American University Provost Peter Starr announced today Dr. Bridget Trogden as the new dean of undergraduate education and academic student services. She will also serve as a professor in the AU School of Education. Trogden is currently the associate dean for engagement and general education in the Division of Undergraduate Studies and professor in the Department of Engineering and Science Education at Clemson University. She will begin her new position on July 1.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Trogden to the AU community,” said Provost Peter Starr. “She brings to her role a strong commitment to student success, extensive experience in curriculum development, deep knowledge of experiential learning, and a track record of breaking down silos to advance cross-campus initiatives. I look forward to working with her to support the great work of the entire undergraduate education and academic student services team.”

Trogden has played a key role in leading curricular innovations in general education at Clemson. Since joining the university in 2017, she has overseen a multi-year, multi-college re-envisioning and strategic planning effort that resulted in the implementation of a new curriculum infused with interdisciplinary and engaged learning (Clemson Crossings, launched in fall 2022). Trogden also guided the institutionalization and tracking of high-impact practices like service-learning, internships, undergraduate research, study abroad, and living-learning communities. Committed to inclusive excellence, she created university-wide intercultural and DEI student learning outcomes and developed a STEM Equity Academy at Clemson.

“I am looking forward to joining the American University community in my new role! During the interview process, I had a chance to engage with multiple stakeholders, and it is clear that AU is a place that values high-quality education, not only to benefit students, but also to cultivate an effective society,” said Trogden.

Trogden is principal investigator or co-PI on several grant-funded initiatives to improve undergraduate general and STEM education and is frequently invited to speak and consult on higher education and pedagogical design. Among other accolades, she received the 2021 Standout Faculty Award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for her work in improving the faculty role in nonpartisan student voter engagement and was recently honored with the 2023 Order of the Tiger Award from Clemson’s Undergraduate Student Senate for her dedication to the institutional values of honesty, integrity and respect.

Trogden received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois, where her research focused on studying the estrogen receptor and its roles in breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy, and osteoporosis. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in music performance from Transylvania University in Kentucky.