The University of Tampa is proud to offer a diverse and dynamic learning community to approximately 11,000 students from all 50 states and most of the world’s countries. With an emphasis on academic excellence, personalized attention and real-world career outcomes, the University offers more than 200 academic programs of study, including nearly two dozen graduate programs in business, education, health sciences, criminology and communication. UTampa’s AACSB-accredited Sykes College of Business is rated among the nation’s top business programs by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report, and the entrepreneurship program is ranked the best in the South. In an annual survey, 95 percent of recent University of Tampa alumni reported achieving their post-graduate goals.
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, Ph.D., President
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg is the 11th president of The University of Tampa. She came to UTampa from Texas Christian University where she was serving as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Dahlberg looks to build upon UTampa’s already remarkable record of success by strengthening success and diversity measures for students and faculty, increasing UTampa’s institutional reputation and bolstering its financial sustainability.
She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, as a faculty member and an administrator, and is known especially as an advocate for student success, innovative academic programs and inclusivity initiatives. In her academic career, Dahlberg has been the principal investigator for over $20 million in external funding for projects in areas of computer education, broadening participation in computing and wireless networking research.
Dahlberg has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, where she is a member of the Alumni Hall of Fame.
You recently joined the University of Tampa as its 11th president. What are some of your immediate goals and what are some of your longer-term goals for the University?
Our broad goals relate to Impact, Endowment and Reputation. For example, we are focusing on improving our 4-year graduation rate, accelerating student placement into jobs and graduate programs, and energizing a UTAMPA global alumni network – all to enhance the impact of a UTAMPA degree on students and alumni. We are growing our many distinctive programs to inspire investment in our endowment – which will support the UTAMPA experience in perpetuity. We are working toward becoming a nationally-ranked university – so that a UTAMPA degree opens doors for graduates throughout their lives.
You have a strong background in computer science and STEM fields, how are you integrating emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and data analytics into the curriculum to prepare students for future careers?
We are preparing students for future careers by supporting faculty as they continually update and evolve academic courses and programs. For example, we are exploring ways to provide AI literacy to all students by cataloging and growing the many discipline-specific courses wherein faculty have embedded AI concepts and practice. Also, we are looking to inspire investment in endowed funds to pay students who work in non-profits throughout the Tampa Bay metroplex – a win for students and the community.
Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for universities in enhancing competitiveness and strengthening the talent pipeline?
The biggest challenge is having great communication between universities and the organizations that hire our students, so that you understand our role, and we understand your current and future needs. Fortunately, this communication is also the biggest opportunity!
What attracted you to this opportunity and what excites you most about the university’s future?
The University of Tampa is a thriving, aspirational university situated within a thriving, aspirational city. I am excited to be part of the university’s — and the region’s — continued upward trajectory.
