By Aimee Kanaskie and Franchesca Murrugarra
This summer marked a period of significant progress for The University of Tampa (UT). As workers completed the Grand Center, the university’s 11th on-campus residence hall, Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg began her tenure as the 11th president, laying a solid foundation for the future.
On June 1, 2024, President Dahlberg became The University of Tampa’s first female president, succeeding former President Ronald Vaughn.
The former provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Texas Christian University has over 20 years of experience in higher education and has been described in a press release by UT as “an advocate of student success, innovative academic programs and inclusivity initiatives.”
Throughout her years of working in higher education, two elements have remained constant: Dahlberg’s listening ear and her passion for enhancing the student experience.
“It’s all about listening and engaging and getting to know people,” Dahlberg said with a smile.
Dahlberg came to UT because she feels that “The University of Tampa is on the precipice of becoming a globally recognized university. The foundation has been laid by the prior president … and I want to help lead us forward to that.”
Since arriving on campus this summer, Dahlberg has hosted multiple small group lunches with students. As she puts it, she wants to “have extended conversations and get to understand what [the students] are all about.” This clearly demonstrates her commitment to building intimate connections with the UT community.
When asked about the most pressing issues facing university presidents today, Dahlberg responded, “It is declining enrollments and budget deficits, and those are connected. And the reason there is a lot of presidential churn is because it is impossible to solve those problems in many universities.” She paused before adding, “But we don’t have those problems at this university, going back to why I’m here.”
The University of Tampa has consistently reported record-breaking enrollment numbers, according to its official website. In October 2023, the university enrolled 11,047 students, surpassing the prior year’s record of 10,566, a growth rate of over 4.5%.
President Dahlberg also commented on the university, saying: “The best part is there is nothing broken that I have to fix. It’s all about enhancing what we already have.”
But ultimately, if Dahlberg could make one radical change to the higher education system as a whole, she would hope to create “a quality educational experience that is attainable for anyone.”
Building upon a strong foundation forged through prior institutional roles, Dahlberg leads with seasoned expertise. Interestingly, she started her education as a music therapy major, but her love of math led her to engineering. The problem-solving and goal-setting skills she honed during her studies have proven invaluable in her presidential role.
“Engineering is all about breaking down complex challenges into manageable steps, collaborating with diverse teams, and using data to measure progress,” she said. Dahlberg also noted that these are all skills that she utilizes daily as president.
Her passion for the university’s community and the student experience has also led her to initiate a plan to create a “spirit committee.” This committee, which would include students, would be dedicated to enhancing the collective pride in the university, though the concept is still under development.
“I’m very excited for us to generate more school spirit,” Dahlberg said. Dressed in a black dress and a red blazer with matching red nails, her pride and school spirit is exuberant.
Despite her busy schedule, the president makes time for activities that bring her joy. “I like to keep moving when I’m outside of work, and I like to laugh,” Dahlberg said. “On the ‘keep moving’ side, I love to run, walk, hike, swim, anything that is about moving. … And I love to laugh, so whether it’s just with friends, or my favorite form of entertainment, which is stand-up comedy.”
With her energetic and positive approach, President Dahlberg is a standout leader as The University of Tampa begins a new chapter. Her passion lies within the student experience and cultivating connections with her peers and student body alike.
This is truly only the beginning for President Dahlberg. She believes her ultimate measure of success will be seen in the recognition of the university. Her goal is that “the value of a University of Tampa degree is even more valuable as I’m leaving, as it was the day I walked in the door.”