Thomas Trotter

Thomas Trotter is a Researcher at the University of Idaho and affiliated with the Western Rural Development Center. His work focuses on rural community development, strategic planning, and capacity building for livability. He also provides technical assistance to educational institutions and organizations.

• Ph.D. in Education-Counseling and School Psychology, University of Idaho (1981)
• Ed.S. in Special Education-Generalist, University of Idaho (1980)
• M.Ed. in School Psychology, University of Washington (1975)
• B.A. in Sociology, University of Washington (1969)

Trotter's research interests include diagnosing rural community challenges, validating livability frameworks, and developing collaborative action-planning models. His scholarship emphasizes data-driven decision-making, crisis management, and behavioral/environmental interventions for at-risk populations. He has published on the CIPP Evaluation Model and SWOT Analysis in program development.

At the Western Rural Development Center, Trotter contributes to resource dissemination and technical assistance for rural communities. His expertise spans clinical supervision, leadership development, and team-building strategies for systemic improvement.