Welcome!
Trine University is a growing school with a rich heritage of academic excellence and tradition. With enrollment that has more than tripled since 2000, Trine University remains a remarkably creative, innovative campus with a vibrant student life. Expert, caring faculty prepare Trine students to lead, succeed and serve.
More than 99 percent of graduates over the past seven years have found employment or started graduate school within six months. Many of our students collaborate with companies, organizations and schools around the globe to solve complex problems and real-world issues, and many graduates start flourishing companies or rise to the highest level of major corporations. The next time you see a golf ball, just remember one of our graduates is responsible.
Over the past 20 years, we've added more than $160 million worth of campus enhancements and facilities, including the new Thunder Ice Arena and MTI Center. As the 21st century progresses, Trine will continue to strategically develop its people, programs and facilities to make a positive impact on students, the community and beyond.
More than 99 percent of graduates over the past seven years have found employment or started graduate school within six months.
As a Trine student, alumnus or supporter, you are part of a community – a family – that has been active since 1884 and will be here for years to come. Starting as a teacher’s college and evolving into the 20th century as the university opened the doors of its engineering school, we’ve added acclaimed business, humanities, education, health sciences and science programs that continue to meet with success.
If you are looking to become a student at Trine, I encourage you to schedule a time to visit and see the campus for yourself. While you're here, be sure to meet with professors and students and ask all the questions you want.
Whether student, alumnus or friend of the college, please stop by my office in the C.W. Sponsel Administration Center when you are on campus. My door is open and you are always welcome.
Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D.
President
As we move toward the start of another exciting school year, I am announcing that I have entered my final year as president of Trine University, and that the Board of Trustees has formed a committee to begin the process for selecting the next leader of this great institution. After the tremendous honor of serving 23 years as president, Melanie and I will move on to the next phase of our lives and I have notified the board that I will retire effective May 31, 2023. I believe this university is in its strongest position ever — academically, financially, strategically — which makes it the best time to turn over the reins to a worthy successor who will keep us on this extraordinary path we built together.
Melanie and I are truly excited about spending more time with family and doing the things we love to do together while we still have our health and vitality. Together with the Trine University community, we have done remarkable things, and I will always treasure the collaboration and friendship that we forged over two decades. For that, I want to thank everyone with whom I have had the privilege to work. Making the kinds of significant changes and community impact this university has made required the consistent passion and dedication of faculty, staff, students, alumni, coaches, donors and members of our Board of Trustees. We were in this together, and the results of your commitment and dedication are clearly visible.
I know that transition sometimes can be unsettling, but we enter this next phase with the comfort of knowing that we already have in place a group of skilled and compassionate leaders throughout the university who will continue to lead this institution on our current trajectory. They are gifted with clear vision and strong administrative expertise and deserve your complete confidence. They also have a deep understanding of what makes Trine University unique and fully appreciate that everything we have achieved, and all we will achieve in the future, is driven by our student-centered mission.
I intend to operate this next year as if nothing is changing and plan to run full-speed across the finish line next May. This means, as always, my door is open for you to share your questions and concerns. And I will still expect to share a laugh when we encounter one another on campus.
Thank you again for everything you have done to make this such an outstanding university. Thank you for your kindness, support and friendship. And thank you for everything you have taught me along the way. A special thanks goes to my wife Melanie, who has been with me on every step of this journey and has contributed to this university in countless, often anonymous, ways. I also want to thank my daughter Megan, my son-in-law Evan and my granddaughters Emma and Elizabeth (they truly are the apples of my eye) for their steadfast love and support.
Sincerely,
Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D.
Trine University President
Dr. Earl D. Brooks II began serving as the 16th president of Trine University in 2000. Since his inauguration, Dr. Brooks has led Trine on the path of growth and improvement, ensuring the university is one of the top private institutions in the Midwest. Since coming to Trine, Dr. Brooks has spearheaded a successful $90 million capital campaign, headed initiatives to revitalize campus, positively engaged the surrounding community, cultivated relationships with alumni and friends, and sought new opportunities for students. In the fall of 2013, Trine kicked off a $75 million campaign which has since expanded to $176 million, focusing on capital improvement projects, endowment and the annual Trine fund.
Trine University’s campus has grown considerably over the past decade under Dr. Brooks’ leadership. More than $176 million worth of campus enhancements and facilities have been added — including:
- T. Furth Center for Performing Arts
- Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium and Metal Technologies Inc. Health and Fitness Center
- Jim and Joan Bock Center for Innovation and Biomedical Engineering
- Larry and Judy Reiners Residence Hall
- Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Inc. Athletic and Recreation Center
- Rick L. and Vicki L. James University Center
- Renovation of the Ketner School of Business/Ford Hall
- Expansion of the Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences/Best Hall
- The Thunder Ice Arena
- The MTI Center (athletics and events venue)
Dr. Brooks oversaw the transition from Tri-State University to Trine University in 2008, which helped the university better define its mission and direction while honoring trustees Drs. Ralph and Sheri Trine. The decision was part of a strategy that has spurred Trine University to continued growth, including record enrollment of nearly 5,000 students, a career placement average of more than 99 percent over the past fouryears, and an economic impact of more than $100 million to local, regional and statewide economies.
The university recently celebrated 16 consecutive years of balanced budgets and has raised an average of more than $20 million over each of the last three years. It also graduated its first doctoral class of physical therapists with the Class of 2017.
President Brooks received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the:
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- Northeast Indiana Regional Chamber
- Independent Colleges of Indiana
- Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Presidents Council
- Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
He serves on numerous councils and committees including:
- The Council of Independent Colleges
- American Council on Education
- National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- Association of Governing Board of Colleges and Universities
