A New TrinColl President: What Do We Need?

Talia Cutler ’27

Executive Opinion Editor

Ever since President Joanne Berger-Sweeney announced her incoming retirement last spring, a feverish question has overtaken our campus: Who will be her replacement? Who can ever fill those size 5 shoes? Well, never fear! The Presidential Search Committee has been keen on the lookout for a new president for Trinity College. The committee, which has exactly one student on it and a bunch of trustees who I have never seen on this campus, promises us “high standards.” In their last (and first) update to the student body, they shared that their candidates “have expressed a strong desire to proudly and confidently serve as Trinity’s 23rd president and to help the College reach its full potential in our third century.” But what exactly does that potential entail? What do we need in a new president?

My first thought was perhaps an E. Gordon Gee type (wouldn’t everyone love an E. Gordon Gee?). In all seriousness, this campus has some troubling management issues. Most pressing is our financial situation; Trinity is running a 10 million dollar deficit. For a student reference, this is the equivalent to about 5 trips to H&L. This financial issue has ripple effects that go beyond the checkbooks. Losing this much money manifests itself in a dependence on full-pay students. This is slowly lowering admission standards as well as the quality of the student body, and thus, decreasing our ranking and reputation (which, in turn, causes us to lose more money). Ideally, our new president will have a deep understanding of financial management and be able to navigate debt reduction strategies effectively. They should also be adept at fundraising, or perhaps just willing to wear a sandwich board and ring a bell at a parents weekend tailgate. 

Another concern is student retention disproportionately affecting students of color. While the College boasts a high graduation rate, in 2016 the six year grad rate for Black and African American students was a mere 68% compared to the overall rate of 84%. While the onus of this issue is on several departments, a college president should be equipped with a plan to practice rigorous benchmarking at our predominantly White institution. Factors such as financial aid, academic advising, social support, community outreach and curriculum are central things to consider when tackling systemic issues and creating an equitable learning environment. Leadership requires an investment into retention — this is key to building a strong and diverse academic community for Trinity’s future. 

Another overwhelming consensus amongst the student body is the lack of connection from our administration. JBS has often painted herself as accessible to the student population. She even has a signature line:  “When you see me on the Long Walk, ask me what book I’m reading!” And yet, it isn’t so easy to get a hold of her. Sightings of JBS around campus are scarce, and her bi-annual office hours do little to mend this gap. The “President’s House” at 133 Vernon street sits unoccupied for the majority of the school year, and as far as I can tell it is used primarily as a venue for the occasional scholarship event. To be fair, who can blame her? You couldn’t pay me $700,000 to live across from AD either. 

I mean no disrespect to President Berger-Sweeney, who has undoubtedly served Trinity well for the past 11 years (I mean, we haven’t lost our Little Ivy status… yet!) and is probably busy with more important things than speaking to 19-year-old econ majors on the Long Walk. However, these issues are widely felt at Trinity. To avoid a further divide between students and administration, the new president should be available to the student body and willing to increase communication and transparency amongst our campus community. These issues are not unique to Trinity — they are reflective of challenges facing many liberal arts institutions. However, this does not lessen their importance on our campus.

I am not naive and I understand that this article may fall on deaf ears. I mean, when have trustees ever cared about a student’s opinion? Who am I kidding, this was way too much to ask for — we can’t even get a working ice-cream machine in our dining hall. Yet, for once I am putting pessimism aside. As the search for a new president reaches its critical stages in the coming months, I look forward to what comes next. Trinity, we are on the cusp of a new beginning! I hear your rah-rah’s and raise you a “pretty-please-don’t-be-senile!” or even a “just-don’t-bankrupt-us!” Whatever the future holds on July 1, 2025, just remember: You could be at ConnColl instead.