Leading Trinity into Its Third Century: Dan Lugo Begins as the 23rd President

Dan Lugo is beginning his work as Trinity’s 23rd president on July 1 by embracing the Trinity community and learning about what makes it distinctive.

“Starting on Day 1, I’ll open my door to the people of Trinity and spend time with as many members of our community as possible to orient myself and to create a dialogue of possibility and openness,” said Lugo. “I want to hear from all community members about what makes them most proud to be a part of the Trinity community and what opportunities they hope a new administration will prioritize. I’m excited to really immerse myself in all things Trinity.” He succeeds Joanne Berger-Sweeney, who retired from the College this summer after an 11-year tenure.

Lugo said that since the announcement of his appointment last December, he has been overwhelmed by the passion he has seen for Trinity from its faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni. “People care deeply about this place, and I’m looking forward to getting to know what makes Trinity distinctive and special as a higher education institution with such an important place in the world,” he said.

Driven by a lifelong passion for the mission of higher education, Lugo was most recently president of Queens University of Charlotte. 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.

A first-generation college graduate, Lugo earned a B.A. in political science from Carleton and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. As a product of a liberal arts education, he said that he believes in the liberal arts as a mindset. “I think people miss the point of the liberal arts when they think only of individual areas of study,” Lugo said. “It is really a holistic suite—a way of learning and approaching problem-solving that has stood the test of time, from the Greeks until now.  You can only understand complex societal challenges when you understand the dynamics of science, history, communication, and how all the disciplines connect. No matter what happens in society, with artificial intelligence or other developments, that’s always going to be needed.”

Just as important to Lugo as Trinity’s liberal arts curriculum is its partnership with Hartford. “I think that great higher ed institutions must make a positive impact on their broader communities and to engage with our city in a way that is mutually respectful and beneficial,” Lugo said. “We are blessed to live in a vibrant capital city with food, culture, sports, and people who have come here from around the world and call Hartford home—and together we can work to solve the challenges that urban centers face in the 21st century.”

Lugo added that civic engagement is a hallmark of Trinity—with the Center for Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER) leading the way—that he intends to lean into even more. “We’ve got significant expertise on our faculty, and the students here are passionate, so Trinity must continue to be a strong partner for Hartford, which is an important city with an exciting future,” he said.

As a fan of sports, music, the arts, and cuisines of all sorts, Lugo intends to explore all that Trinity and Hartford have to offer. Lugo and his wife, TinaMarie, will live in the President’s House on campus. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Michael and Amanda.

While he builds connections in his first months as president, Lugo said that he plans to reach out and host many opportunities to connect with the full Trinity community, which includes connecting more deeply with alumni. In addition to hosting coffee pop-ups for faculty, staff, and students on campus on his first day at work, Lugo has also already enjoyed meeting more than 400 alumni at Reunion weekend, where he and Claire Capeci ’85, president of Arnold Worldwide, held a discussion at Trinity’s Ideas Fest.

Lugo also welcomes advice, feedback, and questions from the community via email. Lugo’s official Presidential Inauguration is scheduled for October 18, 2025.

“I’m looking forward to adding value to the future of the College by helping to set a course that garners Trinity all the resources, accolades, and success it deserves,” Lugo said.