Congratulations to our August 2025 Member of the Month (MeMo) Trent Ball! National College Attainment Network (NCAN) staff asked him both professional and personal questions so you can get to know him and the work he does better.
Name: Trent Ball
Location: St. Louis, MO
Alma Mater: Culver-Stockton College, Southeast Missouri State University
Q: What brought you to the college access and success field initially? A: As a graduate assistant I had the opportunity to work within a campus
center dedicated to serving students that were historically marginalized within higher education. This led me to my first professional experience, I was a part-time learning specialist for TRIO/Student Support Services. My combined background in psychological
counseling and higher education allowed me to really support our students, I thought it would be a few years, it turned into 28 years, and the work changed my life and allowed me to help change the life of our students.
Q: What do you love most about your role or organization? A: My current position is within my second career; I retired from my work on a college campus to join MOCAN and I have the honor of working with professionals
who are beginning their careers and mid-level professionals preparing for the next level. Providing support and shaping the next generation of leaders in education continues my mission of serving students and elevating opportunity.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an NCAN member? A: I joined NCAN via the TRIO Programs on my campus and appreciated connecting to a community that was access focused. When attainment became key in the work,
I knew I was in the right place at the right time.
Q: What advice do you have for people who are new to college attainment work? A: Please understand that there is more to serving the students than meeting with them
and helping them navigate their journey. Engage in policy, engage in advocacy, embrace the entire scope of the profession.
Personality Questions
Every month, our MeMos will be answering some fun questions to help us get to know their “out of office” side!
Q: If you were dropped into any movie or TV show as a new main character, what movie or TV show would you pick and why? A: Living Single! It was one of the first shows that reflected my experience as an emerging professional
and having that representation as well as the energy and connection with the characters spoke to me, it still does!
Q: You get to host a dinner party with five people, dead or alive, famous or not. Who are you hosting? A: My
grandmother Ethel Ball, Malcolm X, Prince, Dr. Eddie Glaude and my mentor and friend Dr. Irene Ferguson.
Q: What's one thing you'd like to cross off your personal bucket list? Is there one thing you've crossed off already that you're really proud of? A: I
would like to finish the book I have been writing for a few years. I am proud of the fact that I have visited over 45 of the 50 states.
Q: Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now and why? A: I
would teleport to Nigeria and spend time learning more about their culture and worldview.
Q: What's your favorite food, and one food you don't like? A: My favorite food is Thai
food. I do not like bland or unseasoned food.
Q: If you could immediately be fluent in one language AND proficiently play one instrument, which language and instrument would you choose and why? A: I would become fluent
in French; I studied it in high school and a semester in college but never became fluent. I picked French because I would like to vacation in France in the next few years. The instrument I would choose is the saxophone. So many songs that I really
love have strong saxophone sections and those parts hit different.
Q: You HAVE to sing at karaoke. What song do you pick? A: Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." I will be booed off of the stage, but I will soldier on!
Q: What’s one topic, not related to education/college attainment, that you could give an impromptu 45 minute TEDTalk about? A: The
importance of professional development and mentoring/sponsorship.
Q: What's on your to be read next list? A: The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les and Tamara Payne
Q: Is there a fun fact about yourself that you'd like to share that's not in these questions? A: I am a HUGE Batman fan. I've been a comic and memorabilia collector for over 40 years.
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