Trout Named Registrar at Kutztown University

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Ben Trout has been named Kutztown University's new Registrar. Trout brings 18 years of higher education experience, including more than a decade in KU’s Registrar’s Office. He will begin his new appointment Tuesday, July 5.

Trout has worked in KU’s Office of the Registrar since 2011. He began at KU as the assistant registrar for graduation, acting as the liaison between students, the Registrar’s Office and academic departments to collect course substitutions, inform students of graduation status and ensure all workflow happens quickly and accurately. He was named associate registrar in 2018, when he oversaw the undergraduate degree process and was the first point of contact for office staff and campus-wide day-to-day operations.

While associate registrar, Trout also served as interim registrar from 2021-2022.

“I’m extremely pleased and grateful to have been selected to serve as Kutztown University’s Registrar,” Trout said. “I have been humbled by the talent and warmth of this office throughout my tenure at KU and it’s a great privilege to be selected to lead them into the next great adventure. I look forward to continuing to lift up the institutional values of the university and to help our students reach their goal of a successful and productive future.”

As KU's Registrar, Trout will serve as the university's chief student records official and will strategically manage registration for undergraduate and graduate students. He will also manage the administrative, fiscal, human resource, planning and operational functions of the Registrar's Office. Trout will coordinate university activities for storing and retrieving academic information, work collaboratively across units in the development and enactment of student policies and practices that support diverse students and will design academic rules to assess students' progress toward their degrees.

“Ben has ably led the Registrar’s Office over the last academic year with steadiness, thoughtfulness, patience and good humor,” said Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “We have discussed the need to reexamine departmental processes and practices to seek greater effectiveness and efficiency in serving our students and Ben has a strong commitment to that work. I look forward to continuing to work with Ben in this role.”

Prior to his time at KU, Trout served at ITT Technical Institute, King of Prussia, Pa., for seven years, most recently as registrar from 2008-2011. He was director of Finance from 2005-2007 and the financial aid administrator from 2004-2005.

Trout earned his Bachelor of Arts in film and media arts from Temple University and is pursuing his Master of Public Administration from Kutztown University.