Support an ACE Fellow

​Invest in Your Talent. Elevate Your Institution.

Supporting an ACE Fellow for a fellowship year doesn't only champion one leader—it invests in your entire institution’s future. Your Fellow will come back ready to lead major initiatives, serve in senior roles, and bring renewed vision to your campus.

Institutions may nominate up to two candidates during each Fellows application cycle.

Why Support a Fellow?

  • Fellows return to your campus with sharper skills and broader vision, developing your internal capacity
  • Advance institutional priorities with new leadership energy and national insights
  • Connect to a national network of colleges, universities, and thought leaders

What Your Institutional Support Involves

  • Cover the Fellow’s salary and benefits
  • Designate a nominator (the Fellow’s current or former supervisor) and sponsor (your institution’s president/chancellor)
  • Maintain an active ACE membership


Nominator Information

​Once a prospective Fellow submits their application, their current or former supervisor serving as their nominator will automatically be prompted to complete the Nomination of Candidate form. They will be asked to respond to each of the following questions in 500 words or fewer.

Nominator Questions

Executive Leadership Potential
​Please describe the nominee’s leadership potential, focusing on their key strengths and areas for growth. Include examples of specific events or situations where you have observed these traits in action. Additionally, discuss the specific types of leadership roles you foresee the nominee taking on within the next five years.

Transformational and Innovative Leadership
​How many years and in what capacity have you known the applicant? In your response, please provide examples of how the applicant has demonstrated transformative and innovative leadership. 

Contribution to the Fellows Cohort
​How effectively does the applicant work with others, and how can they contribute to fostering a collaborative environment? Please provide specific examples to illustrate your response.

Benefit of the Program to the Candidate
​What do you believe the nominee should or will gain from participating in the ACE Fellows Program?
Sponsor Information

​The president, chancellor, or chief executive officer of a Fellows applicant’s current institution will be prompted via email to fill out a brief form agreeing that they will maintain an active ACE membership in good standing and ensure that the Fellow’s salary and benefits and program-related expenses are covered during the fellowship year. This includes costs associated with orientation, placement, and any relevant program fees and professional development budget. They also agree to meet regularly with the Fellow during their fellowship experience to offer counsel and guidance on leadership learning goals, as well as feedback on their fellowship project.

Program Fees and Placement

​​Once your designated applicant is selected as a Fellow, your institution as their sponsor is responsible for paying half of the program fee ($8,250) prior to the public announcement of the 2026–2027 ACE Fellows cohort in April 2026.

The total ACE Fellows Program fee is $16,500, and distribution of expenses may vary depending on the type of placement secured by the Fellow. Fellows are placed at a host campus where they complete their fellowship for a term varying in length from a full academic year to a semester or in periodic visits.

  • If a Fellow engages in a full academic year placement, the host institution pays the full program fee and helps cover related expenses. 
  • If a Fellow engages in a semester-long placement, the host institution pays half of the program fee and half of related expenses.  
  • If a Fellow participates in periodic visits for their placement, the sponsoring institution pays the full program fee and related expenses.

Connect with Us

​Still have questions? Email us at fellows@acenet.edu.