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

The �������ampa chamber singers performed three pieces, including the alma mater song.

“It’s incredible,” Abigail Staib ’28, an allied health major and chamber singer, said of the event. “We’ve had so many amazing opportunities. It’s an honor and makes you feel so part of the (�������ampa) community.”

In her remarks, President Dahlberg noted her three areas of focus: magnifying �������ampa’s impact on people and communities, starting with student success; reputational excellence; and growing the endowment.

“Our programs are built upon a strong liberal arts foundation. Exceptional faculty guides students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively and lead with purpose,” she said. “Experiential learning outside the classroom compliments academics fulfilling the �������ampa commitment of learning by thinking and learning by doing.”

�������ampa recently launched “Internships for All,” an initiative that builds upon long-standing efforts by faculty and staff, Dahlberg said. The goal is to provide paid internships to students, so they’re ready to enter the workforce, regardless of their chosen major.

The third pillar of focus is the University endowment, the financial foundation that supports �������ampa’s long-term excellence.

“Over 90% of �������ampa students receive financial aid and scholarships,” she said. “This is why we have intensified our focus on growing endowed student scholarships and endowed faculty and staff positions.”

Under the direction of Provost David Stern, the �������ampa curriculum has evolved to meet society's future needs, Dahlberg noted, with facets like personalized learning environments, small classes, cutting-edge technologies and meaningful community engagement.

“As a young university, we are nimble; even so, generative artificial intelligence is advancing at lightning speed, so we're launching the ‘AI Across the University’ initiative to accelerate the great work that faculty have already begun,” she said.

“Our goal is to prepare �������ampa graduates to ride the wave of change as AI becomes integrated into their future careers and future lives, and there will be more.”

Following the ceremony, attendees were welcomed to a luncheon, post-ceremony celebration and an Ars Sonora concert held in the Sykes Plaza.

Monday afternoon, Stephanie Russel Krebs, �������ampa’s vice president for student affairs and strategic initiatives, moderated an academic symposium, which featured President Dahlberg, Susan R. Wente, president of Wake Forest University; Victor Boschini Jr., chancellor of Texas Christian University; and M. Brian Blake, president of Georgia State University.

On Tuesday, President Dahlberg will plant a memorial tree on campus to replace a grand oak that was lost during Hurricane Milton. The tree will symbolize Dahlberg’s commitment to sustainability and planting roots in the Tampa Bay community.

For more information and a list of the week’s events, visit www.utampa.edu/inauguration.