Students and staff at the University of Bridgeport came together to wish a happy retirement to its outgoing president.

Neil Salonen is stepping aside in July after 26 years at the university, 18 of them as president.

University officials say during Salonen's tenure, the university tripled its revenue, balanced its budget and increased enrollment to over 5,000 students.

“Coming here has been the greatest privilege the greatest blessing,” said Salonen.  “Of course there's a lot of hard work, but there's a lot hard working doing a lot of things and very few are has satisfying or as enriching as watching an institution which shapes the lives of future generations really grow.”

Dr. Laura Skandera Trombley has been named Salonen's successor.