PSC’s Pat Trost Recognized with ICCTA Award

Patricia Gallagher Trost, administrative director for the President’s Office and the Board of Trustees at Prairie State College (PSC), was honored this summer with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s (ICCTA) Professional Board Staff Member Award, in recognition of her “exemplary performance in support of an Illinois community college board of trustees.” Trost was recognized as the 2019 recipient at ICCTA’s awards banquet in Itasca.

According to past ICCTA President Fritz Larsen, “ICCTA’s Professional Board Staff Member Award honors those professionals who work ‘behind the scenes’ to support the efforts of each college’s president and governing board. In other words, these are the people who make us trustees look good.”

“Pat Trost has been a dependable advisor, a highly respected employee, and a humble leader throughout her two decades at Prairie State College. Her colleagues describe her not only as the primary source of institutional memory but as ‘our archivist, our Google, and our anchor,’” Larsen said during Trost’s introduction at the event.

“Pat treats every concern – whether it involves a homeless student or an employee who is dissatisfied with the food service -- with equal importance. She listens, empathizes and takes action. In addition to handling meeting agendas, board packets, elections, and all other duties as assigned, she was instrumental in the establishment of a campus Student Veterans Center and in creating the procedures for awarding posthumous degrees…

“As noted in her nomination, ‘all colleges need a Pat, and this college could not operate without her.’ Pat, please accept our appreciation for your exceptional work. You are a true role model for our system,” Larsen offered in closing.

PSC President Dr. Terri L. Winfree echoed the sentiments offered during the award presentation. “Throughout the years, Pat has been a tremendous support not only to the President’s Office and the Board of Trustees, but also to all the staff, faculty and students at Prairie State College,” she said. “We are so lucky to have her as a part of our campus community.”

Trost joined the staff at PSC in 1996 as executive assistant to the President and Board of Trustees. Before coming to PSC, she had an extensive career serving as administrative assistant to partners at two law firms in Chicago. Over 23 years at PSC, Trost has served six presidents and dozens of board members. She is a member of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education and is an active member of the ICCTA Professional Administrative Assistants Council. She holds an Associate in Arts degree from PSC and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Governors State University.