New Haven, Conn. — September 14, 2026

Following a landmark 2025–2026 academic year celebrating 100 years of purpose and educational excellence, Albertus Magnus College will bring its Centennial year to a memorable close on Thursday, September 24, 2026, with Founders’ Day and a series of events celebrating the College’s Dominican heritage and looking ahead to its next century.

Under the theme “Soaring into Our Future,” events will honor the people, traditions, and values that have shaped Albertus Magnus College while highlighting the innovative and transformative learning experiences that will help guide the College into its second century.

Founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Albertus has a long history of advancing educational opportunity and innovation. From its beginnings as New England’s first residential Catholic college for women to its evolution as a coeducational institution offering innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, Albertus has remained rooted in its Dominican tradition and the four Dominican Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service.

Centennial Closing Week Highlights

• Sunday, September 20: Centennial Closing Mass, 10:00 a.m. - Behan Community Room, Hubert Campus Center - Celebrated by Archbishop Christopher Coyne, the Centennial Closing Mass will bring the Albertus community together in reflection and gratitude for the College’s first 100 years.

• Monday, September 21: “An Immigrant Church in a Changing City” Panel, 6:00 p.m. - Behan Community Room, Hubert Campus Center - Moderated by New Haven City Historian Michael Morand, this panel will explore Catholic immigrant experiences in 20th- and 21st-century New Haven. Panelists include Senator Martin Looney, Frank Carrano, and Caprice Taylor Mendez. The event is open to the public; registration is required.

• Wednesday, September 23: Ribbon-Cutting for the Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 Immersive Learning Collaboratory, 3:15p.m. - Hubert Campus Center - Albertus will unveil the Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 Immersive Learning Collaboratory, New England’s first facility dedicated to housing the Dreamscape Learn immersive virtual reality platform. The facility was made possible through a historic $3 million gift from alumna Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 and her husband, James.

Founders’ Day: Thursday, September 24, 2026

• 9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks & Keynote Address - Behan Community Room, Hubert Campus Center - The morning will feature a welcome from Sr. Ellen Coates, O.P.; a Centennial Prayer led by Dr. Edward Dunar; a reading of the Centennial Poem by Sarah Wallman, M.F.A.; and a keynote address by Sr. Mary Catherine Hilkert, O.P., Ph.D.

• 10:30 a.m.: Centennial Time Capsule Presentation - Behan Community Room, Hubert Campus Center - Representatives from across the Albertus community, including Trustees, faculty, staff, Dominican Sisters, alumni, and students, will contribute items to a Centennial time capsule preserving the story of Albertus for generations to come.

• 11:15 a.m.: Candlelight Ceremony - Cosgrove, Marcus, Messer Athletic Center - A cherished Albertus tradition for first-year students, the Candlelight Ceremony symbolizes the passage of light, truth, and knowledge as students begin their own journeys at the College.

• 4:00 p.m.: VERITAS Awards & Meister Eckhart Center 5th Anniversary - Atrium, Tagliatela School of Business and Leadership - The College will present its prestigious VERITAS Awards to individuals and organizations whose work exemplifies Dominican values, social justice, service, and a commitment to the common good. The celebration will also recognize the fifth anniversary of the Meister Eckhart Center, with remarks from Sr. Pat Twohill, O.P., ’22 D.H.L., Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

The 2026 VERITAS Award recipients are:

• Robert J. Lyons, Jr. — A former Albertus Trustee who chaired the Board’s Finance Committee, Lyons is the retired Chairman and CEO of The Bilco Company and has continued to serve the region through leadership roles with the NewAlliance Foundation and Gaylord Hospital. His steadfast commitment to Albertus, thoughtful leadership, and embodiment of Dominican values and Catholic Social Teaching exemplify the spirit of the VERITAS Award.

• Tabitha W. Manafort ’94 — An Albertus Trustee and Chair of the Board’s Ad Hoc Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, Manafort is the founder and owner of TWM Development, LLC. Her commitment to community service is reflected in her leadership in civic organizations, youth programs, and educational initiatives. From her undergraduate years through her service as a Trustee, Manafort has remained deeply engaged with Albertus, including through the Alumni Board, Athletics, and philanthropic support through Tab’s Pub and Tab’s on Deck.

• Urban Resources Initiative (URI) — A program of the Yale School of the Environment, URI is a valued community partner that empowers New Haven neighborhoods through urban forestry and environmental stewardship. Its collaborative work with Albertus, including commemorative tree plantings and environmental justice initiatives, reflects a shared commitment to service, sustainability, and holistic education.

As Albertus Magnus College begins its second century, the Centennial celebration offers both an opportunity to honor the College’s extraordinary history and an invitation to imagine what comes next. Guided by its Dominican tradition and the values of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service, Albertus remains committed to preparing students to think critically, lead ethically, and make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Founded in 1925, Albertus is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. Albertus’ values- and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money, and The New York Times, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For ten consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus graduates have attained employment or gone on to graduate studies within six months of completing their degrees. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and graduate program levels. Albertus Magnus College takes pride in a student body where nearly half of undergraduates are first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients. The College is recognized for its innovative curriculum, featuring programs in General Health Sciences and Public Health, as well as its newest offerings: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Connecticut’s first LPN-to-BSN program.

Among its graduate offerings is the State of Connecticut’ only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program, and it is just one of three schools to offer a Master of Science in Human Services. In 2025-26, Albertus is celebrating its historic 100th Anniversary and completing implementation of the Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century strategic plan, with a bold vision to “be a destination liberal arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and success.” To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.