President's Message
A presidential inauguration is a special moment in the life of a university. To me, it is an epoch moment. We come together to celebrate the university’s history and accomplishment, and we generate optimism and excitement for a new era of excellence.
My inauguration this spring as the 11th president of the University of Tampa was profoundly meaningful. I was moved by the sentiments shared over those two days —expressions of appreciation for UTampa’s enduring legacy and excitement for its future. I am grateful to those who planned and participated in the events, as well as to the many alumni and friends who sent messages of encouragement, shared memories and expressed their aspirations for the University.
It has been an honor to become part of this remarkable community, and I look forward to leading UTampa as we write our next chapter together.
This issue of the University of Tampa Journal includes coverage of the inauguration and highlights the continued momentum and excellence at UTampa. I spotlight two significant achievements that reflect our institution’s rising national profile.
First, in February, we were informed that UTampa has been recognized as one of the universities with the highest number of faculty selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
This is outstanding news, as UTampa was the only university in Florida with that designation in the master’s institution classification and was tied with four other institutions with the second highest number of scholar grants in the nation. A Fulbright is one of the most most competitive and prized faculty awards. Our success is due to the globally-focused research of UTampa faculty in the arts and sciences. One of those faculty who was awarded a Fulbright is Kendra Frorup, a member of UTampa’s class of 1992 and an associate professor of art and design.
And then, in April, the University was notified that one of its faculty, an English professor, was named a Guggenheim Fellow in poetry. Like the Fulbright, the Guggenheim is among the most prestigious of faculty awards, which require total commitment to a field of study. UTampa’s awardee, Dan Albergotti, is one of only two honorees representing Florida universities, and one of only 198 nationwide.
As the University marches toward greater notoriety and national reputation, having the names Fulbright and Guggenheim associated with our faculty is a giant step in the right direction. I commend the faculty for their pursuit of excellence in teaching and research, and for raising the University’s renown as a top institution of higher education. These awards are the culmination of considerable work and commitment by the professors, their departments and colleges and the institution itself. They encapsulate academic excellence at its core. I look forward to working with faculty leadership to continue this trend.
It is my vision that awards such as the Fulbright and Guggenheim — and, in the future, perhaps Rhodes, MacArthur, and others — will become synonymous with UTampa. These recognitions not only raise the value of a UTampa degree, but also inspire future generations of faculty and students.
Go Spartans!
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, Ph.D.
President