stay out of politics through 2019 during an interview Monday morning on WBUR-FM.
Babson’s presidential search committee was chaired by former New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson, the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer at Cabletron Systems.
Babson President Babson President Len Schlesinger is stepping down at the end of this academic year.
