Andrew N. Cothran, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., served 1969-1972

Andrew Cothran, a native of Kreole, Miss., grew up Baptist and later became an Episcopal layman.  Cothran earned his B.A. from Baylor University, his M.A. from Columbia, and his Ph.D. in American Literature and Intellectual History from the University of Maryland in 1965.  He worked as a faculty member at the University of Kentucky at Louisville and at Prince George Community College at Largo, Md.  Prince George Community College promoted Cothran to Chairman of the Division of Humanities and full professor.  Cothran served on the cultural attaché of the American Embassy in Norway prior to coming to Tusculum College.  He became the first non-minister and non-Presbyterian to be President at Tusculum College.  During Cothran’s presidency, he recruited twenty-three new faculty and staff members and improved the natural science department.  Cothran left Tusculum to become President of Kendall College in Evanston, Ill.

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Charles J. Ping (Acting President), B.D., Ph.D., served 1968-1969

Charles Ping earned his B.D. from Louisville Seminary and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Duke.  He assumed the role of Dean at Tusculum College in 1966 and worked as a minister at area churches.  In Trout’s resignation letter, he recommended Ping to be President of Tusculum College.  Ping served one year as president before resigning his presidency at Tusculum College.

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Douglas C. Trout, B.A., B.D., Ph.D., served 1965-1968

Douglas Trout received his B.A. from DePaul University in 1952 and his B.D. from McCormick Seminary in 1957.  He served as an Army chaplain and Presbyterian minister before continuing his education at Michigan State University.  At Michigan State, Trout worked as a student advisor and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the School for Advanced Studies.  In 1965, he earned his Ph.D. while working at Michigan State.  When he arrived at Tusculum College, Trustees, faculty and students met him with great confidence.  He was 34 years old and better in-tune to students and their needs.  Trout’s first duties were to restore the reputation of Tusculum College and remove Tusculum College from SACS probation by improving faculty and administration.  To recruit more educated faculty and staff, Trout increased pay rates by 46 percent.  Trout saw the Charles Oliver Gray Complex built, updated/remodeled many campus buildings, added onto Katherine Hall, increased student enrollment, and converted the Mundy House into student housing.  He also began fundraising for the “SUB” (Student Union Building), but construction on this building was not completed for another 10 years.  Trout focused Tusculum College’s student recruitment efforts on more residential students and away from commuters.  After Tusculum College, he created a consulting firm to help other colleges caught in troubled times.

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