Kent C. Trachte

Kent Trachte, Ph.D., was named Lycoming College’s 15th president on Nov. 19, 2012, by Lycoming’s board of trustees and officially began his duties on July 1, 2013. A native of De Pere, Wis., Pres. Trachte earned a bachelor’s in government from Dartmouth College in 1973, a master’s in international relations from the University of Kentucky in 1975 and a Ph.D. in political science from Binghamton University in 1981.

Trachte worked for a quarter-century at Franklin and Marshall College before taking office at Lycoming College. He began at F&M in 1988 as dean of freshmen before being named associate vice president and dean of freshmen in 1991. He was promoted to dean of the College in 2003. Prior to his tenure at F&M, he taught political science at Gettysburg College, Long Island University and Clark University.

Trachte’s family includes his wife, Sharon Trachte, Ph.D., who recently retired as an associate professor of French at Elizabethtown College after 26 years of service. She taught introductory and intermediate level grammar/culture, advanced reading of authentic texts, contemporary French society and introduction to French literature. She earned a doctorate in French literature from Binghamton University. Their son, Kenyon, and his wife, Lucille, live in New York, where Kenyon practices law.