For a long time at Fitchburg State, Board of Trustees meetings were held in the Guglielmi Mazzaferro Center, specifically in President’s Hall—a place most students couldn’t even identify on a campus map. An old nickname for the venue has circulated within student organizations for years: “White Man Hall.” This moniker reflects that, for decades, all the portraits of past presidents lining the walls were of white men.
New Leadership at Fitchburg State University Brings Change and Innovation
The era of previous leadership at Fitchburg State University has come to an end. The new president, Donna Hodge, is the first female president in the university’s history, and she has already made significant changes. One of those shifts is relocating Board of Trustees meetings to the Hammond Main Lounge, a space surrounded by large, transparent windows—a fitting metaphor for the new era of openness and transparency she is ushering in. Hodge is steering Fitchburg State into a future of growth, innovation, and community engagement.
“A Year of Service” Initiative
One of the key initiatives that Hodge has planned was kicked off at the inaugural State of the University address, a tradition she hopes to continue annually to start the academic year. In her main message, the president described her plans for a “Year of Service” initiative, a core value around which all students, faculty, and staff can unite. She expressed a plan to cultivate a climate that serves students. This goal aims to strengthen the foundation of the university to build connections to the local community and beyond—a key strategy in increasing enrollment numbers.
Hodge is putting a strong emphasis on supporting nontraditional students, understanding that the typical student who arrives at age 18 and graduates four years later is increasingly rare. She brings ideas and perspectives from her own experience as a first-generation college student who finished her undergraduate degree at age 30. She recognizes that students face obstacles to pursuing higher education, such as part-time or full-time jobs, caregiving responsibilities, and delayed entry to college. She believes that the institution must shift its focus to accommodate these students’ unique needs. Hodge plans to bolster support systems for nontraditional students, acknowledging that they now make up a significant portion of the student population. She aims to create accessible pathways, particularly through graduate programs and nontraditional schedules, ensuring that Fitchburg State evolves to meet the realities of today’s student body.
Becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution
President Hodge is committed to positioning Fitchburg State University as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) within the next five years. Currently, about 16% of the student body identifies as Hispanic, but Hodge sees tremendous potential for growth given that 58% of K-12 students in the surrounding area are Hispanic. Her goal is to reach the 25% threshold necessary for HSI designation, which would open doors for federal funding, grant opportunities, and partnerships with other institutions to support first-generation and minority students.
The low number of local high school graduates enrolling at Fitchburg State indicates potential for recruitment growth. Hodge emphasizes the importance of regional institutions like Fitchburg State “comprehensively serving” their region, noting that only 28 students from Fitchburg High School enrolled in the most recent class. Her goal is to increase local enrollment from the current 42% to between 60% and 70%. Fitchburg State aims to position itself as a first-choice institution for local Hispanic students, demonstrated by the opening of a new admissions center at Fitchburg High School.
Restructuring of the Cabinet and Organizational Changes
The restructuring of Fitchburg State University’s executive cabinet under Hodge reflects a clear shift toward a more streamlined and collaborative leadership model. By reducing the number of direct reports, Hodge can focus more closely on strategic initiatives such as the “Year of Service,” while still receiving essential input from a broader advisory body of 30 to 40 members. This approach ensures that a wide range of voices, including those of key stakeholders like athletics and campus safety, are heard. Notably, both Matthew Burke, senior director of athletics and recreation, and Chief Michael Cloutier, chief of university police, now report directly to Hodge, signaling the president’s commitment to student well-being and campus life as central to her administration’s focus.
This reorganization also highlights the importance of understanding and addressing student needs more holistically. With the introduction of the Presidential Ambassador Program, where 10 students will have frequent and open access to the executive cabinet, Hodge is emphasizing student engagement and input in decision-making processes. This change supports her vision of fostering stronger ties between the administration and the student body, ensuring that student interests are better represented at the highest levels.
The members of the new executive cabinet now include President Donna Hodge; Patricia A. Marshall, provost and executive vice president; Laura A. Bayless, vice president of student affairs; Jeffrey A. Wolfman, vice president for institutional advancement; Richard Toomey, associate vice president of enrollment management; Matthew Bruun, executive director of communications; Matthew Burke, senior director of athletics; Michael Cloutier, chief of university police; Stefan Dodd, chief information officer and associate vice president; and Helen Ouellette, interim chief financial officer. This group is tasked with driving forward the university’s mission and responding to evolving student needs.
Under Hodge’s leadership, the university is positioning itself for long-term success by addressing modern challenges in higher education. Her restructuring of the executive cabinet reflects a strategic approach to leadership, prioritizing streamlined communication and stronger alignment with students. As the landscape of higher education and regional demographics shift, her initiatives are setting the groundwork for Fitchburg State to continue serving its diverse community while fostering a forward-thinking and inclusive environment.

https://www.telegram.com/story/news/education/2024/09/05/fitchburg-states-new-president-donna-hodge-promises-new-changes/75054215007/
https://www.newenglandcouncil.com/news-article/fitchburg-states-first-female-president-delivers-state-of-the-university-address/
https://www.wbjournal.com/article/the-new-president-under-donna-hodge-fitchburg-state-looks-to-provide-more-pathways-for-non
https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/about/history-fitchburg-state/hall-presidents