In its 80th year, Utica University is preparing for a celebration that looks both backward and forward, honoring its past while stepping into a new era of leadership, community and tradition.
Founded in 1946, the university will mark eight decades of growth and transformation throughout the Fall 2026 semester. This milestone year is centered on a unifying theme: paying homage to the institution’s history while reinforcing the values that continue to shape its future.
Utica University President Stephanie Nesbitt said her vision for the inauguration and the university’s 80th anniversary celebrations includes reflection, inclusivity and a strong sense of connection between past and present.
That theme will come to life most clearly on Wednesday, Sept. 30, when the campus community gathers for a community dinner held exactly 80 years to the day of the university’s first convocation.
“The dinner will be open to the broader community. Anyone who wants to attend and donate will be invited,” said Nesbitt, highlighting the university’s connection to the surrounding region.
The dinner will serve as both a celebration and a fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting student activities. For Nesbitt, the event represents more than just a commemorative gathering. It is an opportunity to bring people together in a way that reflects the university’s roots while directly supporting its current students.
The following day, the focus will shift from reflection to renewal.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, the university will formally install its new president in an inauguration ceremony held at the Utica University Nexus Center. Nesbitt explained that the off-campus location was intentionally chosen to avoid potential weather disruptions and ensure a stable and accessible setting for all attendees.
While presidential inaugurations often center on the individual stepping into leadership, Nesbitt emphasized that this moment will be different, one that aligns with the broader tone of the university’s anniversary year.
“The focus should be on celebrating the university, not my installation,” she said.
Her approach reflects a broader effort to place the institution at the center of the celebration, reinforcing the idea that the 80th year is about collective achievement rather than individual recognition.
That philosophy will also be reflected in who takes part in the ceremony. Nesbitt said she plans to include former students in meaningful ways, inviting them to return and participate in the event.
“Many of my former students will be invited to take on special roles in the ceremony,” she said, highlighting the importance of relationships, mentorship, and continuity within the university community.
The week’s events will continue into Homecoming Weekend, where long-standing traditions will bring together students, alumni, and families. The Utica Pioneers football team will host the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons football team.
For Nesbitt, each part of the week, from the historically timed dinner to the inauguration and Homecoming festivities, serves a shared purpose rooted in both reflection and progress.
“It’s about the future,” she said. “Celebrating everything we’ve accomplished since 1946, when nobody thought we could, and recognizing that we’ll be here for another 80 years.”
