Columbus State names Vice President for Advancement

Columbus State Community College has named Katy Trombitas to the Cabinet-level position of Vice President for Advancement. In this newly created role, she will serve as executive director leading the Columbus State Foundation and lead the College’s grants office, in support of strategic priorities that deepen institutional impact for and with the community. She will start with the College June 1.

Trombitas, an established, locally based higher education development leader, comes to Columbus State from The Ohio State University Health Sciences Advancement, where as executive director she provided leadership for fundraising and alumni engagement teams at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and its Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy and Public Health.

“Katy is an energetic leader who is passionate about our work. She brings proven organizational advancement talents to Columbus State,” President David T. Harrison said. “I have every confidence her experience bringing together diverse constituencies in support of shared goals will be invaluable in advancing our priorities of workforce development, eliminating student debt, and improving economic mobility for our students.”

“I look forward to contributing to and growing the profound impact Columbus State has within our region,” Trombitas said. “I strongly believe in the power of education and the involvement of the community in realizing its full potential in the lives of our students and their contributions to equitable growth and prosperity for the betterment of our society. The opportunity to do strategic and meaningful work toward this end is limitless.”

As Vice President for Advancement, Trombitas will be responsible for aligning philanthropic and grants funding to College strategic priorities, working with both and College and Foundation board leaders, College senior leaders, faculty and staff, and other governance and leadership groups that contribute to College goals. Additionally, she will provide counsel on community engagement and strategic partnerships to ensure maximum impact and proper stewardship of philanthropic and grants resources within the College’s and the community’s work.

Within Trombitas’s supportive leadership portfolio, the Columbus State Foundation is an independently board-governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting student success outcomes through the College, that strengthen individual lives and the fabric of the community. Columbus State’s grants office is responsible for nearly 100 public and private sector grant awards totaling more than $70 million in College program funding, driving innovation in education development and delivery. Both resources augment and complement traditional College operations funding from state allocations and tuition, and local funding for infrastructure investment within the Franklin County portion of the College’s service area, helping keep tuition low and education quality high.

In addition to her immediate prior role with Ohio State, Trombitas’ past experience includes service as Ohio State’s chief development officer for the Colleges of Medicine and Nursing, which she advanced to from director of development for the College of Nursing. She has also served as director of development for the OhioHealth Foundation. Her career also encompasses previous roles supporting student financial wellness, college access and student life, while her current volunteerism includes board service for the Hilliard Food Pantry.

Trombitas earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing and a Master of Arts in Health Communication from The Ohio State University.