Donna Hodge sees her reflection in the faces of Fitchburg State’s students. The university’s newly arrived 12th president, and the first woman to hold the post, said the journeys undertaken by so many of today’s students closely resembles her own path.
Hodge grew up in a small town in East Texas, the first member of her family to go to college. For personal reasons, she withdrew before completing her degree. Years later, approaching her 30th birthday, she had a realization. “I need to finish what I started,” she recalled. “I went back to college at the state public institution in my hometown. That decision has informed everything I’ve done as a higher education leader.”
Hodge completed her bachelor’s degree in English at Texas A&M University Texarkana in 2001. “That first degree led to a master’s degree, which led very quickly to working on campus in the writing center,” she said. “There, I saw how you could change a student’s life just by having a conversation.”
Her educational journey continued, including a Ph.D. in rhetoric from Texas Woman’s University in 2008 as well as a second master’s degree. Hodge joined the ranks of academia, first as an instructor in the Department of English at North Central Texas College, and joined Colorado State University Pueblo in 2008 as an assistant professor, achieving tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2013. At CSU Pueblo, her appointments would include faculty and administrative posts that spanned a variety of university functions, but with a common theme: an indelible belief in the importance of serving students.
That focus has been a constant, even as the higher education landscape has evolved. Today’s students more commonly navigate a “non-traditional” path similar to her own.
“Today, it’s odd to think about the ‘traditional’ student as the 18-year-old who goes off to college and finishes in four years,” she said. “It’s not that traditional four-year path anymore. Not every student is looking for the same thing.”
Institutions like Fitchburg State need to be “student-ready” to support those students and their diverse experiences and expectations. “It’s not just the content we teach, but the circumstances of the student who is being taught,” she said. “Our focus needs to be on the student experience. What do our students want and need? What does it mean to be a student at Fitchburg State, and how do we make sure ours is an inclusive campus for everyone?”
Hodge was attracted to the leadership opportunity at Fitchburg State by its mission and its demonstrated commitment to serving first-generation and minoritized student populations. “I believe in our state public institutions, and I’m the product of one,” she said. “Fitchburg State understands the power of serving that population, and it’s something we do well.”
Hodge was nominated for the presidency in April by the university’s Board of Trustees following a national search during which finalists each engaged in days of meetings with students, faculty, librarians, staff and community members. She was confirmed in June by the state Board of Higher Education.
“We are confident Dr. Hodge has the leadership skills and experience to find consensus among campus constituencies as we confront the challenges facing all institutions of higher education,” said Trustee C. Deborah Phillips after the nomination. Phillips was also a member of the search committee. “She is a strong communicator who is mindful of the critical role that public higher education plays in the success of the city and region.”
“Dr. Hodge will bring exceptional experience to Fitchburg State University,” Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega said after the board’s confirmation. “I commend Fitchburg State and the presidential search committee for identifying the best candidate to meet the opportunities ahead for the University, and I look forward to welcoming Dr. Hodge to our outstanding public higher education system here in Massachusetts.”
Hodge hit the ground running when she arrived in Fitchburg in June, working closely with President Lapidus and other administrators to meet with campus and community leaders and stakeholders as she prepares for the coming semester.
Even before her official first day, Hodge attended a meeting of state university presidents past and present on Cape Cod, including President Emeritus Robert V. Antonucci '67, '70. “Excitement, a commitment to excellence, and a willingness to make a difference characterize Dr. Hodge as she begins her tenure as president,” Antonucci said. “We are fortunate to have such a leader who believes that student success is a key ingredient in the university’s future.”
Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Fiorentino Jr. '70 said he appreciates the significance of Hodge’s transition; after a lengthy career as a professor and administrator at Fitchburg State, including service as its executive vice president and provost, he spent nearly seven years as president of Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.
Fiorentino said he has enjoyed several productive meetings with Hodge since she arrived in Fitchburg, and praised the enthusiasm she has brought to her new post.
I am very impressed with Dr. Hodge's energy, her creativity, her attention to detail, and her clear focus on student success. We are fortunate to have her leading the university at this challenging time in public higher education.
“Donna is a visionary leader with extensive experience in higher education, and I think she places a high value on the university as a community, and understands that Fitchburg State is a vital part of the larger community of North Central Massachusetts,” Fiorentino said. “I am very impressed with her energy, her creativity, her attention to detail, and her clear focus on student success. That’s what it’s all about, and I really feel after our long search that we are fortunate to have Donna leading the university at this challenging time in public higher education.”
“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 her introductory message to university students, faculty, librarians and staff. “First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to outgoing President Rich Lapidus, who has served our campus with dedication and vision since 2015. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding Fitchburg State through significant growth and development. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his unwavering commitment to our university.”
Hodge also said she was grateful for the shared enthusiasm and commitment for the university she had experienced from her earliest days on campus. “As we look ahead, state public institutions face numerous challenges and opportunities. We must navigate the evolving landscape of higher education, ensuring that we provide accessible, high-quality education to all our students while fostering, supporting, and funding efforts that are both innovative and inclusive.”
“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,” Hodge wrote. “Together, we will address these challenges head-on and seize the opportunities to enhance our institution and positively impact our community.”
Hodge and her husband, Dustin, and their dog, Charlie, have moved into the president’s residence near campus and look forward to welcoming campus community members in the months ahead, including a State of the University address planned for Wednesday, Sept. 4. Additional information on that event will be shared as the date approaches on the university website.