Queens University president to step down after being named head of Connecticut college
Queens University of Charlotte President Daniel Lugo will step down after being named to the same job at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He will assume his new role July 1.
“The search committee was impressed immediately by Dan, who stood out above a highly competitive pool for his track record of accomplishments and for his deep commitment to the value of a liberal arts education and to fostering a sense of belonging on campus,” Lisa Bisaccia, chair of the Trinity College Board of Trustees, said in a news release Tuesday. “We particularly noted Dan’s ability to steer institutions toward enduring financial strength while amplifying their brand and deepening campus pride.”
Trinity’s board of trustees voted unanimously to select Lugo, the news release said. Meanwhile, Queens sent out an email to community members Tuesday announcing Lugo would step down at the end of the academic year, Q City Metro first reported.
“While we are certainly saddened to bid farewell to Dan here in Charlotte, we also recognize that this transition is a testament to his continued growth as a leader and the national acclaim that Queens has achieved during his tenure,” Jesse Cureton, chair of the Queens University board of trustees, wrote
Cureton said Mark Reed, chair of the university’s nominating and governance committee, will develop a transition plan and develop a presidential search committee, comprising faculty, staff, students, alumni and trustees.
Lugo became president of Queens in July 2019 and is the school’s first Black president. During his tenure, the college saw a 50% increase in undergraduate applications, executed a $25 million capital improvement plan and reclassified its 25 NCAA sports to Division I.
More recently, the school, which has an enrollment around 1,400 students, announced this summer it would cut its budget and make layoffs after missing its enrollment goal because of a “turbulent” rollout of the new Federal Application for Student Aid.
Trinity College’s enrollment is about 2,200 students. It’s also a private, liberal arts school and was founded in 1823. Trinity’s endowment was $791 million in 2023, while Queens’ was around $155 million that same year.
Queens University was founded as an all-women’s college named the Charlotte Female Institute in 1857. Men were allowed to attend beginning in the 1940s, and the school became fully co-ed in 1987.
Prior to Queens, Lugo served as vice president of college advancement at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, from 2015 to 2019.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 1:36 PM.
