BGSU trustees recognize University's continued positive impact in the region and beyond during September meeting

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4. BGSU trustees recognize University's continued positive impact in the region and beyond during September meeting

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - As the new academic year progresses, Bowling Green State University is continuing to make a positive impact in the region and beyond with top-ranked experiences and opportunities for students and in-demand academic programs that are meeting Ohio's workforce needs.

During their September meeting, the BGSU Board of Trustees celebrated back-to-back years of record-breaking first-year and continued overall enrollment, recognized Bowling Green's standing as a nationally ranked public university and welcomed a new University leader to the learning community.

Celebrating continued positive momentum
At the Sept. 26 meeting, the board once again celebrated faculty and staff for their collective momentum in welcoming the largest and highest-achieving freshman class to BGSU for the second consecutive year, with this fall's first-year headcount at 4,024 students, up from 3,937 students last year.

This fall also marks the third consecutive year of overall enrollment growth at BGSU, with total headcount at 20,383 students, up 3.5% over last year, serving as the University's largest enrollment in 18 years.

Additionally, BGSU is showing strong retention of students returning for their second year, with record gains in the number of learners graduating on time and with less debt, placing four-year graduation rates up 4% overall.

"It is gratifying to see more students choosing to pursue and continue their education at BGSU for a third consecutive year," said Cecilia Castellano, vice president for enrollment management. "More students and their families are seeing the value of a BGSU education, which includes in-demand academic programs, engaging experiences and comprehensive opportunities all in one of the nation's best and safest college towns. We are grateful for the continued trust in all that BGSU has to offer and look forward to welcoming more students to our learning community going forward."

For Fall 2025, BGSU Firelands, the University's regional campus in Huron, Ohio, also continues to see significant enrollment growth, with overall headcount up more than 7% over last year, serving as its largest student gain in a decade.

Along with high-demand academic programs, including those in STEM and healthcare fields, a major catalyst behind this fall's enrollment growth stems from the nationally recognized BGSU Life Design program, which continues to differentiate a Bowling Green education by allowing students to shape their college experience and career goals with design thinking principles that promote on-time graduation and reduced overall debt.

Recognizing nationally ranked academics
Trustees also recognized the top-tier academic and educational mission of BGSU, which has once again been honored among the nation's best for public universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 "Best Colleges" report, ranking in the top 20% nationwide and among the best in Ohio.

This year's overall rankings place BGSU at No. 293 nationally among the more than 1,700 four-year colleges and universities included in the ranking and in the top 10% of the country's more than 2,600 colleges and universities.

This marks the 20th consecutive year BGSU has been recognized among the nation's "Best Colleges."

"Like our peers, Bowling Green State University is pleased to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report, providing an external validation of the quality of our academic offerings," President Rogers said. "At the end of the day, though, we want students and families to know that while rankings are nice, when it comes to their college experience, we want them to choose a university that will allow them to experience college the best way for them. Strong, solid academic offerings are the foundation of any college experience, yes, but at Bowling Green, in addition to our academics, we are also incredibly proud of the comprehensive student experience, because we know it isn't just where you go to college that matters - it's how. That's why we are intentionally empowering students through Life Design to get the most out of their college experience at Bowling Green, with meaningful learning opportunities and connections that lead to great careers and great lives."

In addition to the overall rankings, undergraduate programs with strong showings in the 2026 "Best Colleges" rankings include engineering, which has experienced rapid growth in recent years; computer science, the first program of its kind at a public university in Ohio; and nursing, psychology and business, ranked among the best in the state among public universities.

Welcoming a new learning community leader
Following a rigorous national search, the board appointed proven philanthropy leader Tina Hennessey as the next vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of the BGSU Foundation.

In her role, Hennessey will be integral in securing support for scholarships, experiences and University initiatives that increase access to higher education and bolster educational opportunities.

"We are looking forward to welcoming Tina to Bowling Green this fall, as she brings more than two decades of experience driving transformational philanthropy in higher education, including more than 16 years at The Pennsylvania State University," President Rogers said. "As public funding for higher education continues to face challenges, this is an important leadership role that will be critical in ensuring Bowling Green remains a great value and remains accessible to as many students as possible, supporting our students and our mission as a public university for the public good."

Hennessey has held multiple leadership roles at Penn State, where she has most recently served as Penn State's senior assistant vice president for principal gifts. In that role, she has led the university's largest donor strategies and closed or supported a record of more than $275 million in principal-level commitments in less than two years. Hennessey also held roles as assistant vice president for development, executive director for development, senior director of development for the College of Liberal Arts, gift planning officer and director of major gifts for the College of Engineering.

A first-generation graduate of Penn State, Hennessey holds an MBA with distinction from Arcadia University. Before her work in higher education, she spent more than a decade as a journalist and launched a media and public relations company. Additionally, she participated in a year-long Congressional Fellowship Program based in Washington, D.C.

Hennessey will begin at BGSU on Nov. 1 and will succeed Pam Conlin as vice president of University Advancement and president and CEO of the BGSU Foundation, who announced her plans to retire later this year.

Action items of the board
In compliance with state law, the BGSU Board of Trustees approved the creation of an undergraduate course in American civic literacy, which will include the study of the nation's economic system, capitalism and certain historical documents.

The University is set to begin offering the required course in Fall 2026, pending approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.