The ACE Experience 2026 (ACEx2026), a collection of six events over four days, commences Feb. 25, featuring major speakers and the opportunity to network with hundreds of higher education colleagues.ACEx2026 is a multi-faceted, high-impact convening for higher education leaders that will tackle a wide array of topics, from examining public policy challenges to exploring how colleges and universities can increase access and spur success for non-traditional, first-generation college students.
It’s not too late to reserve your spot. Click here for more information and to register. Just added to the agenda is a special meet and greet for attendees from ACE member institutions at 5 pm, Feb. 25, just before the full welcome reception.
ACE Annual Meeting
Anchored by the ACE Annual Meeting, Feb. 26–27, ACEx2026 will empower campus leaders to foster innovation and resilience and champion higher education’s vital role in building our nation’s future.
ACE President Ted Mitchell will kick off the Annual Meeting with a candid look at the forces pressing on our institutions and how higher education leaders can focus on advancing solutions and demonstrating that “Higher Education Builds America.” Following his address, Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education, and David Pressman, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, will engage in a frank conversation about the rising tide of authoritarianism and its implications for higher education and democratic society.
The meeting will also feature other public policy-oriented sessions, including:
- A main stage address by U.S. Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent, followed by a federal policy update from ACE Senior Vice President Jon Fansmith
- An interactive dotEDU podcast recording
- A discussion led by ACE General Counsel Peter McDonough about the questions and concerns campus leaders continue to face about pressures to enter agreements with federal agencies
Among the other main stage plenaries will be an exploration—featuring Anant Agarwal, chief academic officer at 2U and founder of edX; Bryan Alexander; a senior scholar at Georgetown University; and Van Ton-Quinlivan, founder and CEO of Futuro Health and former executive vice chancellor of California Community Colleges—of how general education and credentials are being redesigned to emphasize real-world competencies and career readiness.
A session looking at how higher education can reignite the promise of economic mobility in America will be framed by insights from the updated Carnegie Classifications, and feature Mushtaq Gunja, ACE senior vice president and executive director of the classification systems, and Anthony Abraham Jack, inaugural faculty director of the Newbury Center at Boston University, as well as a panel of students.
ACE on the Hill
The day before the Annual Meeting, on Feb. 25, ACE member presidents and chancellors can participate in ACE on the Hill, a high-level policy engagement event that will connect campus leaders directly with lawmakers.
ACE’s Government Relations staff will help arrange meetings with lawmakers and staff, equip participants with practical resources, including a guide to the federal budget and appropriations process, and conduct an in-person briefing to prepare presidents and chancellors for discussions on Capitol Hill about federal policy issues affecting higher education.
ACE Women’s Network Leadership Conference and Women’s Leadership Dinner
Running concurrently with the Annual Meeting, the sold-out Women’s Network Leadership Conference (WNLC), Feb. 27–28, advances women in higher education leadership through empowerment, inspiration, and practical skill-building.
While the WNLC is sold out, tickets are still available for the Women’s Leadership Dinner, which will feature a conversation between Waded Cruzado, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and ACE President Ted Mitchell.
ACE Council of Fellows
The ACE Council of Fellows Gathering, Feb. 27–28, provides the opportunity for networking and professional development, with all ACE Fellows Program alumni invited to participate.
The Fellows meeting includes an optional program, with limited availability, at One Dupont Circle, the headquarters for many higher education associations and organizations, including ACE. Representatives from five organizations—the Council of Independent Colleges, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of Colleges and Universities—will be invited to describe their missions and work.
ACE Awards
Awards honoring the achievements and contributions of higher education leaders will be bestowed at ACEx2026:
ACE State Network Leadership Award
ACE Donna Shavlik Award
ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation
Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award
TIAA Institute Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education
University Network Summit
The University Network Summit @ ACEx2026 (UNS)—presented by Huron and Noodle—is a curated symposium within ACEx2026, from Feb. 25–27, featuring a set of plenaries and breakout discussions designed to encourage fresh perspectives and problem solving. The summit features an exclusive networking dinner and session for UNS attendees, who can move seamlessly between UNS and ACEx2026.
