Paula J. Trout, JD, MBA, MPA
President/CEO, Alternative Dispute Resolution Forums
Teaching focus: Management, Human Resources

Where I come from

Education is worth everything it takes. In high school, I worked part-time in a bank in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and intended to continue to work there well after graduation. I thought I was set. I had no interest in college and did not yet appreciate the value of higher education. However, unknown to me, my father arranged to have me admitted to his alma mater, Capital University, in Ohio and got me fired from the bank. Within days, he put me in the car (under pretense of my joining the family for a "vacation"), drove directly to Ohio, gave me $40 dollars and dropped me off at the college. Despite this unusual beginning, I enjoyed college, and I appreciate all the opportunities I have received as a result of my education.

I started my career as a budget & management analyst in the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) for the State of Ohio, while earning an MPA and MBA at night. Later, as Deputy Administrator in the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, I managed five finance departments and an investment portfolio in excess of $7 billion dollars.

While at the Bureau, I earned my law degree - my greatest educational achievement. At the time, women were discouraged from going to law school and treated like second-class citizens when they did. It was also difficult going to law school at night while working at a demanding job during the day, but I was determined to succeed. I went to law school to improve my ability as a finance administrator - and to increase my credibility.

The management of conflict

The governor personally suggested that I apply for an opening on the Ohio Industrial Commission in 1987. As the Commissioner I adjudicated contested matters and set policy for the workers' compensation system. I then received a mayoral appointment to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the City of Columbus. I provided direct management control over five operating divisions. When the administration changed, I left government service and set up a private law practice. As I became more interested in empowering people to resolve disputes for themselves through mediation and other forms of alternate dispute resolution (ADR), I took advanced ADR training at Harvard, Cornell, and Temple Universities, in addition to earning a certification in Transformative Mediation.

Since 1996, I have worked primarily as a dispute resolution professional, providing services and training worldwide in the areas of mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation and conciliation for businesses and governmental entities. My clients include both public agencies and private sector businesses, ranging from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, US Department of Energy, US Postal Service, US Department of Homeland Security to the Raytheon Corporation, Key Bridge Foundation and Nationwide Insurance.

Giving back

I am a preacher's kid and a product of two cultural communities; Korean and African American. My parents taught me to appreciate and remember where I came from and who helped me, and to give back. My degrees opened many doors of opportunity and have brought me endless personal and career satisfaction. Teaching is a way for me to give back some of the benefits that I have received from my experience and education.

Teaching at Keller

My class assignments provide students with experiences that are as close as possible to the real world. For example, in the Business Law course, the students proceed step by step through the court process and/or the legislative process, making arguments and presentations as if they were addressing the court or the legislature. Sometimes I have met students downtown at the courthouse to show them around in an effort to help bridge the gap between the textbook and the real world.

Why Keller?

Keller has a mission to provide working adults with a master's degree program tailor-made to both their scheduling and their educational needs. From my own experiences earning three advanced degrees and numerous certifications while working full-time and raising a child, I appreciate the instructional design, flexibility, and real-world relevance of the Keller graduate degree program.

Keller is a nationally known, well-respected school that maintains high academic standards. The Becker CPA Review program has added a very valuable resource for accounting professionals. As a business and finance administrator, I signed many approvals for tuition reimbursement for employees taking Keller courses. As an instructor, I am proud to help Keller succeed. From association with other faculty members and center staff, I also know that Keller keeps its commitment to provide personal guidance for students.