Men To Watch 2025 honoree Trent Ball

Trent Ball serves as the inaugural Senior Director, Postsecondary Equity and Attainment, for the Missouri College and Career Attainment Network (MOCAN). MOCAN exists to ensure Missouri students who could most benefit from education beyond high school have what they need to earn a credential leading to a rewarding career. MOCAN is a network of institutions, organizations, and professionals committed to greater equity in college and career access, affordability, and completion. By working for change at the institutional and systems levels, MOCAN aspires to create a postsecondary education system where outcomes are no longer predictable by race or socio-economic status.

As Senior Director, Mr. Ball leads MOCAN's postsecondary attainment strategy including the Postsecondary Equity Network (PEN).  Prior to joining MOCAN, Trent retired from Southeast Missouri State University and holds the title Associate Provost Emeritus. During his tenure at Southeast, he provided leadership and management of the Academic Support Centers, including Educational Access Programs, Learning Assistance Programs, and the TRIO Programs (McNair Scholars and Student Support Services).

Mr. Ball’s career and career trajectory has been committed to addressing, promoting, and providing racial and socio-economic access, success, equity, and inclusion in postsecondary education. His goal is to increase education equity by developing and supporting a generation of postsecondary education leaders who look like, and share lived experiences with, the students we must intentionally serve and support. Ball has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Culver-Stockton College, a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling and Therapy and completed coursework in the Master of Public Administration program at Southeast Missouri State University.