Pamela Trotman Reid

Name: Pamela Trotman Reid

Occupation: President, Saint Joseph College

Location of Business: West Hartford

Accomplishments: In 2009, at the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP, Reid was named among the 100 Most Influential Blacks in the State of Connecticut. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues in 2008, the Sue Rosenberg Zalk Award from the Society for Psychology of Women in 2004, the Dalmas Taylor Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2001 Multicultural Psychology Conference and was honored for her Distinguished Contribution to Research from the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Issues in 2000. In 1992, she was named among the Distinguished 100 Women in Psychology from the APA Division of Psychology of Women.

Reid received her Bachelor of Science from Howard University, a master’s degree from Temple University and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Who was your most influential role model, and why?

I was greatly influenced by my mother and grandmother, both strong, independent women who always supported and encouraged me. However, I feel that I have learned “life lessons” from a great many wonderful women and men as my career has unfolded. Some of these have been teachers and professors, others were supervisors or colleagues.

Why are you good at what you do?

I greatly enjoy what I do! The opportunity to assist in the development of the next generation and to work side-by-side with the scholars, scientists and practitioners who teach them is the best job I could ever envision. Whatever career our students ultimately pursue, I believe that their college years are formative and my job is to help them achieve success. This continues to energize and motivate me.

How does your organization give back to the community, and what role have you played in those efforts?

Saint Joseph College was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and is dedicated to a mission of service. Over the years we have educated women and men for careers that will help others and society as a whole, in fields like education, nursing, and social work (and, soon, Pharmacy). Our students currently engage in a number of service projects, including a wellness center for the underserved in downtown Hartford and an outreach project in Guyana. They sponsor fundraisers and special events; they spend their spring break on service projects; and they collect everything from clothing to canned goods to eyeglasses for those in need. Indeed, our College community — students, faculty, and staff — annually contributes funds and hundreds of hours of service to a variety of organizations.

What has inspired you in your career or where do you draw your daily inspiration?

For me, it is all about the students. When I have the occasion to introduce people to the opportunities available through education, I cannot stop myself. I have to tell them that this is their chance to expand their minds, open doors, and have new experiences. I enjoy interacting with students, whether at college events, walking around campus or in the dining hall. But the best day of the year for me is commencement day. Looking out across the crowd and seeing our excited graduates — as well as their proud parents, siblings, and friends — is extremely gratifying. I realize that together we are not only enriching the lives of our students, but also improving the well-being of their families and communities.

How have you tried to balance your career and your personal life? Give an example or two.

My family and friends are very important to me. I make time to be with them, but it is rarely as much as I would like. The fact that my family is spread from coast to coast makes it quite challenging. My husband and I love to plan family vacations, as well as time for just the two of us. I also make it a point to spend time with my grandchildren. We have special traditions, like making a gingerbread house before Christmas or having them spend a couple of weeks with my husband and me during the summer. My newest grandson is just six months old and lives in California, but I have found that between actual visits I can see him and read to him every week via the Internet.