The Fitchburg State Concert Band and Community Orchestra Concert will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20 in the Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission is free and open to the public. The event features Fitchburg State professors Hildy Schilling and Amy McGlothlin, members of the Community Orchestra and members of the Concert Band. The Concert Band will present three new works for the band; Dushna Pasha by Brandon Nelson; Supernova: Music for an Imaginary Video Game by Andrew Boysen, Jr.; and Deciduous by Viet Cuong. “The Community Orchestra and the Concert Band present their fall concerts together each year,” said McGlothlin. “This year the Community Orchestra will feature several soloists and The Concert Band will be providing a premiere of Dushna Pasha by Brandon Nelson.” To learn more about Fitchburg State’s instrumental and choral groups, visit fitchburgstate.edu/music.

Fitchburg State University will once again be well-represented in the upcoming cohort of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership Institute (CLI). Associate Director for Internship Coordination and Employer Relations Susan Beddes of the university’s Career Services and Advising Center and Director for Care and Case Management Joe Flanagan have begun the nine-month program. "I was honored to sponsor Susan Beddes and Joe Flanagan for the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership Institute,” said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. “Their participation is a direct reflection of Fitchburg State’s deep commitment to fostering leadership and community engagement within our staff. Programs like this don't just develop strong individual leaders; they strengthen the very fabric of our region.” “I'm very happy to be participating in the Community Leadership Institute this year,” Beddes said. “I am looking forward to taking a deep-dive into our community of North Central Massachusetts, strengthening my involvement with the Chamber and fostering new partnerships that will support my work in the Career Services and Advising Center.” Flanagan's move to the region as a Fitchburg State student was the beginning of his long-standing affection for the area. “Now, in a full-circle moment, I'm excited and incredibly proud to represent Fitchburg State as part of this Community Leadership Institute,” said Flanagan. “I believe this experience will broaden my understanding of industries in the region, and I look forward to connecting with the leaders who serve our local communities through meaningful work. This program also presents a great opportunity to share the amazing work happening at Fitchburg State, and explore where mutually-beneficial opportunities may exist for our campus community.” Fitchburg State University Business Department Chair and Chair of the CLI Michael Greenwood said that during the CLI workshop on adopting a possibility thinker’s mindset, Beddes and Flanagan stood out. “They arrived eager to stretch, question, and practice new leadership methods,” Greenwood said. “Their engagement—from role-playing to exploring ethical dilemmas—set the tone for the entire cohort. They remind me of soaring falcons: confident, curious, and unafraid to rise higher.” The CLI offers a unique 9-month immersive experience designed to develop the next generation of leaders who will shape our region’s future. Through hands-on learning, exclusive access to regional leaders, and collaborative community projects, CLI participants gain the skills, connections, and insights needed to lead effectively in today’s technology and knowledge-driven economy. "When I first agreed to volunteer to chair the Chamber’s Community Leadership Institute starting in 2012, I had no idea how deeply it would shape me,” Greenwood said. “I’ve watched managers, supervisors, and emerging executives discover new confidence, empathy, and vision year after year. Having a front-row seat to that kind of transformation has been one of the great privileges of my professional life.” The CLI program runs from October to June each year, featuring day-long sessions each month that cover personal leadership development (October), non-profit governance (November), education (December), media & crisis communications (January), healthcare, law & justice (February), arts & culture (March), legislation (April), manufacturing & economic development (May), and debrief & commencement (June).

Fitchburg State University student Autumn Hughes, majoring in creative arts therapies, will present her senior voice recital at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 in Kent Recital Hall in the Conlon Fine Arts Building, 267 North St. Admission is free and open to the public. Hughes will be the first student to perform a senior recital as part of the new creative arts therapies degree program at Fitchburg State, joined by piano accompanist Alanna Rantala. Hughes receives voice instruction from faculty member Mackenzie Pamies. The creative arts therapies major is designed for students interested in learning about arts therapies and how modalities of drama, music and art are utilized in working with children and adults in a variety of settings. “Autumn is an exciting vocalist, able to sing in multiple styles,” said Associate Professor of Humanities Amy McGlothlin. “She will bring a lot of fun to the audience, and it will be a great way to spend the afternoon listening to her and other music students share their creativity.” This event is free and open to the public.

Fitchburg State University will feature the work of local artist Ricardo Barros in the upcoming exhibition “Off the Hill: Portraits from within the Fitchburg Community.” There will be an opening reception and artist talk at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 on the first floor of the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library in Hammond Hall, located at 160 Pearl St. The exhibit will run through March 31 in the library. “In this project, I travel my world intentionally without a camera,” Barros said. “When I meet an intriguing person, I ask questions so I can write about them. My challenge is to make each person a colorful character in their own story, a hero in their own legend.” Barros said that the town surrounding a university may feel like a static backdrop to student life, and it isn’t easy to compete with the challenge and exhilaration of the college experience. “But, as these photographs demonstrate, Fitchburg is anything but static, and there are many people ‘Off the Hill’ from whom we may learn much, including the genius of agency, passion, and community engagement,” Barros said. “Agency is the power of an individual to make choices and act on them, directing the unique course of their path. Passion is a heartfelt desire that compels us to take action. Community engagement is a willingness to join the collective effort for our inclusive, mutual well-being. “We learn about history, ideas, and problem-solving strategies in a classroom,” he said. “But learning does not end with a college degree, and we continue to grow when we discover new ways to learn. Take a moment to look and read about the people portrayed in this exhibition. We hope that they inspire you to look beyond your laptop screens, to see beyond the campus, and witness many times over that an individual’s effort can make a difference. We hope these photographs and stories help illuminate your path to belonging and engagement.” Fitchburg State’s first art exhibition of the academic year featured the inspiring 360-degree panoramic work of Barros in “ An Entanglement of Space and Time.” Barros’ work was exhibited in the Hammond Hall Art Gallery through Oct. 17. Barros is a photographer, writer, curator, and filmmaker. His works are in the permanent collections of eleven museums, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the Museum of Art of São Paulo, and the Fitchburg Art Museum. Ricardo was awarded a Fellowship in Photography by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in 1984 and 2021, and the Marlene and David Persky Present Tense Prize by ArtsWorcester in 2024. He recently moved to Fitchburg with his wife, artist Heather Barros. More information at ricardobarros.com. Photo by Ricardo Barros: Andrew DeChristopher and Tristan Taylor, founders of Fitchburg Fiber LLC, were photographed in 2024 on the roof of 759 Main Street, Fitchburg, near the upper commons. The white plastic object near DeChristopher (and the chimney) is a radio node, such as they install on rooftops.

Fitchburg State University is lacing up for a major expansion of its athletics program, announcing Thursday that women's ice hockey will be added as the university's newest varsity sport. The university’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Michael Fiorentino Jr. , made it official at their meeting Thursday, voting in favor of adding a women’s ice hockey team as the 18th varsity sport at Fitchburg State University. "This vote today solidifies the Board's commitment to the growth and diversity of our student experience," said Lynn Barrieau, Vice Chair of the Fitchburg State University Board of Trustees and chair of the subcommittee that forwarded the proposal for board consideration. "Women's ice hockey will be a fantastic addition, attracting talented new students and fostering a thrilling new tradition on campus. This is a major step forward for the university." The program is set to hit the ice for the 2027–2028 season. “Today is a monumental day for Fitchburg State University as we announce the addition of a women’s varsity ice hockey team,” said Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge. “It reflects our deep commitment to supporting women’s athletics and creating meaningful opportunities for our female student‑athletes. It also underscores how Fitchburg State continues to gain momentum — growing stronger as an institution, increasing our impact, and showing that we truly value the dedication, talent, and passion of all our students.” Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Commissioner Angela Baumann said that she is extremely excited to expand MASCAC membership in women’s ice hockey to include Fitchburg State University. “The outstanding leadership of President Hodge and Athletic Director Matt Burke have brought this dream to a reality for the outstanding Fitchburg ice hockey community,” said Baumann. The launch of a women's varsity ice hockey program gives aspiring female student-athletes a new opportunity to compete at the NCAA level and marks a significant commitment to growing women's athletics on campus. “The addition of women’s ice hockey as a varsity sport at Fitchburg State represents an exciting and strategic step forward for our athletics program,” said Burke. “Women’s hockey is among the fastest-growing sports in the country, and we’re proud to be part of that momentum. This new program will provide meaningful opportunities for our female student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level while continuing their academic pursuits. We look forward to building a team that embodies the competitive spirit and values of Fitchburg State.” The Fitchburg State men’s ice hockey team has been a pillar of success under the tutelage of veteran coach Dean Fuller. The Falcons continue to soar to new heights, winning the MASCAC championship last winter and advancing to the prestigious NCAA Division 3 tournament with a 3-1 victory over Mass. College of Liberal Arts. It was the Falcons’ first MASCAC championship since 2018. The women’s team will play its home games at the Wallace Civic Center – also the home of the men’s ice hockey team. The women will have their own locker room space, ice time for games and practices, and use of the Landry Arena – a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and indoor practice facility. The inaugural Fitchburg State University roster in the 2027–2028 season will feature incoming freshmen, current students and transfers. Participation in women’s ice hockey at the collegiate level has seen significant growth over the past 10 years, up 39 percent, with participation growing from 2,121 to 2,947, according to information from NCAA.org. According to the New England Hockey Journal, the number of girls’ ice hockey teams in Massachusetts at the high school level increased from 125 to 211 over a 10-year period from 2013-2023. The Fitchburg State women’s ice hockey club will continue to operate and there will be an increase in the number of games at the club level in 2026-2027. There will be a nationwide search for a full-time head women’s varsity ice hockey coach. Once hired, the coach can immediately begin recruiting student-athletes.