Restaurant Association’s Foundation Names Executive Director

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has named Monica Parrish Trent, Ph.D., as its executive director. She will help advance its mission to empower people from all backgrounds with the training and education needed to succeed in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry.

Trent has more than 25 years of experience across higher education, workforce development and national nonprofit leadership. She held faculty and leadership roles at diverse, multicampus community colleges before moving into executive leadership in the national nonprofit sector. Most recently, she served as chief program and network officer at Achieving the Dream, where she led national program and workforce strategy across a network of more than 300 community colleges.

“Monica is an exceptional leader who cares deeply about the power and opportunity in getting people into the right job,” says Michelle Korsmo, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association and CEO of the NRAEF, in the release. “Her ability to tell a powerful story around an organization’s mission and developing partnerships and programs to bring it to life will benefit the Foundation as it provides experienced career exploration and workforce readiness in the restaurant industry to young people seeking these workplace entry roles.”

NRAEF serves as the supporting philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association.