Daniel G. Lugo Inaugurated as 23rd President of Trinity College

“I offer an important message to the Trinity community,” President Daniel G. Lugo said during his Inaugural Address. “We must no longer whisper our pride. In an age when higher education must prove its value, Trinity will proclaim it. We do not simply educate; we cultivate leaders of conscience and consequence.”

Students, alumni, faculty and staff members, Trustees, family members, community partners, honored guests, and delegates from higher education institutions from across the nation gathered on October 18, 2025, in the George M. Ferris Athletic Center’s Ray Oosting Gymnasium to celebrate Lugo’s installation as the 23rd president of Trinity College.

Lugo delivered a pledge of partnership and a call for unity as higher education faces what he called a time of challenge. “When others question higher education’s relevance, we will respond not with defensiveness, but with demonstrations of excellence,” he said. “To ensure we move forward, we must be focused and in alignment about our common purpose. We must move as one Trinity, united. Now is the time for everyone who loves this College—students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and neighbors—to unite behind its mission. Regardless of our politics, our profession, or our background, we share one truth: faith in Trinity’s power to transform lives.”

As she led the ceremony marking Lugo’s inauguration, Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisa Bisaccia ’78 said, “This occasion marks a milestone in Trinity’s 202-year history—the passing of the torch that will light Trinity’s future.”

The program was punctuated by music from College Carillonist Ellen E. Dickinson; the Manchester Pipe Band; the Quiet City Brass Quintet and Tympani; The Chapel Singers; and pianist David Marottolo ’21.

Greetings were offered by the Board of Trustees; Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam on behalf of the City of Hartford; Trinity faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and students; and the Academy, represented by C. Andrew McGadney, president of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

Arulampalam said that the stories of Trinity and the city of Hartford are deeply intertwined. “It’s an incredible history of coexistence and mutual benefit,” he said. In his remarks, the mayor described Lugo as an “innovative, compassionate, and visionary leader” who is already working on developing new partnerships with the city.

Faculty Secretary Garth A. Myers, Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Urban International Studies and director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies, spoke on behalf of the faculty. “We commend you for dedicating your career to leading liberal arts colleges,” Myers said in his welcome to Lugo. “With a spirit of shared purpose, we stand united with you and look forward to collaborating on Trinity’s next generation of excellence.”

Manuela Rodés ’26, president of Trinity’s Student Government Association, delivered a greeting from the students. “What excites us most about President Lugo is his vision for a Trinity that is not only academically excellent, but also inclusive, innovative, and deeply connected to the world around us,” Rodés said.

McGadney—a friend and former colleague of Lugo’s—said that he referred to Lugo as “the smartest person in the room” when they worked together at Colby College. McGadney said of Lugo, “As a first-generation college graduate, he knows firsthand the transformative power of a liberal arts education and will work tirelessly to ensure current and future Trinity students experience that power.”

Lugo was officially presented by Walter Harrison ’68, H’18, vice chair of the Trinity Board of Trustees and president emeritus of the University of Hartford: “Devoted to liberal learning; admired by his faculty and staff colleagues at his previous institutions; experienced in understanding and excelling in two critically important functional areas for any college —that is, admissions and advancement; and a proven presidential leader with a record of accomplishment and success, Dan Lugo is the right leader at the right time,” Harrison said.

Bisaccia presided over the investiture of the president before Lugo delivered his Inaugural Address, which touched on the strengths of Trinity’s faculty, students, and alumni, as well as its connections with Hartford and its commitment to academic freedom. “Education is not just a ladder, but a bridge—between where we begin and the full measure of who we might become,” Lugo said. “It is with a spirit of gratitude that I look to our future and that I invite you to do the same. Be the believers who forge the path for Trinity to achieve its fullest potential. … To all who believe in Trinity’s promise, hear me clearly: the time is now, the work is ours, and the future is bright.”

Lugo began his service as Trinity’s 23rd president on July 1, 2025. He came to Trinity after serving as president of Queens University of Charlotte from 2019 until 2025. Lugo was named one of Charlotte’s “Most Admired CEOs” by the Charlotte Business Journal. Prior to his tenure at Queens, he served in key advancement and admissions leadership roles at three prominent liberal arts colleges—Colby, Franklin & Marshall, and Carleton.

Before entering the world of higher education, Lugo worked as an intellectual property and entertainment attorney. Lugo earned a B.A. in political science from Carleton and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He and his wife, TinaMarie, are the proud parents of two adult children, Michael and Amanda. Read more about Lugo here.

The inauguration ceremony was filled with time-honored traditions, from the academic regalia worn by the participants to the ceremonial items that symbolize the office of the president and the ideals of the liberal arts. As he was invested as the new president of Trinity, Lugo received into his care the Mace, the Book, the Key, and the Presidential Collar, each a symbol of the office in its own way. Read more about the symbols of the office of the president here.

Inauguration Weekend featured academic symposia, the formal installation ceremony, and a luncheon for members of the Trinity community and honored guests. The celebration coincided with Fall Weekend, which brought together Homecoming and Family Weekend in a spirited showcase of campus life.