UK Education Graduate Wins IU Distinguished Alumni Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2016) — University of Kentucky College of Education alumnus Richard Trollinger has been named the second annual recipient of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Distinguished Alumni Award. Trollinger, who is vice president for college relations at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's top experts in educational fundraising.

Trollinger earned a master's degree in philanthropic studies from the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and his Ph.D. in educational policy studies from UK. He also earned a bachelor's degree at Emory and Henry College and a master's degree in higher education administration from Vanderbilt.

Trollinger has dedicated more than 40 years to educational fundraising. Prior to his tenure at Centre College, he served in several roles at Emory and Henry College, including vice president for development and external affairs. He was also an admissions counselor, director of alumni affairs and the first director of development at his alma mater.

Trollinger is the co-author of "Philanthropy and American Higher Education," with UK's John Thelin, which describes how philanthropic support of higher education is integral to the character of colleges and universities. He currently chairs the board of directors for the Danville-Boyle Economic Development Partnership in Kentucky. He has also served as a board member and chair of the Kentucky School for the Deaf Charitable Foundation.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was created in 2015 by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s alumni board to assist the school in recognizing significant achievement in the fields of philanthropic research, practice and academic study.