When he was just a child, Dr. Porter Lee Troutman, Jr.’s family was given 48 hours by the Ku Klux Klan to flee their home. His father, a longtime activist fighting for the rights of Black voters in Newellton, Louisiana, had attempted to establish a local chapter of the NAACP. This childhood memory shaped his career.

While Dr. Troutman was eager to join in the movement, his father urged him to focus on his studies. As a student, his desire to act was fueled by the absence of Black and minority voices in his elementary, high school, and college books. His journey through education revealed a common thread of oppression and injustice, woven throughout the country’s traditional telling of its history. So, he embarked on a lifelong mission to write the narrative of education according to the truth, including the contributions of multicultural and diverse people.

"The past and present emerging philosophy of the Center for Multicultural Education (CME) is that excellence in education cannot be achieved without educational equity for all who enter our schools," Dr. Troutman emphasized. This idea was the guiding light for the center in its inception in 2004. He envisioned a space where diversity was not only acknowledged but celebrated.

Under his leadership, the center flourished, marking significant milestones along the way. From diversity awareness workshops to collaborative initiatives with the Clark County School District, the center became a hub for change, nurturing future educators. Students, faculty, and staff at UNLV were exposed to the rich tapestry of human experiences, fostering empathy and understanding across cultural divides. Provided with a space to learn about new perspectives and the lived experiences of diverse communities, CME equipped them with the tools to champion diversity in and out of the classroom.

Now, as the center is renamed to honor its founder, The Dr. Porter Lee Troutman, Jr. Center for Multicultural Education will continue to inspire generations to come. The Troutman Center, under the leadership of Dr. Christine Clark and Dr. Norma Marrun, stands as a beacon of hope and equity in the educational landscape. To them renaming signifies a deep commitment to honoring Dr. Troutman's word and legacy while propelling the center forward into new frontiers of research, teaching, and advocacy. With Dr. Troutman's spirit of hope, challenging of the status quo, and resilience as their guide, their team is poised to amplify the center’s impact, reaching beyond campus borders to dismantle systems of educational oppression. 

In honoring Dr. Porter Lee Troutman, Jr., the College of Education pays tribute to a visionary leader. His unwavering dedication to diversity and inclusion has left an indelible mark on the educational landscape in Las Vegas and beyond. When he found out about the renaming, it evoked “a sense of happiness and hope, knowing that the center will continue to champion educational equity for all.” As the center embarks on a new chapter, Dr. Troutman's legacy serves as a reminder that true education is not merely about imparting knowledge but about empowering voices that have long been silenced.