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Athena Trentin, Ed.D

Dr. Athena Trentin brings more than 25 years of experience in the fields of nonprofit management, developing communities of support and cultivating future leaders. Prior to joining NAMI North Texas, Dr. Trentin was a Research Director for the Simmons School of Education & Human Development at SMU and COO of the Urban Inter-Tribal Center of Texas, a health and social services nonprofit for Native Americans.  Dr. Trentin is a proud member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, located in Harbor Springs, Michigan. 

Before moving to Texas, Dr. Trentin was a well-established student affairs professional whose passion for building supportive communities focused on developing holistic, high quality services for international and underrepresented students.  Her main goal was to make sure they had the support and resources they needed to meet their highest potential.  She is honored to have had the opportunity to impact students at the California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.   

 

After returning from South Africa as part of a People to People delegation invited to exchange expertise with social service professionals and educators, Dr. Trentin completed her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California in 2008.  Her Masters in Teaching and Bachelors in Public Policy were both awarded by Michigan State University.  She is also an alum of the Business Council for the Arts Leadership Arts Institute and the Intercultural Communications Institute Summer Institute Fellows Program. 

 

Honors & Awards  

 

CORP! Diversity Champion  

CORP! Magazine  

 

Pineapple Award for International Student Hospitality  

Grand Valley State University  

 

Council on Global Engagement Award of Recognition  

University of Michigan  

 

VOICES of the Staff Leadership Development Team  

University of Michigan  

 

Fellow  

Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication  

 

Amicus Award  

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs  

 

Intercultural Fellow  

Michigan State University 

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