Professor Trost has been a part of the faculty at Valparaiso University since 1963. He received his B.A. at Valparaiso University, and then went on to Washington University in St. Louis to complete graduate work. There he received his M.A. and Ph.D. and specializes in comparative Politics and political behavior. Since coming to Valparaiso he has been the Chair of the Department and completed a two-year term as director of Valpo's Cambridge, England Study Center. Professor Trost teaches courses on comparative politics, international relations, American Politics, and political theory.  Professor Trost served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1996 until 2006.