The purpose of this study was to explore the role of trust between the higher education president and assistant to the president in light of institutional culture. The researcher employed a qualitative case study research design using interviews, observations, and document analysis at a single institution. The theoretical framework used for this dissertation was William Tierney's Grammars of Trust (2006). The research questions included the following: 1) What does trust look like between the higher education president and the assistant to the president according to the research participants; 2) What are the most common ways in which trust is experienced by the higher education president and assistant to the president; 3) How does institutional culture influence the role of trust between the president and assistant to the president? Trust as faith, an exchange, and a cultural construction yielded the most thick and rich data. Trust was found to be experienced most via shared and learned experiences. The value of trust and its importance between the higher education president and assistant to the president is highlighted. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]