President Hodge's Biography
Dr. Donna Hodge serves as the 12th President of Fitchburg State University and is the first woman to hold this prestigious position. With over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, strategy, and operations, Dr. Hodge brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role.
Before joining Fitchburg State, Dr. Hodge was the Vice President of Operations and Advancement at Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo), a public university serving 4,000 students, many from minoritized and low-income backgrounds. Since August 2021, she has been instrumental in driving CSU Pueblo's #VISION2028 strategic plan, a transformative $19 million initiative aimed at establishing the university as a regional hub of innovation, education, and community engagement.
In her capacity as Vice President, Dr. Hodge oversaw all facilities, auxiliary enterprises, marketing, communications, HSI grants, and advancement functions. She managed budgets exceeding $100 million, including E&G, Auxiliary Services, Capital Construction, facilities recharge, and all federal Title V programs. Additionally, she led a cross-functional team of over 140 internal and external stakeholders and played a crucial role in securing and administering more than $22 million in federal and state grants to support the university's mission and programs.
Dr. Hodge is deeply committed to creating opportunities and solutions for underrepresented communities. Her exceptional work in this area has been recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), which honored her with the 2021 Excellence and Innovation award.
Dr. Hodge holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Master's degrees in English and Women's Studies, and executive certificates from MIT and Harvard,. Her academic and professional achievements underscore her dedication to advancing higher education and fostering inclusive environments for all students.
As President of Fitchburg State University, Dr. Hodge is poised to lead the institution into a new era of growth, innovation, and community engagement.