The bonus here, of course, was a barbecue-themed reception for the Texas-raised Hardin, including pulled pork sliders, corn bread, macaroni and cheese, a special ice cream sauce and smooth-sipping spirits.  

“For 100 years, the Hamden Regional Chamber has been a cornerstone of this community — and you've been the heartbeat of Hamden's business life,” Hardin told an overflow crowd at Cascade Fine Catering in Hamden.

“You've connected people. You've sparked ideas. You've driven growth. That’s an extraordinary legacy, and Quinnipiac is proud to be a part of that legacy,” Hardin said. “We were born in about the same era — the chamber in 1925 and Quinnipiac University just four years later in 1929. We both started small, but we both had big ambitions, and we've both grown into pillars of this region.”

The theme of partnership, friendship, community and collaboration was shared throughout the evening, from Hardin to Hamden Mayor Adam Sendroff, North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, Chamber President Nancy Dudchik, Hamden Fire Chief Shelly Carter, Hamden Police Chief Edward Page Reynolds and many other chamber members. 

Hardin explained how Quinnipiac and the Hamden community lift each other and support each other. It’s this symbiotic relationship that benefits and bonds the two entities with programs such as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, scholarships for Hamden students, Boomer’s Boo Bash and the Presidential Public Service Fellows.

“Institutions of higher education and the communities where they sit have a social compact,” Hardin said. “We, as an institution, are citizens of this community. We are also neighbors to y’all, and so, that is a relationship that is unique. It is special, and it is one that I intend to lead our institution to truly honor, to be of value to this community.” 

She also addressed the economic benefit shared by the university and its Hamden neighbors.

“The most recent Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges report shows that our annual impact is nearly $1.46 billion, supporting about 11,600 jobs. Think about that,” Hardin said.

“The impact is a result of direct spending by the university in areas like salaries, operations and capital investments as well as the ripple effect that reaches local shops, businesses and services in towns like Hamden,” Hardin said. “Initiatives like these and many others, they unify us around a common cause: the well-being of this community.”

Sendroff, the town’s newly minted mayor and an avid runner like Hardin, agreed.

“We're very fortunate to have a university like Quinnipiac in our town. It touches so many people and businesses,” Sendroff said. “Quinnipiac is woven into the fabric of our community. It adds a vibrancy to Hamden and long-term economic development opportunities. In my family, my wife is a Quinnipiac graduate, my father-in-law was a Quinnipiac professor for 30 years, and my mom took classes there. 

“I'm looking forward to working and collaborating with President Hardin,” he added. “I like that our new position started around the same time. We can both offer fresh perspectives on the town-gown relationship and chart a new course forward, together.” 

For Jennifer Rignoli, JD ’06, a principal at Parrett Porto Attorneys at Law, the presenting sponsor of the welcome reception, the relationship with Quinnipiac spans decades. In fact, 10 of Parrett Porto’s 20 attorneys are graduates of the School of Law.

“When Dr. Hardin was inaugurated as Quinnipiac's 10th president in the fall, she spoke about the importance of grit, that it is a common denominator she shares with the university, and that it intertwines with Quinnipiac's commitment to ambition and growth,” Rignoli said.

“Hearing that description, I can't help but draw a parallel to our firm's commitment to ambition and growth since its inception in 1962,” Rignoli said. “It is with that purpose, passion and grit, perhaps instilled within us by our collective experiences at Quinnipiac that Parrett Porto has persevered and grown over the last 64 years.” 

Dudchik also celebrated the strong relationship among Quinnipiac, the Chamber, the Town of Hamden and local businesses.

“Quinnipiac is not only one of Hamden's largest and most respected institutions,” she said, “it’s also a powerful economic driver for our town. Through its students, faculty, staff, family and visitors, the university fuels our local economy every single day, supporting restaurants and our retailers, housing, professional services, and small businesses.”

“From the Chamber's perspective, our partnership with Quinnipiac spans decades — 53 years as a Chamber member to be exact — with reaching and collaborating with numerous departments and initiatives,” Dudchik said. “It’s a very important relationship built on shared goals, all in an effort to ensure Hamden continues to thrive.”

It’s precisely this mindset that led to the construction of the mixed-use Noble Gas development on Whitney Avenue featuring a gas station, EV charging capability, a modern convenience store and luxury apartments. The vision was made possible after a land swap between Quinnipiac and Noble Gas.

“Together, we created a bigger investment for the Town of Hamden than originally planned, one with more housing and jobs, including some filled by Bobcats,” said Hardin. “And that’s always good.”

For Michael Frisbie, owner of Noble Gas, Inc., the partnership brought Quinnipiac and Noble Gas together to reimagine a high-end refueling center with housing for students and other community members.

“None of this would have been possible without our neighbors at Quinnipiac University,” he said. “I want to extend a sincere thank you to the university for their partnership and for allowing Noble to acquire the land needed to bring this project to life.”