On a day marked with regalia, wonder and promise, Marie Hardin, PhD, was inaugurated as Quinnipiac’s 10th president Thursday at the M&T Bank Arena. The historic event was witnessed by several hundred people and one dog, Hardin’s favorite canine: Tator.

It was a milestone moment for Hardin, who will guide Quinnipiac toward its centennial in 2029. Already, in the 107 days since she took office, her vision and her voice are evident.

“The purpose for this great university is clear: Transforming the lives of every learner who joins this community – helping them learn how to think, how to discern, how to collaborate, how to succeed,” Hardin said, pausing for a moment to let this mandate cure.

“But the ambition is greater. To become the companion of choice for a lifetime – relevant for learners at every life stage,” Hardin said. “Welcoming them to a community of strivers to be challenged, to practice leadership, and to know that even after they graduate, when they’re not sure where to turn in a fast-changing world, they can indeed, return for new pathways and support.”

Provost Debra Liebowitz, PhD, delivered an enthusiastic welcome as she opened the ceremony.  

“Today marks a new chapter for our ambitious community as we inaugurate the 10th president of Quinnipiac,” said Liebowitz. “She brings a deep commitment to academic excellence to innovation and community. These are values that have long defined Quinnipiac's spirit and purpose.”

Musical performances featured the Colonial Brass Ensemble, with Quinnipiac sisters Ava Gambardella ’27 and Sophie Gambardella ’27 performing the National Anthem, and The Legends delivering a lively rendition of “Finesse” by Bruno Mars.

Several representatives of the university community offered greetings during the ceremony, including the president of the Student Government Association, Zachary O’Connell ’26, who spoke on behalf of the students. He highlighted that students are the heart of Quinnipiac, praised Hardin’s presence and engagement on campus, and expressed optimism about the future of her leadership.

Jeanna Doherty ’94, former president of the Quinnipiac alumni association, greeted Hardin on behalf of the 74,000 alumni across the country.

“President Hardin, the alumni community is thrilled to welcome you to Quinnipiac,” said Doherty. “We are eager to partner with you as we approach this incredible 100-year milestone, continuing to strengthen the university we love, ensuring it thrives for generations to come.”

Representing the Quinnipiac staff, Sierra Whitfield, staff council member and assistant director of legal operations, said the staff are eager to support Hardin’s vision while continuing to build a community where everyone feels valued and inspired.

“Moments like this remind us how many hands and minds are a part of this story,” said Whitfield. “When I think about Quinnipiac, what stands out most is how many people care so deeply about its core values. Together with faculty, students and leadership, staff help to create a vibrant and supportive environment that defines Quinnipiac.”

Caitlin Hanlon, PhD, associate professor of biology and chair of the faculty senate, offered a welcome on behalf of the faculty, expressing their readiness to support Hardin’s leadership and their anticipation for the new directions that will emerge as the university moves forward together.

Alexander Clark, chief executive officer of Technolutions Inc. and a member of the board of trustees, delivered a passionate keynote address. Noting Quinnipiac’s rising placement in the Wall Street Journal’s annual ranking of top colleges and universities, Clark stressed the importance of having leaders who embody a lifelong commitment to learning.

“Quinnipiac continues to prove that higher education can be both excellent and accessible, rigorous and relevant,” Clark said. “It prepares people not just for their first job, but for their next reinvention.”

Hardin, Clark said, is positioned to further the university’s momentum in the face of new frontiers in higher education and beyond.

“A new president signals both continuity and change, the enduring mission of this university and its readiness to meet the challenges ahead,” Clark said. “Quinnipiac, true to its character, will continue to show that even in an age of algorithms and automation, education can remain what it always has been: deeply personal, deeply local and deeply transformative.”

Hardin’s predecessors, President Emerita Judy Olian and President Emeritus John Lahey, were on hand to pass the torch. Olian bestowed the university seal on Hardin’s shoulders, and Lahey led the presentation of the founding documents.

Hardin was introduced by Chuck Saia ’91, MBA ’94, chair of the board of trustees. In a touching address, Saia recalled the immediate impression Hardin made during the university’s rigorous interview process. In the months since she was introduced as the university’s newest leader, his admiration has only grown.

“I often leave our daily conversations wondering where you aren’t,” Saia said. “I don't know how it's possible for you to be in so many places at once. You are absolutely crushing it. I know we're only three months in, but you are absolutely crushing it. I've never seen anyone in a leadership role take the ground running like you did. And I really appreciate you for that.” 

With a nod to Sleeping Giant State Park, Saia urged Hardin to lean on the university’s giants of the past for guidance.

“I think ‘the giant’ represents the giants that have walked this campus before you,” Saia said. “Legends like Dr. Olian, President Lahey, our former trustees, current trustees Art Rice and Bill Weldon, legends that have reached the pinnacle of their careers. They’re all sitting on that hill watching down on you.”

Hardin’s remarks weren’t just presidential. They were warm, unvarnished and inclusive. 
She remembered her late father as a hardworking, card-carrying member of Pipefitters Local 211. A breath later, Hardin smiled at her mother in the first row. Although her family struggled at times, Hardin shared how her mother carefully wrapped used books in tissue paper to give her children as gifts.

While the lessons learned in that house were beyond valuable, they were always within reach.

“My parents, like so many of you with your own children, taught us to take every opportunity to learn. To stand firm when our values were tested. To set our sights high. And to find the places where we could help lift others higher,” Hardin said.

As a first-generation college graduate from modest means and lush dreams, Hardin understands the struggle to shine, to shake off the imposter within and nurture the best version of yourself. 

“This place has always attracted strivers who often come from humble beginnings,” Hardin said. “For instance, one striver recalled arriving on campus at QU as a first-generation college student on his mom’s side, and just the second person in his father’s family to attend college. And he remembers the way he felt as soon as he arrived.”

With perfect timing and a staccato delivery, Hardin paused once more: “Like. He. Mattered.” 
Because he did.

Now, with two degrees from Quinnipiac, Saia is a successful businessman, entrepreneur and chairman of the Board of Trustees here.

But Hardin wasn’t finished making her point.

“Another striver recently said this about his Quinnipiac journey: ‘I know how it feels to be forgotten. Three, four years ago, I was forgotten. Nobody wanted me. Coming here, they made me feel like family, and this will always be family to me.’”

As Hardin looked out from the lectern, she saw that striver sitting in the last row of seats near the stage. And then, she asked Quinnipiac men’s basketball forward Amarri Monroe, the MAAC Player of the Year, to stand up and be recognized for being a striver.

Hardin also acknowledged the two presidents who preceded her: Lahey and Olian. Their contributions to the success and growth of Quinnipiac were not lost on her.

“Quinnipiac’s eighth president, John Lahey — at the helm for three decades, and in that time, we go from a college to a university. From one school to nine. From one campus to three. From Division II to Division I athletics,” Hardin said. “It's fitting to be in this arena, opened in 2007. You see, they told President Lahey this couldn’t be built, at the top of this hill. 

“He didn’t listen,” Hardin grinned, raising an eyebrow, “and here we are.”

Here we are, indeed.

The recognition and gratitude was just as intentional for Olian.

“Quinnipiac’s 9th president, Judy Olian, leading through one of the greatest national crises in recent memory – the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hardin said. “Even during that crisis, she didn’t put her vision for excellence aside.

“When it would have been safer to retreat, easier to wait — she worked with our board to boldly invest in the ambition of this university,” Hardin added. “The evidence of that vision and investment is less than a mile away, in our new South Quad, a place that inspires learning and sparks curiosity.” 

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Inauguration Ceremony