The late Earl H. Potter III,
former president of St. Cloud State University (MN), was awarded today
with the 2017 Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award*
during the opening plenary of ACE2017, ACE's 99th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
The Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award is bestowed
annually to acknowledge the substantial role of mentors in the success
of ACE Fellows Program participants. Lisa Helmin Foss, associate vice
president and associate provost at St. Cloud State and Potter’s 2015-16
nominee, accepted the award on his behalf.
Since its inception in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program has strengthened
institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying
and preparing nearly 1,900 faculty and staff for senior positions in
college and university administration. More than 80 percent of Fellows
have gone on to serve as chief executive officers of colleges or
universities, provosts, vice presidents and deans.
Potter, who served as St. Cloud State’s president from 2007 until his
death in 2016, mentored one Fellow and nominated two others to
participate in the program. He also served as chair of the ACE Council
of Fellows from 2013-15 and led the Council through the program’s 50th
anniversary commemoration. For eight years, Potter also was an
interviewer for incoming classes of Fellows.
"Earl’s dedication to the Fellows Program reflected his longtime
commitment to mentorship and helping pave a path for future higher
education leaders,” said Lynn M. Gangone, vice president, ACE
Leadership. “It is terribly sad that Earl is not here to receive this
well-deserved honor in person. However, I am confident that his legacy
lives on and that his work has contributed to the development of leaders
for generations to come.”
Throughout his tenure, Potter was deeply committed to the
university’s mission of providing an affordable, high-quality education
for students from Minnesota and around the world. He felt strongly about
his work to prepare students for life, work and citizenship in the 21st
century, and established himself as a leader to position the university
as a driving force for progress and problem solving in the region and
as a source of great pride for the community and state.
Under Potter’s leadership, St. Cloud State worked to strengthen its
dedication to an integrated student learning experience by grounding
every professional program in a broad liberal education and a firm
understanding of the needs of employers and the region.
Potter, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1969-93 and retired
at the rank of captain, also brought his military background and support
of veterans to campus and oversaw efforts to increase veterans’
services on campus.
Prior to joining St. Cloud State, Potter was executive vice president
and provost at Southern Oregon University; dean of the College of
Business at Eastern Michigan University; dean of the School of
Management at Lesley University (MA); director for organizational
development and employment services at Cornell University (NY); and
associate dean for academics and chief negotiator for management and
head of the Department of Economics and Management at the United States
Coast Guard Academy.
“Earl H. Potter III exemplified the values of a leader and a mentor:
dedication, integrity, compassion. Fidelity is honored to celebrate
leaders in the higher education community who share our passion for
mentorship and are committed to preparing the next generation for
ongoing success,” said Alexandra Taussig, senior vice president,
Tax-Exempt Market, Fidelity Investments.
Since 2008, Fidelity Investments has been a generous supporter of the
ACE Fellows Program, enabling the Council of Fellows to provide support
for the discretionary fund of the Mentor Award winner's institution as
well as the Fellows Fund for the Future, which provides stipends to
defray costs of sponsoring a Fellow for qualified institutions.
*ACE and Fidelity Investments® are independent entities
and are not legally affiliated. The recipients of the Council of
Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award are selected solely by the
Executive Committee of the Council of Fellows. Fidelity employees are
not involved, in any way, in determining, selecting or approving the
recipient or amount of any award. The selection criteria and guidelines
for the award may be obtained directly from ACE.