President’s Message
Welcome!
At University of Bridgeport, we believe that education is more than earning a degree. It’s about finding your place, discovering your strengths, and preparing for a future you’re excited to step into.
Since our founding, UB has been a place where innovation meets opportunity. From the first school of Dental Hygiene in the world to the first master’s degree in Nutrition in the United States, we’ve always embraced what’s next. That tradition continues today with new academic programs, cutting-edge research spaces in Engineering and Business, and partnerships that open doors to high-demand careers.
We’ve welcomed programs like regenerative medicine training with Tulsihub, a world-renowned healthcare education provider founded by two UB alumni, giving students access to cutting-edge techniques that are shaping the future of healthcare; a master’s in Medical Sciences through PONCE Health Sciences University, providing a strong academic pathway for students pursuing medical, dental, or other advanced health degrees; and expanded Nursing and Manufacturing opportunities in partnership with Goodwin University.
Growth at UB isn’t just about new programs — it’s about the people who bring our campus to life. We’ve invested in spaces that help students feel at home, from upgraded recreation and athletic facilities to new and improved gathering spaces. Our athletics program has grown to include new NCAA Division II teams making it possible for more students to join our community and thrive here.
I often tell students that growth happens in those moments when you feel challenged, when you’re trying something new, and when you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. That’s where the magic happens. At UB, you’re surrounded by faculty, staff, and peers who believe in your potential and are here to help you turn those moments into milestones.
As we look to the future, I’m proud of the resilience, adaptability, and unbreakable spirit that defines University of Bridgeport. No matter your connection to UB — student, alum, faculty, or friend — you are part of a community that’s stood strong for nearly 100 years and is ready for the next.
Sincerely,
Danielle Wilken Ed.D.
President
University of Bridgeport
Danielle Wilken Ed.D.
A dedicated champion of educational equity, Danielle Wilken, Ed.D., began serving as President of University of Bridgeport in May 2021. As the 12th president in UB history, Dr. Wilken brings nearly 25 years of academic and administrative leadership experience to the University.
Having grown up in Long Island, Dr. Wilken pursued her undergraduate degree in Biology and Clinical Laboratory Science at SUNY Stony Brook. There, she also earned her master’s in Health Policy and Management before eventually attaining her doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of Hartford. Her degree in Educational Leadership helped her build a prolific career at Goodwin University, where she devoted twenty years to serving the community in leadership roles ranging from program director to vice president of Academic Affairs.
Before transitioning into her role at UB, Dr. Wilken served as Goodwin’s Provost for more than two years. As Provost, Wilken reimagined the way Goodwin instructs its students by bringing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to the forefront, helping spearhead its school-wide implementation. A research-based learning model, UDL makes education flexible, accessible, and adaptive to student needs. Wilken’s efforts to bring UDL to Goodwin and, later, Bridgeport attest to her commitment to creating positive learning environments.
Since stepping into her role as president, Dr. Wilken has used her professional knowledge, experience, and drive to promote University of Bridgeport’s growth. In just a few short years, her efforts as president have brought UB into the public eye. New Haven Biz identified Dr. Wilken as one of the “5 to Watch” in an article highlighting both the University’s progress and her leadership. By increasing the University’s local presence, Dr. Wilken hopes that more students will find their home at University of Bridgeport. Under her leadership, UB achieved its first consecutive enrollment increases in several years, with year-over-year growth of nearly 34% during the fall 2022 and fall 2023 semesters.*
For Dr. Wilken, helping University of Bridgeport grow is not only about attracting new students to campus, but also about cultivating an environment that offers life-changing opportunities to learn and thrive. She has enriched campus culture by overseeing campus-wide improvements and new student spaces, including an eSports Lounge, upgraded fitness facilities in the Wheeler Recreation Center, renovations to the Baum Family Aquatic Center pool, upgraded kitchens in international student housing, new flooring and locker rooms in the Hubbell Gymnasium, and a more prominent location for the Knight’s Pantry and the school bookstore. She has also led a bold expansion of UB’s athletics program, adding new NCAA Division II teams, including men’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s track and field, swimming and diving, wrestling, and rowing.
Under Wilken’s leadership, UB has added new academic programs and state-of-the-art learning spaces. Wilken championed cutting-edge research spaces in Engineering and Business with the addition of the Emerging Interdisciplinary Technologies (EIT) lab, an Engineering Maker Space, and the Bloomberg Business lab. UB has also partnered with PONCE Health Sciences University to offer a master’s in Medical Sciences providing a strong academic pathway for students pursuing medical, dental, or other advanced healthcare degrees, and TulsiHub, a world-renowned healthcare education provider founded by two UB alumni, giving students access to cutting-edge techniques that are shaping the future of healthcare through Regenerative Medicine certificate programs.
In the fall of 2024, students began taking prerequisites for UB’s new associate degree in Nursing program, and Goodwin University launched a Licensed Practical Nursing program on UB’s campus. She has been instrumental in securing support for the addition of the Goodwin University Harrison Steans Advanced Manufacturing Center and the launch of a Welding program on campus. These efforts have strengthened inter-institutional partnerships and expanded workforce training opportunities for Bridgeport and surrounding communities.
Dr. Wilken has reengaged community partners, university benefactors, and alumni to support scholarships, new programs, and campus upgrades. In her tenure, she’s overseen the launch of Scholarship Universe, a user-friendly scholarship platform that connects students to thousands of internal and external scholarships from the moment they are accepted to UB. From the fiscal years 2024 to 2025, UB saw a 54% increase in alumni giving, showing that UB alums feel more connected to UB’s mission and vision than ever. UB’s annual giving also increased by 42% year-over-year.*
In 2024, she partnered with Bridgeport Public Schools to introduce the Bridgeport’s Brightest program. This four-year renewable program significantly reduces the cost of a UB education for local high school graduates. In its first year, UB welcomed 23 Bridgeport’s Brightest scholars to campus, empowering them to achieve their goal of a college education. Leading into the second year of the program, UB increased the enrollment cap to 50 students from Bridgeport public high schools.
Wilken feels at home in Bridgeport’s shoreline community, coming full circle from where her journey began on the other side of the Sound. She considers the city of Bridgeport to be a vibrant and caring community, and she recognizes that it presents incredible opportunities for students to learn, grow, and gain hands-on experiences in their chosen fields. Wilken has worked to reestablish and strengthen UB’s connections with the surrounding community, fostering partnerships that benefit both the University and the city.
President Wilken’s advice to University of Bridgeport students is simple but powerful: try everything that interests you and embrace your mistakes as opportunities to grow. She also encourages students to be resilient when trying new things, reminding them that growth happens in those moments when things feel most uncomfortable, when taking on new and exciting challenges. This advice echoes the unwavering spirit of the University itself. “University of Bridgeport has always been a symbol of hope,” President Wilken says. “The University has stood for nearly 100 years thanks to its ongoing adaptability and unbreakable spirit.”
* Based on data from from fall 2023-spring 2025