Donna Hodge confirmed as Fitchburg State's 12th president

A woman in a suit jacket and red dress or blouse

Photo | Courtesy of Fitchburg State University Donna Hodge, the 12th president of Fitchburg State University

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Donna Hodge, the former vice president of operations and advancement at Colorado State University Pueblo, has been confirmed as the next president of Fitchburg State University by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

Hodge was confirmed at a special MBHE meeting held on Monday, following a May 1 announcement the university’s board of trustees had selected her for the role. Hodge is the first woman president in the school’s 130-year history, according to the school’s list of prior presidents on its website. She will be one of four women leading a Central Massachusetts institute of higher education.

“I am excited to join the Fitchburg State community and support its vital mission,” Hodge said in a Monday press release announcing her confirmation. “As I witnessed firsthand during my time on campus, Fitchburg State has been a cornerstone of the city and region for 130 years. I look forward to working with the talented team of faculty, librarians, staff, and administrators to support our students as they pursue their educational and personal goals, and I am honored to help the university chart its future path.”

Hodge was appointed to the role following a nationwide search resulting in four final contenders. One candidate, Michael Godard, provost at Southeast Missouri State University, dropped out of contention on April 10 after accepting a role as the president of Indiana State University.

"Dr. Hodge will bring exceptional experience to Fitchburg State University," Noe Ortega, Massachusetts commissioner of higher education, said in the press release. "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’s selection comes after former Fitchburg State President Richard Lapidus announced in October he would be retiring from the role at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Hodge will start her tenure as president on July 1.

Hodge has been employed at Colorado State University, Pueblo since 2010. In addition to her role as a vice president at the school, she previously served as its chief strategy officer and a tenured faculty member.

Hodge holds a doctorate in rhetoric from Texas Woman’s University, as well as a master’s degree in women’s studies from Texas Woman’s and a master’s degree in English and history from Texas A&M University Texarkana.