TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL NAMES JAMES TORRA AS SCHOOL’S NEXT PRESIDENT; SELECTION FOLLOWS 7-MONTH NATIONAL SEARCH
Torra has served as school’s Vice President for Advancement since 2017 and has held administrative, teaching, coaching positions during 20 years at THS
Trinity High School has selected James “JT” Torra as the school’s next president. Torra will begin his tenure as president on July 1, succeeding Dr. Robert Mullen, who in May 2024 announced plans to step down from that position. Torra’s selection follows a seven-month national search.
Torra has served as Trinity’s vice president for advancement and director of admissions since 2017 and held several teaching and administrative positions at the school prior. He joined Trinity in 2005 as a science teacher and associate head basketball coach. He is held in the highest regard by students, colleagues, school families and thousands of alumni who know him from his work at Trinity.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Trinity High School and its esteemed tradition of helping young men reach their full potential, forming men of faith and men of character,” Torra said. “My experiences at Trinity during the past 20 years have prepared me well for this next chapter. Utilizing a collaborative approach, I will work passionately with all sectors of the Trinity community to build on the school’s rich legacy and core values, while also creating a vision for continued growth and success.”
In his current role at Trinity, Torra oversees all aspects of the Advancement Office, including hiring, budgeting and efforts to improve retention and enrollment. He plays an integral role in Trinity’s strategic planning and capital campaigns, and works regularly with the Trinity High School and Trinity High School Foundation boards. As admissions coordinator from 2013-17, Torra was engaged in all phases of admissions, including marketing, registration, financial aid, and budgeting. The school has enjoyed significant gains in enrollment during his time in his current position, becoming Kentucky’s largest Catholic or private high school. During his time as associate head basketball coach, Trinity won two state championships – in 2012 and 2019.
“JT is the right person at the right time for Trinity,” said Mike Paradis, chair of the Trinity High School Board, “His hands-on experience in serving as a teacher and leader of young men, along with his work as an innovative administrator and leader, makes him uniquely qualified to serve as Trinity’s next president.”
“JT’s personal and professional values align with Trinity’s inclusive and welcoming approach where students are encouraged to grow academically, spiritually and morally in a community of faith,” said Joe Landenwich, chair of the Trinity High School Foundation Board.
Landenwich added that all stakeholder groups of the Trinity community were engaged in the search process: “On behalf of the entire search committee, I want to express my appreciation to the hundreds of alumni and friends of the Trinity community who provided input regarding the most important qualities for the next president. It made for a better, more thorough process.”
Following Mullen’s decision to step down, a search committee, consisting of members of the Trinity High School Board, Trinity High School Foundation Board and Alumni Board was established to identify the school’s next president. The committee conducted a national search and selected Torra from a pool of candidates. The committee engaged Ashley|Rountree and Associates to assist with the search.
Torra earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and secondary education from Keene State College in New Hampshire; a Master of Science degree in educational leadership from the University of Dayton; a certificate in Catholic School Management from Villanova University, and an Executive Leadership Program Certificate from Cornell University.
Paradis noted that Mullen, who became president in 2000, leaves Trinity “on the strongest footing possible academically, financially and operationally. We are thankful for his tremendous leadership and dedication.”
Upon completing his role as president, Mullen will take on a new position at Trinity – serving as the school’s vice president for mission. In this role, he will concentrate on fundraising, while also providing transition support to his successor. Mullen, a 1977 Trinity graduate, has maintained numerous teaching and administrative positions at the school during the last 42 years.
Torra will be the sixth head of school in Trinity’s 71-year history, and the school’s third president. (The position of president did not exist prior to 1994.)
Founded in 1953, Trinity High School has an enrollment of more than 1,220 young men.