Monica Parrish Trent

Monica Parrish Trent, Ph.D. is the vice president of Network Engagement at Achieving the Dream, a national, nonprofit network of more than 300 community colleges in pursuit of equity-minded reforms and greater economic opportunity for the communities they serve. She leads the execution of ATD’s network engagement strategy, services, and program delivery, including implementing market-driven, high-impact supports and programs for postsecondary institutions and systems.  In this capacity, she leads national efforts to design and deliver programs and services that support and accelerate equitable outcomes for all students.

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, She brings a holistic perspective and systems-change approach to developing and sustaining efforts to remove systemic barriers for college students. As a former provost and vice president of academic and student affairs at Delaware County Community College and through serving in various administrator roles and as a faculty member at Montgomery College, she has experiences that provide her with a deep understanding of the importance of strong faculty engagement and institutional leadership to improving student success. She has served as a commissioner on the American Association of Community College’s Commission on Research, Data, and Accountability; is a peer reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; and serves on the Credential As You Go National Advisory Board.

She holds a doctor of philosophy degree in community college leadership from the Darden School of Education at Old Dominion University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English from George Mason University.