Community awards will complement President Hodge's investiture
Fitchburg State University will host the formal investiture of its 12th president, Dr. Donna Hodge, at a ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 25 in Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission to this milestone moment in Fitchburg State’s history is open to the public. Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will administer the oath of office at the ceremony, which will also feature remarks from state and local leaders including Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. The ceremony will be livestreamed on FATV. A black tie gala will follow the next evening in support of the President’s Fund at Fitchburg State, which fuels innovation and scholarships that change students’ lives. That event, to be held at the Fitchburg Senior Center on Wallace Avenue, will also feature the debut of new awards recognizing extraordinary service to the institution and community. Hodge assumed the presidency in summer 2024, becoming the first woman to lead Fitchburg State in its 130-year history. Since taking office, she has called the university to a new era of inclusive excellence, bold vision, and unwavering service to students and the Commonwealth. “To stand at the helm of Fitchburg State—at this moment, in this place—is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Hodge. “This university changed the trajectory of so many lives, just as it could have changed mine had I found it earlier. I lead with a full heart, driven by the belief that every student deserves not just access to higher education, but the kind of transformative experience that unlocks their potential and shapes their future. Together, we are building something bigger than ourselves—the public university our students and our region deserve.” Michael Fiorentino Jr., chair of the Fitchburg State Board of Trustees, praised Hodge’s first year of leadership. “President Hodge has had a remarkable impact in her first year at Fitchburg State,” Fiorentino said. “There is a renewed vitality across campus—from the student body to faculty, librarians, and staff—and she has embraced the institution’s role as a civic anchor and community partner. We are excited to celebrate this moment in Fitchburg State’s history.” The investiture ceremony on April 25 will include remarks from former colleagues, community partners, and an address by President Hodge. The following evening, April 26, the black tie gala will feature the presentation of four new awards honoring individuals who exemplify Fitchburg State’s mission: The President’s Award for Service to the Institution will be presented to Anna M. Clementi, former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and current Foundation Board member. Clementi co-founded the university’s Center for Italian Culture and its lecture series, and launched the Global Ambassadors Scholarship, which has opened doors to language, culture, and global citizenship for students across generations. The President’s Award for Distinguished Service to Education will be presented to Ronald P. Colbert, whose journey from student leader to proud alumnus, and from public school educator to professor emeritus, reflects a lifetime devoted to lifting others through learning. The President's Award for Service to the Community will be awarded to Luisa Fernandez, a champion of families in Fitchburg. From free English classes for adults to vital resource guides and creative partnerships, Fernandez has helped weave a stronger, more compassionate community. The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be presented to Jim Todd, whose career in athletics—from the courts of Fitchburg State to the sidelines of the NBA—has exemplified leadership, grit, and loyalty. His ongoing support of Fitchburg State’s basketball program ensures that tomorrow’s student-athletes continue to dream big. “These honorees embody the very soul of Fitchburg State—service, integrity, resilience, and heart,” Hodge said. “Each of them, in their own way, has helped expand what’s possible for others. I’m so proud that we’ll lift them up together, as a community, during this historic weekend.” For more information on the investiture and gala, please visit fitchburgstate.edu/investiture.
Fitchburg State University will host the formal investiture of its 12th president, Dr. Donna Hodge, at a ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 25 in Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission to this milestone moment in Fitchburg State’s history is open to the public.
Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will administer the oath of office at the ceremony, which will also feature remarks from state and local leaders including Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler.
The ceremony will be livestreamed on FATV.
A black tie gala will follow the next evening in support of the President’s Fund at Fitchburg State, which fuels innovation and scholarships that change students’ lives. That event, to be held at the Fitchburg Senior Center on Wallace Avenue, will also feature the debut of new awards recognizing extraordinary service to the institution and community.
Hodge assumed the presidency in summer 2024, becoming the first woman to lead Fitchburg State in its 130-year history. Since taking office, she has called the university to a new era of inclusive excellence, bold vision, and unwavering service to students and the Commonwealth.
“To stand at the helm of Fitchburg State—at this moment, in this place—is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Hodge. “This university changed the trajectory of so many lives, just as it could have changed mine had I found it earlier. I lead with a full heart, driven by the belief that every student deserves not just access to higher education, but the kind of transformative experience that unlocks their potential and shapes their future. Together, we are building something bigger than ourselves—the public university our students and our region deserve.”
Michael Fiorentino Jr., chair of the Fitchburg State Board of Trustees, praised Hodge’s first year of leadership.
“President Hodge has had a remarkable impact in her first year at Fitchburg State,” Fiorentino said. “There is a renewed vitality across campus—from the student body to faculty, librarians, and staff—and she has embraced the institution’s role as a civic anchor and community partner. We are excited to celebrate this moment in Fitchburg State’s history.”
The investiture ceremony on April 25 will include remarks from former colleagues, community partners, and an address by President Hodge.
The following evening, April 26, the black tie gala will feature the presentation of four new awards honoring individuals who exemplify Fitchburg State’s mission:
- The President’s Award for Service to the Institution will be presented to Anna M. Clementi, former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and current Foundation Board member. Clementi co-founded the university’s Center for Italian Culture and its lecture series, and launched the Global Ambassadors Scholarship, which has opened doors to language, culture, and global citizenship for students across generations.
- The President’s Award for Distinguished Service to Education will be presented to Ronald P. Colbert, whose journey from student leader to proud alumnus, and from public school educator to professor emeritus, reflects a lifetime devoted to lifting others through learning.
- The President's Award for Service to the Community will be awarded to Luisa Fernandez, a champion of families in Fitchburg. From free English classes for adults to vital resource guides and creative partnerships, Fernandez has helped weave a stronger, more compassionate community.
- The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be presented to Jim Todd, whose career in athletics—from the courts of Fitchburg State to the sidelines of the NBA—has exemplified leadership, grit, and loyalty. His ongoing support of Fitchburg State’s basketball program ensures that tomorrow’s student-athletes continue to dream big.
“These honorees embody the very soul of Fitchburg State—service, integrity, resilience, and heart,” Hodge said. “Each of them, in their own way, has helped expand what’s possible for others. I’m so proud that we’ll lift them up together, as a community, during this historic weekend.”
For more information on the investiture and gala, please visit fitchburgstate.edu/investiture.
Latest Fitchburg State University News
- Music Area Faculty Recital on Oct. 28Fitchburg State University music faculty presents its annual faculty recital on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 4-5:30 p.m., in the Western Auditorium. University music faculty members include: Jonathan Harvey, Justin Casinghino, Jane Fiske, Alanna Rantala, Eddy Troxler and Amy McGlothlin. Guests Cindy Liu, Kris Layton and Christina Wright-Ivanova will also be featured at the recital. “The music faculty is excited to present creative projects to the Fitchburg State community,” said McGlothlin. “There is a wide variety of different types of music.” This recital is free and open to the public. To learn more about Fitchburg State’s instrumental and choral groups, visit fitchburgstate.edu/music.
- Putting civic discourse into actionIn his celebrated 1916 book Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education, philosopher and author John Dewey articulated his vision for the role of education in functional societies. “Democracy must be reborn every generation, and education is its midwife,” Dewey wrote. Dr. John Reiff, Director of Civic Learning and Engagement at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, quoted Dewey to start a daylong conference on civic discourse in action that drew hundreds of educators to Fitchburg State University. The program was sponsored by Fitchburg State’s Crocker Center for Civic Engagement. Through keynote talks and breakout sessions, educators from colleges and universities across Massachusetts and beyond engaged in thoughtful deliberation on the role of civic discourse in a healthy democracy. The conference explored how faculty and staff can build students’ capacity to engage in three critical forms of civic discourse: principled debate drawing on evidence; dialogue across differences; and deliberation that examines advantages and consequences of proposed actions in response to public problems. “The university is the home of civic discourse,” said Massachusetts Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Student Success Richard L. Riccardi, who encouraged the attendees to take the lessons from the conference forward in shaping better dialogues tomorrow. “Higher education has long been recognized as the marketplace of ideas—the place where the fundamental questions of our time are debated, discussed, and ultimately, redefined,” Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge said in her welcoming remarks. “Yet, in an era marked by increasing polarization and complexity, our commitment to teaching students how to engage across differences is more critical than ever. This forum is dedicated to advancing three foundational pillars of engagement: debate, dialogue, and deliberation. Perhaps more than ever before, it is our duty to prepare students to engage in the vigorous, evidence-based exchange of ideas, where we test the strength of our own convictions. We must do this while maintaining genuine, empathetic listening, so we may truly understand other perspectives, even those we don’t share. And we must work to strengthen the ability to collectively weigh alternatives in search of common ground.” In his morning keynote, Dr. Martin Carcasson, professor of communication studies and the founding director of the Center for Public Deliberation at Colorado State University, said combating the reality and the perception of “toxic polarization” was one of the biggest challenges facing public discourse. “We’re not nearly as divided as we think,” he said. “The problem is, the perception of polarization is more important than the reality.” College campuses can play a significant role in improving the discourse, he said, by equipping communities to tackle “wicked problems” like our current political dynamic. “Every single issue we deal with, we have to learn how to understand opposing values,” he said. “Campuses need to be the place where the conversation is at its best.” These effective conversations must simultaneously tackle the challenges of polarization, information disorder, and those who seek to profit off conflicts, Carcasson added. The afternoon’s keynote address, “Meeting the Moment: Talking, Teaching, and Uniting in a Democracy in Question,” was given by Dr. Nancy Thomas, Founding Director of the Institute for Democracy in Higher Education with the American Association of Colleges and Universities.
- Nursing exam pass rate hits a perfect 100% scoreFitchburg State University, with a comprehensive nursing program steeped in over 60 years of academic excellence, announced recently that its nursing program achieved a perfect pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination ( NCLEX), with 100 percent of the 2025 graduates passing on their first attempt. “It’s hard to put into words the commitment all faculty in this program have to the success of our students,” said Associate Professor Debbie Benes, PhD, RN, PNP-R, chair of the Nursing Department. “The faculty are committed to making sure every student is successful. Since COVID, and through all the barriers nursing education is facing, we haven’t stopped and strive to provide a program that reflects the mission and vision of the university, and our department and meets the needs of our community. We preserve and are so proud of our students and each other.” The NCLEX is the mandatory, standardized test graduates must pass to become licensed registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) or practical/vocational nurses (NCLEX-PN). The exam assesses a candidate's ability to provide safe and effective patient care through critical thinking, serving as the essential gateway to professional practice. "Fitchburg State has prepared outstanding nurses for generations, and this perfect NCLEX pass rate is both a remarkable achievement and a reflection of that tradition of excellence," said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. "Our graduates leave here not only with the knowledge and skill demanded by their profession, but with the resilience, compassion, and commitment to service that define the best of nursing. This milestone affirms the strength of our program and the impact these new nurses will have in healthcare settings across the Commonwealth and beyond." The university’s NCLEX results echo other recent metrics of Fitchburg State’s success. Earlier this fall, Fitchburg State was once again recognized by U.S. News & World Report for supporting the upward social mobility of its students in the publication’s annual rankings of colleges and universities. In addition to being named among the best regional universities in the North and among the top public universities, Fitchburg State was ranked among the highest performing institutions in Massachusetts for social mobility. This category measures how well institutions succeed at enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students. To learn more about Fitchburg State’s nursing program, visit fitchburgstate.edu/nursing.
- Gallery exhibit "Inside Out: A Look Into the Creative Process"Fitchburg State University will host a gallery exhibition exploring the creative process throughout the fall semester. The exhibit, “Inside Out: A Look Into the Creative Process,” is curated by Associate Professor Britton Snyder of the Communications Media Department. The exhibit features work by artists Luigi Guatieri, Jarien Skywall, Vicki Sarkissian, Carlos Jambrina, and Ali Swei. The artists’ work will be exhibited in the Hammond Hall Art Gallery from October 27 to December 18. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Hammond Gallery, located at 160 Pearl St. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday (7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.), Friday (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Saturday (noon-5 p.m.) and Sunday (noon-11:30 p.m.). How do the images we consume on a daily basis—such as those we see in games, advertising, comics, illustrations—come into being? What is the creative process of the minds that birth them? The evolution of a public image is often as compelling as the final outcome, but it is rarely made accessible to the public. This show draws back the curtain to explore the creative process of five artists working in commercial production, from early sketches and 3D models to final products. Revealed are the experiments and dead ends, the hard work and passion, the playful attitude and disciplined focus that results in the image-saturated world we live in. “The artists featured in this exhibition—Luigi Guatieri, Jarien Skywall, Vicki Sarkissian, Carlos Jambrina, and Ali Swei—represent a range of different paths and outcomes developed through their practice,” Snyder said. “Some focus on narrative richness and memorable characters, others on intriguing settings or pensive moments. Each artist searches for the thread that connects their voice to the larger conversation that makes up our social experiences. Their work demonstrates how artists work through ideas and persist until they craft an image that resonates with their original intent, even when the final version has led them to an unexpected destination. The dynamic balance between technical control and wondrous surprise is central to creativity, resulting in the range of styles and subject matter shown here.”
- Chambers named Fitchburg State’s new Chief Financial OfficerFitchburg State University has appointed Travis J. Chambers as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Chambers’ first official day at Fitchburg State will be Monday, Dec. 1. “Travis joins Fitchburg State at a pivotal moment in our journey. As we stabilize and build momentum, his leadership will be essential in aligning our financial strategies with the bold vision we have set for the years ahead. This work is about more than balancing budgets—it is about creating the capacity to grow, to innovate, and to deliver on our mission of access and excellence for every student,” said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. “With his deep experience across a range of institutions, Travis brings not only technical expertise but also a clear understanding of the values that drive public higher education. His expertise and energy will help us maximize resources, pursue new opportunities, and invest boldly in the priorities that matter most: our students, our faculty and staff, and the transformational role this university plays in North Central Massachusetts and beyond. I could not be more excited to welcome him to Fitchburg State,” Hodge continued. Chambers has worked at various universities and colleges, ranging from small, private liberal arts colleges to large Research 1 (RI) institutions. Chambers most recently served as the Assistant Dean for Administration & Finance at Georgia State University. As the CFO of the college, Chambers oversaw the $40-plus million budget and advised the dean on resource allocation, long-term planning and operational priorities. Before serving as the CFO, Chambers was the Administrative Officer for three years (2018-2021) at Georgia State University. He also worked as the Director of Financial Administration at the Georgia Institute of Technology (2014-2018), Senior Budget Manager at Agnes Scott College (2012-2014), and the Business Manager at Kennesaw State University (2010-2012). "I am honored and excited to join the leadership team at Fitchburg State University as the new Chief Financial Officer," Chambers said. "Fitchburg State has a strong reputation for academic excellence and a deep commitment to its students. I look forward to working with President Hodge and the entire university community to build on its financial strength and support its mission of providing a high-quality, accessible education. “I look forward to leveraging my combined experience to further advance the university’s mission,” Chambers continued. “This role is crucial in ensuring that resources are sufficient to pursue excellence and impact through innovative teaching, meaningful research and dedicated service, while continuing to blend liberal arts, sciences and professional programs within a small college environment.” Chambers holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of West Georgia. He earned his Master’s of Business Administration from Kennesaw State in 2013, and a bachelor’s in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2007.
- STEM Week activities planned at Fitchburg StateSTEM Week runs from October 20-24 and Fitchburg State’s School of Health and Natural Sciences has a number of events planned on and off campus. Some of these events include: The Psychological Science Department is hosting a “Psychological Scientist of the Day” (there will be a new scientist every day for the five days). Posters are on display in the McKay 2nd floor hallway with space for students to comment. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Biology & Chemistry Department hosts the ACS "Chemistry in a Box" activity, led by Dr. Mathangi Krishnamurthy, from 6-8 p.m. in the Hammond Lounge. Also on Oct. 22, the Environmental, Geographic and Public Health Sciences Department hosts a Geology field trip to Coggshall Park in Fitchburg from 3-4 p.m. On Thursday, Oct. 23, there will be a “Science Research Symposium,” hosted by the Biology & Chemistry Department, in the Science Center Lobby from 3:30-5 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Biology & Chemistry Department hosts “STEM Resume Writing” from 3:30-5 p.m. "Massachusetts' theme for STEM Week reminds us that ‘STEM starts now’ at all stages of learning,” said Dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences Jannette McMenamy. “By celebrating STEM Week on our campus, we are hoping to inspire all students to see themselves as future problem-solvers and leaders in STEM fields." Students are encouraged to participate in these STEM Week activities. These events are not open to the public.
