Dan Lugo became Trinity College’s 23rd president on July 1, 2025. Photo by Nick Caito.
The article, “From first-gen college grad to higher-ed president: Lugo takes helm at Trinity College,” by Andrew Larson, says that Lugo is impressed with the school’s faculty, student body, small classroom environments, and athletics program. Lugo says in the story, “It’s a community that I’m drawn to because of the balance of excellence that we have across the curriculum, rooted in the traditional humanities and social sciences, but we have an incredibly impressive array of hard sciences, quantitative disciplines, including engineering, which is a standout offering from any of our peers in the traditional liberal arts, small-college environment.”
Delving into Lugo’s background as an intellectual property and entertainment attorney, the article examines how the president made a career change to work in higher education, which he described as “the most important environments and institutions that made the biggest impact on my life.”
Lugo worked at his alma mater, Carleton College, before serving as vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at Franklin & Marshall College, vice president of advancement at Colby College, and president at Queens University of Charlotte. “In 2021, Lugo was selected as one of Charlotte’s ‘Most Admired CEOs’ by the Charlotte Business Journal,” the HBJ says.
Lugo says in the story that he believes a liberal arts education equips students with knowledge that teaches them to think critically about a range of topics. “The multidisciplinary approach gives you not just one insight into a problem, or a challenge or an opportunity, but you get this full spectrum of ideas that help you influence the choices that you can make,” he tells the HBJ.
While reviewing his initial goals at Trinity with HBJ, Lugo says that “one of his top priorities is to build a leadership team that combines new with old.” Lugo’s first appointments were Gavin Viano as athletic director, Scott Jordan as vice president and chief financial officer, and Ben Anderson as vice president for advancement.
The HBJ adds, “Lugo also plans to go on a listening tour, asking how the school is serving faculty and students to do their best work, and what should be prioritized for the ‘next era of capital improvements.’”
Read the full story in the Hartford Business Journalhere.
Trinity has once again made Architectural Digest’s annual list of the most beautiful college campuses in America. The publication takes into consideration both architectural legacy and setting, and singled out Trinity for its picturesque Long Walk, landscape design, and Chapel.
A round-up of the upcoming week’s music and arts events highlights the 20th Trinity International Hip Hop Festival on April 9-12, featuring co-headliners Da Odd Couple and B-Boy Tim Andria.
Ben Stralka, head athletic trainer at Trinity College with Hartford Healthcare Campus Care, talks about his role keeping student-athletes healthy and strong during Athletic Training Month.
The College Squash Association recognized Joachim Chuah ’26 with the Skillman Award, presented annually to a senior men’s player who demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship and a consistently high level of play throughout their collegiate career.