ACE today announced that Patricia Book will join the Council as assistant vice president of the Center for Lifelong Learning.
Book has served since 2009 as assistant vice president for continuing education and academic outreach at the University of Northern Colorado, where she was responsible for the overall vision and strategy for continuing and distance education, workforce development and economic development academic outreach. Previously, Book served as vice president for regional development at Kent State University (OH), associate vice president for outreach and executive director of the Division of Continuing Education at Penn State Outreach, and as president of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association.
"Pat joins ACE with more than 24 years of senior leadership and management experience in continuing higher education," said Gretchen M. Bataille, ACE senior vice president for Leadership and Lifelong Learning. "Her extensive background working with adult learners makes her the perfect candidate to lead our lifelong learning staff in support of ACE's agenda to increase educational attainment of the U.S. workforce."
"I am excited to join an organization that has a rich history of working with lifelong learners and an exciting future of building on and strengthening that work," said Book, who will join the Council on July 10. "Engaging adult learners is perhaps the most pressing challenge facing higher education at this time, and I am eager to join ACE in its efforts on this front."
Book holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Oakland University (MI), an M.A. in cultural anthropology from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in medical anthropology, also from the University of Connecticut.
From its first programs for returning World War II veterans, ACE's Center for Lifelong Learning has led the national movement to recognize and promote adult learner programs in higher education. A national leader in shaping policies, practices and perceptions about continuous learning, the Center's commitment to adult learners includes programs, services, tools and research to help bridge the gaps in serving diverse learners, alleviating workforce shortages and meeting professional education demands in order to support access to and success in postsecondary education.
Among the Center's programs are the College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT), which connects workplace learning with colleges and universities by helping adults gain access to academic credit for formal courses and examinations taken outside traditional degree programs, and Military Evaluation Programs, which reviews military training and experiences for the award of equivalent college credits for members of the armed forces.
MEDIA CONTACT: Erin Hennessy ▪ 202-939-9367 (office) ▪ 202-664-4205 (cell) ▪ ehennessy@acenet.edu