Dr. Monica Parrish Trent Named Executive Director of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation today announced Monica Parrish Trent, PhD as the organization's next Executive Director. Dr. Trent will advance the Foundation's strong legacy while advancing its mission to empower people from all backgrounds with the training and education needed to succeed in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.

Dr. Trent has more than 25 years of experience across higher education, workforce development, and national nonprofit leadership, focused on building pathways that connect education and training to meaningful careers and economic opportunity. Her professional journey includes faculty and leadership roles at diverse, multi-campus community colleges before moving into executive leadership in the national nonprofit sector. Throughout her career, she has led complex initiatives through distributed partner networks and built collaborations among educators, employers, funders, and community partners to translate strategy into programs that can be implemented and scaled.

Most recently, she served as Chief Program and Network Officer at Achieving the Dream (ATD), 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," said Michelle Korsmo, CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "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." 

"The restaurant and hospitality industry creates opportunities for millions of people, and its workforce growth depends on ensuring they have clear pathways to develop the skills, credentials, and experience employers need," said Dr. Trent. "I have spent my career bringing educators, employers, and communities together to strengthen career pathways and help people move from learning to meaningful careers. I'm excited to bring that experience to the Foundation and help more people turn the skills they gain and credentials they earn into greater possibilities for advancement. Having worked in restaurants while I was a student, I saw firsthand how the industry opens doors for people from a wide spectrum of life experiences and how a job can grow into a lifelong career that supports a family and strengthens a community."

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation invests in individuals throughout their career journeys, equipping them to grab ahold of industry opportunities to create a better future for themselves, while building communities that foster their growth and development. With a people-first focus, the Foundation empowers the restaurant and foodservice industry to maximize its potential as America's second-largest private employer. Learn more here.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF): As the supporting philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF's charitable mission includes enhancing the industry's training and education, career development, and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower, and Advance today's and tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community based organizations to provide people with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org. 

SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation