FITCHBURG — History was made at Fitchburg State University as Dr. Donna Hodge officially assumed her role as the institution’s 12th president on July 1, 2024. Dr. Hodge is the first woman to hold the presidency in the university’s 130-year history.
Dr. Hodge’s selection followed a national search process that began last October when then President Richard Lapidus announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.
The university announced the final four candidates on April 2, 2024. One candidate, Michael Godard, provost at Southeast Missouri State University, withdrew his application on April 10 after accepting the role of president at Indiana State University.
The board of trustees at Fitchburg State University officially nominated Donna Hodge for president on May 1, 2024. Her nomination was then approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education following a successful contract negotiation.
“I am honored to serve this vibrant and dynamic institution and am deeply committed to continuing the Fitchburg State legacy of excellence,” Hodge wrote in a welcome message to Fitchburg State University’s campus community on July 1.
Hodge joins Fitchburg from Colorado State University-Pueblo, where she has served as Vice President of Operations & Advancement since 2021. Employed at CSU-Pueblo since 2010, Hodge has also held the position of chief strategy officer and was a tenured faculty member.
Hodge holds a doctorate in rhetoric and a master’s degree in women’s studies from Texas Woman’s University, as well as a master’s degree in English and history from Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
“As we look ahead, state public institutions face numerous challenges and opportunities,” Hodge said in her welcome email. “We must navigate the evolving landscape of higher education, ensuring that we provide accessible, high-quality education to all our students while fostering innovation and inclusivity. Make no mistake, while our work will require the best of all of us, I am filled with hope and optimism for the future of Fitchburg State University. Together, we will address these challenges head-on and seize the opportunities to enhance our institution and positively impact our community.”
