Fitchburg State University President Dr. Donna Hodge has been selected as one of Worcester Business Journal’s (WBJ) 2026 Outstanding Women in Business honorees. The annual awards program celebrates strong, talented, and remarkable women executives and business leaders who are making a profound mark on the Central Massachusetts economy and community.
The awards will be officially presented at the 2026 Outstanding Women in Business Luncheon Ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Hogan Campus Center at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.
"President Hodge exemplifies the type of visionary, community-minded leadership that moves an institution and a region forward,” said Fitchburg State University Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Michael Fiorentino Jr. “The Board of Trustees is thrilled to celebrate this honor with her, and we look forward to continuing our work together as Fitchburg State reaches new heights of academic excellence and economic impact.”
Hodge, who became the 12th president —and first female leader —of Fitchburg State in 2024, is being recognized for her visionary leadership, disciplined financial stewardship, and deep commitment to weaving the university into the civic, economic, and cultural fabric of North Central Massachusetts.
"I'm honored to be recognized alongside women whose leadership is shaping Central Massachusetts," said Hodge. "Leading a public university requires us to be disciplined with our resources and ambitious about what we can make possible. At Fitchburg State, that means building programs that respond to regional needs, strengthening partnerships with employers and our community, and making sure more students can see a future for themselves here. I'm grateful to the colleagues and partners who share that work with me."
Under Hodge’s leadership, Fitchburg State has experienced a resurgence, reversing a decade-long enrollment decline with an incoming class larger than the previous year. Central to this success is the "Fitchburg Promise," a groundbreaking direct-admissions and tuition-free agreement established with five local high schools in Fitchburg to remove barriers to higher education for Fitchburg residents.
"I'm delighted that Dr. Hodge has earned this meaningful and well-deserved recognition from the Worcester Business Journal for her continued success advancing the vital mission of Fitchburg State University,” said Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Eric Gregoire. “Donna's leadership has cultivated a renewed commitment to serving the students of North Central Massachusetts and beyond, while ensuring a vibrant campus culture where all students can thrive. Her vision for the possibility of Fitchburg State demonstrates why she is an outstanding honoree for this award."
Hodge has also spearheaded transformative economic development initiatives in downtown Fitchburg, including the revitalization of the historic Theater Block through an alliance with GFI Partners to create mixed-use housing and retail space.
Additional key initiatives during her tenure include:
- Formalizing strategic partnerships with the Applewild School, Fitchburg Public Schools, Workers Credit Union, and the Fitchburg Art Museum.
- More than doubling the number of military and veteran students and families served by the university.
- Launching two new varsity sports programs — women’s ice hockey and men’s lacrosse.
- Establishing the Presidential Ambassadors program to foster leadership pipelines for undergraduate students.
Beyond campus, Hodge serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, the Fitchburg Art Museum, and the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. Nationally, she contributes to the Presidents for Latino Student Success Network, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s 2026 Presidents’ Council, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) Committee on International Education.
To learn more about Dr. Hodge and her fellow honorees, visit the Worcester Business Journal.
For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit wbjournal.com/event/women-in-business/.