Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award

The Council of Fellows Mentor Award recognizes ACE member presidents’ and chancellors’ contributions to enhancing the diversity and capacity of future leaders of American higher education. Nominations are solicited annually by the Council of Fellows from all former Fellows. The award is presented annually at the Opening Plenary of the ACE Annual Meeting by the chair of the Council of Fellows.

2020 Winner: Philip L. Dubois

ACE and Fidelity Investments are proud to announce Philip L. Dubois, chancellor emeritus of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, winner of the 2020 Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments award.Many ACE Fellows have benefited from the mentorship of Chancellor Dubois.

The ACE Fellows Program, the Council of Fellows, and Fidelity Investments applaud Chancellor Dubois for his long-standing commitment to mentoring ACE Fellows. We are pleased to recognize his valued contributions to the development of higher education leadership. The testimonials below highlight the significant impact he has had on ACE Fellows and their careers, and why ACE is honored to present the award to him.

It may have been unexpected by some that then President Dubois would host at the University of Wyoming a woman of color, in this instance, African American. However . . . No one would be surprised who also knew that he signed the first memoranda of cooperation between the University of Wyoming and the two principal Native American tribes of the state. No one would have been surprised who knew that he garnered a $2 million anonymous endowment gift to strengthen the campus environment for diversity as well as created the President's Advisory Committee for Minorities and Women’s Affairs and supplied recurring funding to underwrite related campus initiatives. This is the kind of track record that Chancellor Dubois has sustained.

Barbara Lyman

Interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, SUNY New Paltz

ACE Fellow 2000-01

Chancellor Dubois was intentional in engaging in critical dialogue with me about multifaceted higher education topics, which had varying perspectives and gradations of complexity. The most memorable of all was contributing to leadership in action as the UNC Charlotte community—Niner Nation—dealt with what Chancellor Dubois described as ‘the saddest day in UNC Charlotte’s history.’ I quickly adapted to a higher level of effective crisis management as UNC Charlotte experienced a kind of tragedy that rocked us to the very core. Throughout that very difficult time, Chancellor Dubois continued to mentor me and demonstrated intrinsic behavior by providing me with 30-second or one-minute backstories/context, insight, or reasons for decisions.

Karen Morgan

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Johnson C. Smith University

ACE Fellow 2018-19

He was a great mentor to me during the year I was on his campus, but he has been an even more important mentor to me over the past six years since my fellowship year. We email each other a few times each semester. Any time I have questions or concerns related to my career he always takes time to assist me. There is no doubt that my four promotions since returning to my campus had a lot to do with the mentorship I received from Dr. Dubois.

Alfred Bryant

Dean, School of Education, Campbell University

ACE Fellow 2008-09

As a first-generation college student myself, I have found Chancellor Dubois’s leadership style personally inspiring. In watching him perform his duties, it resonated with me that a first-generation college student could reach an important position such as chancellor and do the job well. Most importantly, though, I recognized that leadership abilities are not necessarily born or bestowed by privilege, but can be developed with diligence, courage, and a culture of mentorship.

Ryan Johnson

Associate Professor of Accounting, Wofford College

ACE Fellow 2017-18

As far as articulation of strategies and values in decision-making, Chancellor Dubois always struck me as an incredibly honest and ethical administrator. I have been exposed to many administrators in my 40 years in academia and particularly in my last 20 years in administration. I must say that when Dr. Dubois says he holds an important value he stands by it. He also works from a strong value system to make decisions and articulate his ideas.

Joseph Morreale

Distinguished Professor and Chair of Economics Department, Pace University

ACE Fellow 1995-96

During my ACE placement with Chancellor Dubois, I learned that he was a first-generation student from his family. He shared with me how his dreams have been realized despite not ever knowing he would become a chancellor one day. As I shared my dreams and goals, Chancellor Dubois encouraged me to dream big and set high goals.

Alan R. Shoho

Dean, School of Education and Professor, Administrative Leadership Program, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

ACE Fellow 2012-13

Past Award Recipients

ACE has been bestowing the Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award since 2005, when Robert L. Carothers and David P. Roselle became the first ever recipients. Click to expand the area below to learn more about our past recipients.

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2019 - Stanley C. Preczewski, Georgia Gwinett College
2018 - Renu Khator, University of Houston
2017 - Earl H. Potter (Posthumously), St. Cloud State University
2016 - John T. Casteen, III, University of Virginia
2015 - Dennis Holtschneider, DePaul University (IL)
2014 - Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, University of Maryland Baltimore County
2013 - E. Gordon Gee, The Ohio State University
2012 - John Cavanaugh, Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
2011 - Robert Caret, University of Massachusetts
2010 - Marvalene Hughes, Dillard University (LA) and Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, George Washington University (DC)
2009 - Robert E. Hemenway, University of Kansas
2008 - Robert Glidden, Ohio University
2007 - Carol A. Cartwright, Kent State University (OH)
2006 - Jerry Sue Thornton, Cuyahoga Community College (OH)
2005 - Robert L. Carothers, University of Rhode Island and David P. Roselle, University of Delaware

Congratulate Philip L. Dubois

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Explore Awards Week

Although we had to cancel ACE2020, we still want to recognize the achievements of our 2020 award winners. This week, follow along and celebrate with us!

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