Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burnes is stepping down to take a job at Northeastern University.

Burnes will be appointed a senior fellow helping to develop curriculum focused on government regulation, public policy, law and business, said Patrick administration spokesman Joe Landolfi.

The former Superior Court justice had been the state’s top insurance official since February 2007.

Since her appointment, Burnes has overseen implementation of a new "managed competition" plan. It’s wooed an influx of new insurance companies to the state, brought increased competition and reduced rates by 10 percent.

At the same time, Burnes was criticized for ending residents’ right to appeal auto insurance surcharges they felt were unfair. She later reversed course.

Burnes received her law degree from Northeastern.