This afternoon, Fitchburg State University Military and Veteran Services Director Nolan Buck hosted an Open House/Meet and Greet event  in our  Veteran Center. This gave  our veteran students the opportunity  to gather for coffee, a snack & camaraderie. In addition, these students had the chance to discuss the unique concerns of veteran students.

With President Donna Hodge at the NCAA conference in Washington, DC, Vice President of Personnel Services and General Counsel Stacey Luster hosted our inaugural Campuswide Development Day. Although off-campus, President Hodge gave welcome remarks via video.

Master of Ceremonies Jeremy Roche '94, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations for Fitchburg Public Schools, welcomed attendees to Weston Auditorium for the inauguration of  Mayor Samantha Squailia, School Committee and City Council.

The ceremony opened with the Fitchburg Police & Fire Department  Honor Guard, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Fitchburg Youth Football & Cheer. Officer Jacob Boivin of the Fitchburg Police Department then performed the National Anthem. Following an opening prayer by Furqan Mehmud, President of the Fitchburg Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge delivered her opening remarks.

 State Representative Michael Kushmerek'08, '13 spoke on behalf of the State Legislature after City Clerk Joanna Bilotta administered the Oath of Office to the City Council, School Committee, and Mayor. The event featured cultural presentations by Guatu’niki, Fitchburg High School, and Las Faldas Rojas Traditional Dance, all preceding Mayor Squailia’s inaugural address.

Business Department Chair Dr. Michael Greenwood lectured at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce's Community Leadership Institute Class of 2026's monthly session this morning which was hosted by our good friends and frequent collaborators at Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) in a transformed Studio A. FATV Executive Director Nathan Glenny, a graduate of the program. also presented to the class.

Part of the college experience is getting involved. and as we reach the finish line of another incredible academic year, it's time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the vibrant moments that defined our students'  journey outside the classroom.

Last week, students enrolled in our Upward Bound Math & Science Program (UBMS) program decorated cookies, sipped some hot coco, made snowflakes, snow globes, and cut out snowflakes in Thompson Hall at their Winter Enrichment Day.

This morning saw the culmination of the Annual Care & Share Holiday Community Program, spearheaded by the Office of Student Engagement, Fitchburg Community Outreach Center (FCOC) & the Mckay Elementary School. Members of Materials Management, University Police, and  Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness gathered in Hammond Hall to gather gifts donated by faculty and staff for our Care & Share Program. After an escort from University Police, for delivery to the McKay Campus School, gifts for 32 families were sorted. For more than 45 years, the campus community has "adopted" children from the McKay school community to receive unwrapped gifts. This year, 118 Children were "adopted."

Counseling Services hosted a Finals Frenzy event giving out ice cream sundaes in G-Lobby in the Hammond building. In addition to the ice cream, Graduate Intern Peter Kaiser showed off his prestidigitation skills. Counseling Services strives to provide an inclusive space that honors the strengths, lived experience, and uniqueness of each individual. Our counselors provide services focused on wellness, growth, and self advocacy, in order to enhance your success at the university and in the larger community. 

Director of Upward Bound Math & Science Nate Obin welcomed President Donna Hodge toa discussion this morning as part of our Future Educator Academy. President Hodge discussed her own journey in higher education and took questions. Some of our Presidential Ambassadors, as well as our Dean of the School of Education,  Mojdeh Bayat and Economics, History and Political Science Professor Christine Dee were on hand to answer questions as well.