Skip to main content
Dec. 17, 2025

UTampa News: 2025 in Review

Join us in looking back at some of the notable news stories of the year.

Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg was officially inaugurated as the 11th president of the University of Tampa in an investiture ceremony this year.

From national rankings to national championships, UTampa had a lot to celebrate in 2025, including the inauguration of President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg.

January

UTampa Online Master’s Business Program Named One of the Best by U.S. News & World Report

University of Tampa was ranked No. 74 among the 2025 Best Online Master’s in Business programs by U.S. News & World Report.

 

February

UTampa Partners with Davis UWC Scholars Program

The University of Tampa announced a new partnership with the Davis United World College Scholars Program, an esteemed initiative that promotes global understanding and peace through higher education.

Introducing UTampa Cares, a Focus on Emotional Wellbeing

UTampa Cares, the University’s new, systemic approach to improving student success through emotional wellbeing, launched with programming and resources.

UTampa a “Top Producing Institution” of Fulbright U.S. Scholars

UTampa was recognized for being 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.

 

March

UTampa Recognized for Bicycle Friendly Program

University of Tampa’s bicycle-friendly program, Walk & Roll, earned top honors in the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s annual Urban Excellence Awards in the category Activating Spaces.

Men’s Club Hockey Secures First National Championship

The UTampa men’s ice hockey team defeated Farmingdale State College (NY), 5-2, on March 9, to win the Amateur Athletic Union Division I National Championship at Community First Igloo in Jacksonville.

UTampa Again Named a Military Friendly School

University of Tampa was named by G.I. Jobs magazine as a 2025-2026 Military Friendly School and was ranked in the silver category of universities.

Inauguration Events Highlight President’s Three Pillars of Focus

Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg was officially inaugurated as the 11th president of the University of Tampa in an investiture ceremony attended by the president’s cabinet, board of trustees members, friends of the University, visiting university staff and select students.

 

April

Part-Time MBA Program and Master’s Degree in Nursing Named Among the Best

The Sykes College of Business’ part-time MBA and UTampa’s master’s degree in nursing were named among the best programs in the country in the 2025 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News & World Report.

Faculty Member Named a Guggenheim Fellow in Poetry

Faculty member Dan Albergotti was named a Guggenheim Fellow in poetry.

Beach Volleyball Again Secures AVCA Small College Beach National Championship

The UTampa beach volleyball team capped off a flawless postseason run with three wins April 19 to claim the AVCA Small College Beach National Championship in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

 

May

University of Tampa Recognized by the Peace Corps

The University of Tampa was listed in the Peace Corps’ 2025 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.

Women’s Lacrosse Repeats as NCAA National Champions

The University of Tampa women’s lacrosse team captured its second consecutive NCAA Division II national championship with a 15-9 victory over Adelphi University (NY) at Kerr Stadium in Salem, Virginia.

 

June

Volunteer Trip to Italy Shows Power of Humanity

A two-week trip to Siena, Italy, with UTampa’s PEACE Volunteer Center reminded students about the power of humanity.

Baseball Again Wins National Championship

University of Tampa baseball repeated as NCAA Division II national champions, defeating University of Central Missouri, 11-5, in Cary, North Carolina.

 

July

Sykes College of Business Named One of the Top Business Schools by The Princeton Review

The Sykes College of Business was named as an outstanding business school with an on-campus MBA program by The Princeton Review — and recognized as one of the 213 best business schools.

 

August

UTampa Again Named a StormReady Institution

The University was named a StormReady institution by the National Weather Service.

UTampa Named One of the Best Colleges by The Princeton Review

University of Tampa again was named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, and was described as a “sunny, growing, global university” by the book’s editors.

Three UTampa Recent Grads Receive Fulbright Scholarships

University of Tampa alumni Jasmine Villavicencio ’24, Jillian Phillips ’24 and Darri Stuber ’25 received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards to continue their studies in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Lowth Entrepreneurship Center Celebrates 10 Years of Impact

The John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, part of the Sykes College of Business, hosted a 10-year anniversary celebration.

Enrollment Sets Another Record

The University welcomed another robust class of incoming students and celebrated its largest enrollment in history.

 

September

Four New Minors Announced

Environmental criminology and criminal analysis, psychology, Black studies and data science joined the University’s growing academic offerings.

Campus Initiatives Focus on Student Resiliency

Peer wellness coaching is one of several new initiatives introduced this year aiming to increase student resiliency and sense of belonging.

Sykes College of Business Receives High Marks in Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business School List

The Sykes College of Business was noted as the No. 27 school in the U.S. for learning and No. 34 for entrepreneurship.

UTampa Highlighted for Top Undergraduate Business, Nursing, Computer Science and Psychology Programs

The University of Tampa again was ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top tier in the category Regional Universities (South) in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 “Best Colleges” rankings.

 

October

Hurricane Coverage Gets a Critical Eye

Twenty UTampa students in the fall semester learned what it takes to be one of Florida’s most trusted experts in the most trying of times — a weather reporter during a hurricane.

Sport Management Major Follows Motto ‘Game Day Everyday’

Sport management and finance double major Porter Sherman '27 is interning with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

 

November

Tampa Animation Festival Brings Creativity to Campus

The Tampa Animation Festival, featuring films from around the world, took place in the Charlene Gordon Theater.

UTampa Students Step into the World of Paralympic Sport

UTampa hosted Paralympic Sports Day, an event designed for students to build self-awareness and community with para-athletes through sport experiences.

The Princeton Review Names UTampa a Top School for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Princeton Review, in collaboration with Entrepreneur magazine, ranked the University of Tampa’s entrepreneurship program as the 21st best graduate program in the nation, and the 26th best undergraduate program in the nation

 

December

UTampa Grads Enter Entertainment, Cybersecurity Industries and More

Graduates will enter full-time positions in the entertainment and cybersecurity industries and more.

Commencement Address Highlights Three Key Insights

Commencement keynote speaker Kevin Fridy, chair of political science and international studies, provided the graduating class with three pieces of advice.