Trout shares views on teaching, research after award win

Millersville University has named Dr. Brian Trout, Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance, as the 2025–2026 Educator of the Year. The award was announced during the EPPICC Weekend’s convocation, where Dr. Trout addressed the incoming freshman class.

For Trout, the recognition carries special meaning. He studied business at Millersville University as an undergraduate before launching his professional career. Returning as a faculty member, he brought with him not only years of industry experience but also a deep appreciation for the impact a professor can have. “I was humbled to learn students nominated me for this award.  I know firsthand how a Millersville professor can touch a life,” Trout said. “I want to empower my students like that.”

When Trout reflects on his role as an educator, he emphasizes the long view. “My efforts center on the student. But it’s not just about who they are today. I’m thinking about the future version of that individual: the professional, the leader, the person who will contribute to their family and community. I want to support them in who they are becoming.” His efforts take different forms, but funnel to the students. He views his work not as distinct categories but as interconnected efforts that reinforce one another. “My research grows out of what I encounter in the classroom, and what I learn from scholarship directly strengthens the learning experiences I design for students.”

One of Trout’s most distinctive teaching contributions is the continuing case method he developed for Managerial Accounting. Students use the same fictitious business as a common frame of reference throughout the semester, enabling them to connect earlier lessons with new material and build a deeper, more comprehensive understanding.

Beyond classroom innovation, Trout is equally intentional about preparing students for professional life. He has mentored students pursuing certifications such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CMA (Certified Management Accountant), assisted hundreds of students in earning the Microsoft Excel Expert certification, and organized panels, workshops, and industry visits to help them build networks and envision career paths. “I want accounting students to experience education as a direct link to their professional futures,” Trout explained, “and I want that connection to begin right here at Millersville.”

He also emphasizes the habits and character traits that define trusted professionals. He discusses how course structures such as strict deadlines are purposefully designed to simulate the discipline of professional environments, while cultivating students’ capacity for self-regulation, accountability and time management. “Accounting is a rewarding and demanding field,” he said. “Accountants are entrusted with the public’s confidence, and that means high standards of competency, discipline, and ethics. I want students to experience a taste of that responsibility while they are still in the classroom.”

“Our accounting students at Millersville are remarkable,” he said. “Though the struggle may feel uncomfortable at times, they have an extraordinary perspective in seeing how it fuels their growth. I’m continually inspired by their perseverance and wisdom.”

Trout’s deepest aim is for students to finish each semester not just with new skills, but with a stronger sense of their potential. “I want students to complete the semester with a genuine sense of achievement that can serve as a launch pad for further growth,” he explained. “That’s what this recognition does for me. It affirms the mission I’ve embraced and motivates me to keep growing in my own development as an educator.”

Trout expressed gratitude for the colleagues and community who have shaped his journey. “I am honored to be recognized by colleagues I hold in high regard, and I am grateful for the freedom and support the Lombardo College of Business and Millersville University have given me to do this work.