James Troha was named the 12th president of Juniata College Nov. 20, 2012, by the Juniata board of trustees.
Troha came to Juniata after a successful executive career at Heidelberg University, where he was executive vice president for institutional advancement and university relations. He oversaw all elements of the institution’s fundraising, marketing and university relations efforts.
During his last two years at Heidelberg, Troha has helped raise more than $38 million toward a $50 million campaign goal and helped secure several multimillion dollar cash gifts, the largest in Heidelberg’s history. He also was responsible for overseeing record fundraising years for the university’s unrestricted Heidelberg Fund.
In 2011, Heidelberg received the 2011 CASE Fundraising Award, one of 24 institutions nationwide to be honored. Troha also took leadership in organizing, writing and launching Heidelberg’s Academic Comprehensive Campaign for Excellence, the first of its kind for the university.
In July 2008 Troha was asked to serve as Heidelberg’s interim president for a year. In that time, he oversaw several critical projects during challenging economic times, including refinancing the university's $17 million in state-issued bonds and leading Heidelberg’s transition from college to university. As part of that transition, he oversaw the integration of a new marketing program and branding effort.
Troha began his administrative career at Heidelberg in 2002 as vice president for student affairs and dean of students, where he worked until he was named interim president in 2008. From 2003 to 2007, he also served as vice president for enrollment, where he helped increase enrollment by 19 percent in his first year and helped bring in the university’s three largest freshmen classes in three decades. He also led efforts to redevelop Heidelberg’s website and implemented the university’s first Leadership Academy.
He began his academic career in 1993 when he was hired as area coordinator and coordinator of Greek life at the University of Evansville, in Evansville, Ind. In 1995, he was able to gain significant international experience as dean of students at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England, which is the British branch campus for the University of Evansville. By 1997, Troha had been named dean of students at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., a post he held until 2001.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Troha earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1991 and went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling in 1993, both from Edinboro University, in Edinboro, Pa. In 2005, he earned a doctorate in educational policy and leadership from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan.
He also has been active in his community, serving on the board of directors for the Tiffin YMCA since 2002 and chair of that board from 2009-2011. He also is a member and chair-elect of the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a founding member of Tiffin’s Education Community Task Force and served as a board member for the Tiffin-Seneca County United Way from 2004 to 2008. He is a past president of the Ohio Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.