Lasell University Names Zehra Abid-Wood President of Lasell Village
February 6, 2023
Last week, Lasell University named Zehra Abid-Wood president of Lasell Village, the university’s on-campus senior living and learning community. Abid-Wood will report to the president of Lasell University and will partner closely with the village’s 13-member board of trustees. She will also serve on the university’s senior management team.
“Lasell Village is a special place, not only for our residents, but for our dedicated staff, university students and the Newton community,” said Jeffrey Simon, chair of the Lasell Village board of trustees. “The village deserves a leader who balances a strategic focus with creative thinking to preserve our distinctive environment. Without question, Zehra is that person.”
Abid-Wood comes to Lasell Village with more than two decades of leadership experience in real estate, hospitality, education and residential senior care. She most recently worked as senior vice president of strategy and transformation at AlerisLife (formerly Five Star Senior Living). At points in her tenure at AlerisLife, she held several management roles, oversaw capital projects, and held multiple interim C-suite leadership roles during periods of transition.
Abid-Wood has significant experience in operational and project management, strategic and institutional planning, growth strategy, partner and vendor management, operational effectiveness, real estate development, diversity and inclusion initiatives and brand marketing and sales.
“Zehra’s history of extraordinary leadership, combined with her focus on strategic change, makes her the perfect candidate to lead Lasell Village and serve its residents through a pivotal moment in senior living,” said Lasell University President Michael B. Alexander. “Lasell Village has always been at the forefront by creating a groundbreaking, progressive, engaged senior living community. Under Zehra’s leadership, the Lasell Village team will build on our steadfast commitment to innovation, lifelong learning and excellence.”
Abid-Wood, who will join the Lasell community this spring, earned a bachelor’s degree from Williams College. She spent a year abroad studying at Oxford University in England.
“I am committed to helping reshape the future of aging in place and the continued pursuit of lifelong learning,” said Abid-Wood. “Lasell Village and Lasell University have such a special relationship that offers countless opportunities for continued growth, partnership and transformational initiatives in education across the lifespan. I am thrilled to be joining the Lasell community and look forward to begin working with residents and staff in the coming weeks.”