After this school year, Dr. Rob Mullen, long-time president of Trinity, will be stepping down. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Mullen has led Trinity through a period of significant development while maintaining the spirit of the school’s founding. A dedicated member of the Trinity community, he is a consistent presence on campus and always willing to engage with students. His commitment to collaboration in finding the best ways to run a school in the 21st century has allowed Trinity to flourish. As his retirement approaches, Dr. Mullen is confident that Trinity will continue to thrive.
Dr. Mullen first came to Trinity in 1973 as a student, following his older brother to the Catholic school whose bus served their neighborhood. Reflecting on their decision, he said it “was the best decision in his life and my life.”
After graduating from Trinity, Dr. Mullen was uncertain about his next steps. “I thought about the lifestyle of the teachers I had at Trinity. They seemed very, very satisfied in their jobs. It looked like they were impacting a lot of people’s lives, so I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’” He decided to pursue teaching at Trinity. With this new goal in mind, he enrolled at Bellarmine University, earned a teaching degree, and joined Trinity’s staff in 1982 as a sophomore religion teacher and assistant varsity soccer coach.
Though Dr. Mullen has been part of Trinity for over 50 years, he emphasized that the school has maintained several unifying traditions over time. He reflected, “My time at Trinity was just really, really, really rich and similar to what students are experiencing today.” The consistent quality of teachers, moderators, and coaches, the brotherhood among students, and “life-changing experiences like senior retreat” have defined Trinity for as long as Dr. Mullen can remember.
Trinity is committed to its Catholic tradition, teaching the good news of God, as well as the universal meaning of the word “catholic.” The term “catholic” signifies inclusivity, chosen by the Catholic Church to emphasize that everyone has a place within it. Similarly, Trinity is a universal, inclusive school. Unlike some Catholic schools that reject students who don’t meet certain metrics, Trinity opens its doors to all. From its founding by Alfred Steinhauser, Trinity has been dedicated to serving entire families and welcoming anyone who wishes to join. As someone from a Trinity family, Dr. Mullen deeply values this tradition.
While the strategic planning system predates his presidency, Dr. Mullen has continued to develop it. This system incorporates feedback from teachers, parents, students, alumni, and staff to identify and implement improvements. Under Dr. Mullen’s leadership, Trinity has innovated while remaining true to its founding principles.
Since becoming Trinity’s president in 2000, Dr. Mullen has overseen numerous advancements. He explains that innovation is “not something we do casually; it’s something we do very intentionally.”
Dr. Mullen emphasized that these changes “weren’t born out of my brainstorming or my presidency. They were born out of us as a school, as an organization, continually asking, ‘How do we get better?’”
Trinity was the first school in the area to post grades online and establish a random drug testing program. It reduced average class sizes from 28 to 19, increased the number of science labs to nine (likely the most of any high school in Kentucky), and became the largest private school in the state. Among these changes, the implementation of block scheduling and the house system has had the most profound impact on students.
Before block scheduling, there wasn’t enough time for AP courses, studio art classes, or science labs. To address this, Trinity’s principal Dr. Dan Zoeller led a four-year process of researching block schedules, designing a program tailored to Trinity, and training teachers. Dr. Mullen asserted, “There’s nothing we’ve done in 70 years, a change in a program, that has more positively impacted students’ academic experience at Trinity than the block schedule.”
The house system, introduced in 2001, has also transformed student life. Dr. Mullen collaborated with Dr. Zoeller (then the director of activities) and the principal to implement it. The system helps new students quickly form friendships across all grade levels and feel a sense of belonging. Dr. Mullen noted, “I’ve never seen anything we’ve done help new students feel so quickly like, ‘Okay, I belong here.’” The house system fosters better communication between students and teachers, enhances student government, and maintains school spirit year-round. “Before the house system, school spirit was high at the start of the year but would fade. Now, it’s sustained throughout.”
Reflecting on Trinity’s achievements under his leadership, Dr. Mullen expressed pride in how the school has structured itself to encourage collaboration and innovation. “I’m extremely proud of how we’ve structured this school so ideas can come forward, and people can contribute their own insights to improve them.”
“One thing I learned quickly when I got this job is that I’m a small piece of a bigger puzzle. There’s not one person who could have made all these things happen. I like to tell people, I could be gone for a long time, and nobody would notice. But if our crossing guard or chef weren’t here, things would go bad very quickly. So I’m glad for the part I’ve played.”
A lifelong Shamrock, Dr. Mullen won’t be leaving the Trinity community anytime soon. He will remain to assist with fundraising for new building projects and support the transition to his successor’s term. Thank you, Dr. Mullen, for all you have done for Trinity High School!
