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.
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.
