Update Following the April 2026 Board of Trustees Meeting
April 29, 2026
Dear Members of the Trinity Community,
Spring has brought with it the unmistakable vitality that makes our campus so special, as students present their work with confidence and originality, faculty advance scholarship and teaching with distinction, and our broader community leans fully into the life of the College with a renewed sense of momentum and possibility. At a moment when higher education faces no shortage of complexity and challenge, Trinity feels deeply alive, ambitious, and forward looking.
That sense of vibrancy was on full display this weekend as we welcomed our trustees to campus for the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Celebrating Faculty Excellence
The trustees voted to award tenure and to promote six faculty members to the rank of associate professor. These professors are esteemed scholars in their field and are making a difference in the lives of the students they teach and mentor. Please join me in congratulating Elise Castillo, educational studies; Brianna Halladay, economics; Michael C. Puljung, neuroscience and chemistry; Lynn Sullivan, studio arts; Anna Terwiel, political science; and Benjamin J. Toscano, biology. In addition, Shane A. Gleason, associate professor of public policy and law, was awarded tenure.
The board also voted to confer emerita/emeritus status to the following faculty upon their retirement on June 30, 2026: Dina L. Anselmi, associate professor of psychology; Barbara M. Benedict, Charles A. Dana Professor of English; Robert J. Corber, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor in American Institutions and Values; Jack Dougherty, professor of educational studies; Robert J. Fleming, professor of biology; and Katherine Lahti, professor of language and culture studies. Collectively, these faculty represent more than 200 years of service of teaching and scholarship at Trinity
On Friday during lunch, trustees had the opportunity to engage directly with faculty from across disciplines in small-group conversations to hear about their teaching and scholarship. As faculty are the intellectual heart of the institution, trustees were eager for the opportunity to experience more directly the depth of talent, commitment, and creativity that define Trinity’s academic community.
Strategic Planning
As I near the completion of my first academic year, a chief topic on my mind and the minds of the trustees is Trinity’s next strategic plan. With the arrival this week of Rich Majerus, our new vice president for strategic planning and marketing and communications, I am enthusiastic about beginning this work in a way that is appropriately ambitious, grounded, and candid about the environment in which Trinity and institutions like ours now operate.
To begin this work, the board engaged in two plenary sessions. On Friday, we were joined by national higher education thought leader Jeff Selingo, who helped us baseline our understanding of the broader forces reshaping higher education and the external context within which we begin this planning effort. On Saturday, we engaged in a rigorous discussion designed to further define our planning process and to create alignment around expectations, both for the board and for institutional leadership, as we move this work forward.
I am excited by this serious and substantive beginning, one that positions us to undertake a planning process that is strategically disciplined, agile, and genuinely consequential. More will be shared on this process in the coming months, which will include many opportunities for engagement of all members of the Trinity community.
Budget Review and Planning
As always, the trustees are careful stewards of Trinity’s resources. During this meeting, the board reviewed the FY26 year-end forecast, received an update on the FY27 budget and five-year outlook, and approved the FY27 capital budget.
At the center of these discussions are core principles: strengthening Trinity’s long-term financial sustainability by achieving balanced operating budgets and continuing to invest in the College’s future. That investment includes addressing deferred maintenance, enhancing student housing and academic spaces, and advancing key strategic initiatives.
We expect FY26 to close with a modest surplus, driven by stronger-than-anticipated revenue from transfer enrollment.
The board approved a $20.6 million capital budget for FY27, supported through a combination of bond funding, operating resources, and philanthropic support. This includes $5 million toward deferred maintenance, the majority of which is earmarked for campus infrastructure and beautification and upgrades to academic spaces and athletics facilities. This plan reflects a continued commitment to enhancing the campus experience and to ensuring that we are an enjoyable and attractive place for those who are here and for those who hope to call Trinity home.
Planning for the FY27 operating budget is ongoing, and the board will vote on the full FY27 operating budget in early June.
Gratitude and Appreciation
The April meeting also is when we say goodbye to our outgoing trustees, whose terms end on June 30, 2026. During a dinner celebration, we said farewell to Olusegun “Shay” Ajayi ’16, Peter S. Duncan ’81, P’13, ’14, Walter Harrison ’68, H’18, and N. Louis “Lou” Shipley ’85. These four trustees have been unwavering in their commitment to our community and have been generous with their time and talent.
Upon conclusion of the board’s formal proceedings, many trustees remained on campus to join an important forward-looking milestone for Trinity: the groundbreaking of the Elizabeth Elting Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship with our lead donor, Liz Elting ’87. This was a meaningful moment for the College and a powerful expression of Trinity’s commitment to preparing students to bring creativity, courage, and practical imagination to the world’s challenges.
I am energized by the enthusiasm and engagement of our dedicated Board of Trustees; the strong sense of progress and momentum is palpable. I look forward to more exciting moments of celebration, in particular Commencement Weekend May 16–17, as we come together to honor the achievements of the Class of 2026.
With appreciation,
Daniel G. Lugo
President
