Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | July 22, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 15 H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N F O C U S BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Staff Writer A er the retirement of Fitchburg State University President Richard Lapi- dus, who led the school through the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to deepen ties with the school's host community, the university's trustees realized they had some big shoes to fill. Initiating an extensive hiring search drawing dozens of applicants from across the country, the members of the board of trustees landed on Donna Hodge, most recently the vice president of operations and advancement at Colorado State University, Pueb- lo, a public university of nearly 4,000 students located on the western edge of the Great Plains. Hodge, the first woman leader of the university in its 130-year history, takes the role at a time where colleges across the country are facing the prospect of declining enrollment. To build upon the work of her predecessors, Hodge seeks to create more pathways for nontraditional students and to ensure the school and city's symbiotic relationship continues under her tenure. "e 18-year-old who goes off to college for the first time and then finishes in four years is actually more rare than you think. We talk about six-year graduation rates, and we do that because the vast majority of our students don't finish on a very traditional path," Hodge said. Facing contemporary challenges Hodge was selected for the role aer a search process which drew 79 applicants, said Fitchburg State Trustee Deborah Phillips, who was chair of the board during the search. e process began in October, in the days following Lapidus' retirement announcement. Eventually, the 79 candidates were whittled down to 10 semi-finalists, who were then interviewed in Boston over the course of 48 hours. "It was a really, really rigorous process," said Phil- lips. "I learned a lot. I think everybody learned a lot." Aer further narrowing of the field, three candi- dates were invited to take part in public forums held on campus, giving students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders an opportunity to hear their pitch. In the end, Hodge was selected by a majority vote of the trustees to be the university's 12th president. e next LEVEL While she is now less than a month into her tenure, Phillips seems confident the trustees made the right decision. "We're really poised to go to the next level," she said. "We really wanted a leader that could take us there by building on those past achievements, staying true to our mission, and leading us forward in new and creative ways to face contemporary challenges. We found all of that in Dr. Hodge." Catering to non-traditional students Hodge holds a doctorate in rhetoric from Texas Woman's University, in addition to a master's degree in women's studies from Texas Woman's and a mas- ter's degree in English and history from Texas A&M University Texarkana. Hodge didn't follow the traditional collegiate path. A first-generation college student, her undergraduate studies at a university far from home were inter- rupted by family issues. Aer years of working for a living, she finished her undergraduate education around age 30. e first degree led to a second and eventually the doctorate. "It's informed everything that I've done as a higher Under new President Donna Hodge, Fitchburg State looks to provide more pathways for non- traditional students and continue its role in the city's economic development Continued on next page Donna Hodge, the 12th president of Fitchburg State University, is the first woman to helm the institution in its 130-year history. PHOTOS | COURTESY FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

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