For Trinity College, 2025 was a year filled with transitions, most notably the arrival of President Dan Lugo and a farewell to retiring President Emerita Joanne Berger-Sweeney. Lugo’s Inauguration in October was accompanied by academic symposia and a performance celebrating the enduring power of the liberal arts. In addition to Lugo, several new senior administrators were welcomed to the College this year: Director of Athletics and Recreation Gavin Viano; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Scott Jordan; and Vice President for Advancement Ben Anderson.
As Trinity wrapped up the historic All In Campaign with the largest fundraising total in the College’s history, a celebration of connection, gratitude, and pride honored the shared commitment and impact made by the generosity of the Trinity community.
Trinity continued its tradition of athletic achievement with three national championships in 2025: women’s squash secured back-to-back national titles; the men’s basketball team won its first national championship; and the men’s rowing 1V8 boat brought home the program’s first national championship victory.
The College was recognized with several awards and honors this year, building on a tradition of excellence. The Mellon Foundation awarded Trinity a three-year, $500,000 Higher Learning grant to support the new “Hartford Environmental Justice Research Partnership.” In April, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education added Trinity to its prestigious research rankings as one of the country’s “Research Colleges and Universities.” Also last spring, Trinity’s campus was again named by Architectural Digest among the most beautiful college campuses in America.
Trinity made strong showings on national rankings this fall, receiving wide recognition for value to its students and the success of its alumni. The College also received the Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight into Academia magazine and was recognized as a top LGBTQ-friendly institution with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index—earning each of those honors for the third consecutive year.
A year at Trinity always includes key academic and social events that connect the entire community. Last spring, the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival expanded its reach into Hartford, while Samba Fest made its own sunshine on campus. The Campus Life Leadership Awards commended contributions to the Trinity community and Honors Day recognized the academic achievements of students. Commencement—which included remarks from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont—celebrated the Class of 2025.
Reunion Weekend welcomed alumni back to Hartford in the summer. Summer research and summer internships helped to keep students engaged all year long. As fall arrived, the President’s Convocation and Matriculation Ceremony welcomed new students in the Class of 2029 to begin the fall semester. Alumni and families gathered for a busy Fall Weekend, and the annual Faculty Excellence Awards honored the outstanding contributions of faculty members. No year at Trinity would be complete without the winter holiday tradition of the Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols.
Take a glimpse back at more of the moments that made 2025 a stand-out year at Trinity College. For more photos, see the “Year in Photos” gallery at the bottom of this page.
January:
Trinity Launches New J-Term Tuck Business Bridge Program
Last year 37 students enrolled in Trinity’s new January Term program, Tuck Business Bridge, offered through a partnership with the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. The intensive program helped students build essential business skills.
Smart Pet Collar Wins Trinity College’s Innovation Challenge
Six teams of college and high school students pitched business proposals to a panel of alumni and family judges at the annual event organized by Trinity’s Entrepreneurship Center.
Trinity College in Photos: January 2025
January featured the January Experience of Living, Learning, and Outreach (JELLO) week of service, the opening of an exhibition at Widener Gallery, and an annual retreat for Posse scholars.
February:
Professor Samuel D. Kassow ’66 Wins National Jewish Book Award
Warsaw Testament, a memoir based on the wartime writings of Rokhl Auerbach—translated, introduced, and annotated by Samuel D. Kassow ’66, Charles H. Northam Professor of History—has been named a winner of a National Jewish Book Award.
Trinity Conference Observes International Day of Women and Girls in STEM
Trinity College hosted young students from the Hartford community at an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM, which is observed annually on February 11.
Trinity College in Photos: February 2025
Moments captured in February included a visit from Jean Appolon Expressions—a group exploring traditional and modern Haitian music and dance—the Asian-American Student Association (AASA) Lunar New Year celebration, alumni panel discussions, a student poetry reading, and more.
March:
Spring Performance Mix Presents Student Works in Theater and Dance
The Department of Theater and Dance took a new approach to its annual showcase of student choreography by mixing in original spoken-word pieces by students.
Students Consider Difficult Questions through ‘Bridging Divides’ Conversation
Bakari Sellers, a Democratic commentator and former South Carolina state representative, and Ross Douthat, a conservative New York Times columnist and author, talked about political polarization and the possibility of bipartisanship.
Trinity College in Photos: March 2025
March was filled with meaningful discussions, joyful celebrations, and the first signs of spring.
April:
Award-Winning Poet Jericho Brown Visits Trinity for Reading and Workshop
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown visited Trinity as part of the Allan K. Smith Reading Series. He offered a workshop for students, presented a reading of his poetry, and took part in engaging discussions.
Trinity College Names New Wellness and Recreation Center in Honor of Marlynn V. and William P. Scully ’61, H’18
The Scully Center, a major addition to the George M. Ferris Athletic Center, serves as a dynamic hub for fitness, recreation, and wellness activities, providing students with the resources they need to thrive physically and mentally.
Trinity College in Photos: April 2025
April was filled with festivals, discussions, and more programs that welcomed the Hartford community and a new class of Bantams to campus.
May:
Trinity Names Winners of First Room of the Year Contest
Bantams with some of the best nests on campus were named the winners of Trinity College’s first Room of the Year contest.
Environmental Science Trip Explores Desert Ecosystems in American Southwest
Students in Trinity’s Environmental Science Program learned firsthand about desert ecosystems as they explored the southwestern United States during an 11-day camping and hiking trip.
Trinity College in Photos: May 2025
May was the culmination of the academic year, with ceremonies honoring students and celebrating retiring faculty and staff. Concluding her presidency at the College after 11 years, Joanne Berger-Sweeney said farewell to the Trinity community at Commencement.
June:
Trinity Alumna Is Part of Pulitzer Prize-Winning Team of Journalists at ProPublica
“My Trinity education helps me every single day,” said Andrea Wise ’11, a visual strategy editor who contributed to the Pulitzer-winning project, “Life of the Mother.” Wise majored in studio arts at Trinity, where she first explored telling stories through images.
Trinity College in Photos: June 2025
Highlights from June included Reunion 2025, the inaugural Ideas Fest, summer research, the opening of the Scully Center, and a presidential transition.
July:
Community Support Dog Joins Trinity’s Campus Safety Department
The Bantam welcomed a new friend to campus last summer; a Labrador retriever puppy named Cooper is now bringing smiles to Trinity College.
Trinity College in Photos: July 2025
Highlights from July included the first day on the job for Trinity College President Dan Lugo, carillon concerts on the Main Quad, summer research, Dream Camp, and more.
August:
The Chapel Singers Celebrate 200 Years, Release The Bicentennial Album
The Chapel Singers—Trinity College’s oldest student organization in continuous existence—celebrated their 200th anniversary this year and recently released an album of music by composers with Trinity connections.
Trinity College in Photos: August 2025
Highlights from August included pre-orientation programs, new student move-in day, Convocation, Matriculation, New Student Orientation, and much more.
September:
Trinfo Reopens Building, Celebrates 25 Years of Serving the Community
Trinfo—formerly known as Trinfo.Café—is a gathering space at Trinity College that has welcomed Hartford residents for 25 years. After being closed for a year, the building has reopened with a renewed focus on serving the community.
TrinVotes! Encourages Students to Register and Vote
A nonpartisan initiative on campus led by students and staff helped members of the Trinity community take an active role in this fall’s municipal elections.
Trinity College in Photos: September 2025
Highlights from September included the first day of fall semester classes, Do It Day, the reopening of Trinfo, tours of the new Scully Center, research presentations, outings in downtown Hartford, and much more.
October:
English Professor’s Debut Novel Named as Finalist for National Book Award
The debut novel by Trinity College Associate Professor of English Ethan Rutherford, North Sun: Or, The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther, was named by the National Book Foundation as a finalist for the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction.
Trinity’s Greenberg Center Presents 2025 Berkman Journalism Award to Chana Joffe-Walt
Trinity College’s Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life recently presented the 2025 Moses Berkman 1920 Memorial Journalism Award to Chana Joffe-Walt, a radio journalist and producer for This American Life.
Trinity College in Photos: October 2025
Highlights from October included lectures, workshops, performances, awards ceremonies, and the inauguration of President Daniel G. Lugo. Inauguration Weekend coincided with Fall Weekend, which brought alumni and families to campus for a celebration of the Trinity community.
November:
Student ‘Projects for Peace’ Grant Recipients Share Their Global Experiences
Benedicte Baile ’25 and Alexander Cacciato ’26 each received a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant to implement projects to promote their visions of peace last summer. They recently shared updates with Trinity students, faculty, and staff about their global outreach endeavors.
New Initiatives Celebrate First-Gen Community at Trinity
As part of this year’s focused efforts to strengthen a thriving first-gen community at Trinity, the College recently hosted its first National First-Gen Students Day programming, bringing together students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
Trinity College in Photos: November 2025
November 2025 highlights included talks by artists, student visits to the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, alumni panel discussions, the first squash matches at the new Kovas Squash Center, student performances, colorful fall scenes around campus, and more.
December:
Trinity College Faculty and Staff Members Mark Milestones
Trinity College celebrated the dedication of its staff and faculty at the 2025 Service Award Recognition Celebration luncheon.
Trinity Seniors Developing Use Cases for Applied AI with Community and Business Partners
A group of computer science majors at Trinity College are part of a pilot program from Trinity’s Entrepreneurship Center that is developing new uses of artificial intelligence with business and community partners.
Trinity College in Photos: December 2025
December 2025 highlights included end-of-semester concerts and performances, research presentations, preparation for final exams, recognition for long-serving faculty and staff, holiday celebrations, winter scenes on campus, and more.
Trinity College Year in Photos: 2025
Trinity College Year in Photos: 2025
Through a partnership with the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Trinity College offered a new January Term program this year called Tuck Business Bridge. The program focuses on building essential business skills needed to help launch rewarding careers. Photo by Nick Caito.
Students work to restore historic homes as part of the JELLO Week of Service. Photo by Nick Caito.
Northam Towers and the trees on Trinity’s Main Quad stand in silhouette against a New England winter sky. Photo by Nick Caito.
A snow professor was prepared to host class outside the English Building following a snowstorm in early February. Photo by Nick Caito.
Samara Quintero ’25 throws a punch against her opponent during a boxing match held at the Ferris Athletics Center on March 1, 2025. Quintero and Wes Silverman ’26 qualified to represent Trinity College in the NCBA National Championships in Indiana. Photo by Lilly Supples ’26.
Trinity College students light sparklers following a community Iftar held in the Washington Room on March 3, 2025. The Iftar prayers and meal mark the end of a day of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Photo by Nick Caito.
Jade Mellitz ’26 creates movement from fabrics during the student choreographed Spring Performance Mix on March 5, 2025. Photo by Lilly Supples ’26.
A group of students spent their 2025 spring break on an excursion to West Virginia with Trinity’s Quest program. The group hiked, climbed cliffs, and explored underground caverns.
The Trinity College men’s basketball team celebrates its NCAA Division III National Championship victory over NYU, 64-60. Photo by Carter Vandermeer / Great Shot Production.
Trinity College mailed acceptance offer letters to hundreds of high school seniors around the world. Banty helped stuff envelopes on March 27, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Danny Meyer ’80, P’20, H’24 spoke with chef and humanitarian José Andrés at a Connecticut Forum event at Hartford’s Bushnell Theater on April 3, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Students cross the Main Quad with Travelers Tower visible in the distance. Photo by Nick Caito.
Rachel Platten ’03 (left) rehearses with the Trinitones and The Chapel Singers before a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan on April 28, 2025. Their performance was part of an event celebrating Trinity’s All In Campaign. Photo by Nick Caito.
Members of the men’s basketball team joined the women’s squash team at the Connecticut State Capitol on May 1, 2025, to be recognized by the state legislature for their national championships. Photo by Nick Caito.
Members of the women’s squash team joined the men’s basketball team at the Connecticut State Capitol on May 1, 2025, to be recognized by the state legislature for their national championships. The visit included a meeting in the office of Governor Ned Lamont H’25. Photo by Nick Caito.
A young black bear drew a crowd as it explored the south side of campus before posting up in a tree for most of Saturday, May 17, 2025. It climbed down in the overnight hours before Commencement day. Photo by Nick Caito.
Trinity College continued its tradition of adding bricks to the Lower Long Walk with the names of every graduating senior. Photo by Nick Caito.
President Joanne Berger-Sweeney crosses the Luther-Roosevelt Stone on the way to her final time overseeing Trinity College Commencement. Photo by Nick Caito.
Ronald Scott II ’25 pumps his fist after receiving his Trinity College diploma on May 18, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Crew members from Stained Glass Resources install new windows on the south side of the Trinity College Chapel. The window, gifted by President Emerita Joanne Berger-Sweeney and her family, is the first new stained glass to be installed in the Chapel since the 1940s. Photo by Nick Caito.
Paige Jaenicke ’27 works with Associate Professor of Chemistry Adam Hill ’08 on a laser spectroscopy experiment as part of her summer research project. Photo by Nick Caito.
Incoming Trinity College President Dan Lugo strolls the campus Long Walk near Cinestudio during a photoshoot on June 6, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
The month of June 2025 ended with the official opening of the Scully Center to the Trinity College community. The state-of-the-art facility features squash courts, exercise facilities, and staff offices. Photo by Nick Caito.
President Dan Lugo spent his first official day on the job meeting with groups of faculty and staff across campus, taking questions, and discussing his vision for the College. Photo by Nick Caito.
Cooper, Trinity’s community support dog in training, joined the Campus Safety team in July 2025 and was ready to patrol campus. Photo by Nick Caito.
Summit 2 Success and F1rst pre-orientation students cheer for the Hartford Yard Goats baseball team during a game on August 26, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Campus was an active place for families and students on August 28, which was move-in day for members of Trinity College’s Class of 2029. Photo by Nick Caito.
Stoic student “bodyguards” stand around the Luther-Roosevelt Stone to prevent members of the Class of 2029 from stepping on it. Tradition states that students who step on the stone before Commencement will not graduate. Photo by Nick Caito.
Members of the Class of 2029 sit for their class photo in the bleachers of Tansil-Muldoon Stadium. Photo by Nick Caito.
The former Trinfo.Café on Broad Street receives a sign with its new name and logo ahead of its grand reopening as Trinfo. Photo by Nick Caito.
Banty strolls Pratt Street in downtown Hartford on as part of the Mayor’s Night Out block party on September 12, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
October’s “Super Harvest Moon” rises behind the statue of Bishop Brownell on October 6, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Karolina Kwiecinska ’16, special assistant to the president, adjusts The Book and The Key before the official inauguration ceremony of Trinity College President Daniel G. Lugo on October 18, 2025. The Book contains the very first Trinity College Commencement program and has been touched by every graduate of the College, while The Key represents the President’s stewardship of the College and its facilities. Photo by Nick Caito.
Daniel G. Lugo addresses the Trinity College community after being formally inaugurated as the 23rd president of Trinity College on October 18, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Members of the Trinity Community gathered around campus for Fall Weekend activities on October 18, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
Autumn was in full swing by mid-October, with seasonal chills and leaves exploding in hues of red, orange, and yellow. Photo by Nick Caito.
Nine Trinity seniors with the Entrepreneurship Center met with clients like Cisco, Amazon Web Services, and the City of Hartford on October 24, 2025, at 10 Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford. Photo by Nick Caito.
Passing showers the afternoon of October 24, 2025, resulted in a full arch rainbow stretching across the Main Quad. Photo by Nick Caito.
Gates Quad is illuminated in a golden glow as the sun rises over Trinity College on October 27, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
A Trinity College student enjoys a walk down Summit Street in the autumn air. Photo by Nick Caito.
Members of the national champion women’s squash team show off their new rings for the second year in a row following a ceremony at the Kovas Squash Center on November 16, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
December began with a wintry mix of precipitation on campus. Photo by Nick Caito.
Olusegun “Shay” Ajayi ’16 leaves the podium following his acceptance of the Trinity Club of Hartford’s Person of the Year Award. Photo by Nick Caito.
Cooper, Trinity’s community support dog in training, was invited to several holiday gatherings across campus. Photo by Nick Caito.
