Council of Fellows

The Council of Fellows (COF) coordinates the activities of the ACE Fellows Program alumni. The 2023–24 chair is Michael “Mickey” McDonald (2001–02), president of the Great Lakes Colleges Association.

The Council of Fellows Board's duties include:

Annually reviewing and establishing COF priorities
Annually reviewing the preceding year's income and expenditures of the COF and approving the operating budget and budget priorities for the coming year
Providing direct accountability to the COF, and thereby to ACE's president and vice presidents, through the director of the ACE Fellows Program
Meeting in person during the ACE Annual Meeting

Council of Fellows Bylaws (PDF)

The Fellows Directory

Council of Fellows Board Members

Officers

Michael “Mickey” McDonald, Chair
President, Great Lakes Colleges Association (MI), and ACE Fellow 2001–02

Gary Crosby, Chair-Elect
President, Saint Elizabeth University (NJ) and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Kenya Ayers-Palmore, Immediate Past Chair
President, Tarrant County College Northeast Campus (TX), and ACE Fellow 2015–16

Kara M. Rabbitt, Secretary
Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives, William Paterson University (NJ), and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Executive Committee Members

Michael “Mickey” McDonald, Chair, President, Great Lakes Colleges Association (MI), and ACE Fellow 2001–02

Gary Crosby, Chair-Elect, President, Saint Elizabeth University (NJ) and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Kenya Ayers-Palmore, Immediate Past Chair, President, Tarrant County College Northeast Campus (TX), and ACE Fellow 2015–16

Kara M. Rabbitt, Secretary, Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives, William Paterson University (NJ), and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Peter Blitstein (2013–14), Provost and Dean of Faculty, Lawrence University (Professional Development)

Jim B. Fatzinger (2011–12), Associate Professor, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Fulbright Specialist, President, Kentucky Chapter of the Fulbright Association (Outreach and Engagement Committee)

Carlos A. González-Campos (2011–12), Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation, CETYS University (Outreach and Engagement)

Rhonda Gonzalez (2014–15), Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Denver (Finance and Development)

Joddy Murray (2014–15), Dean, College of Liberal Arts (COLA), Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Professional Development)

Catherine Whelan (2014–15), Provost and VP for Academic and Student Affairs, East Georgia State College

Individual Class Board Members

Class of 2021–24 │Term Concludes at 2024 Council of Fellows Gathering

Juanita Cole (2019–20), Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

Gary B. Crosby (2019–20), President, Saint Elizabeth University (NJ)

Lowell K. Davis (2018–19), Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Jacqueline El-Sayed (2008–09), Chief Academic Officer, American Society for Engineering Education

Yolanda Barbier Gibson (2018–19), Vice President for Student Affairs, Shenandoah University (VA)

Jeremy Haefner (2006–07), Chancellor, University of Denver (CO)

Michael "Mickey" McDonald (2001–02), President, Great Lakes Colleges Association (MI)

Fay Cobb Payton (2009–10), Professor, Information Systems/Technology and Analytics, North Carolina State University

Adolfo Santos (2011–12), Assistant Provost, University Higher Education Center, Texas A&M University

Class of 2022–25 │Term Concludes at 2025 Council of Fellows Gathering

Anne Balazs (2013–14), Dean, College of Business and Innovation, University of Toledo (OH)

Janelle M. Chiasera (2015–16), Dean, School of Health Sciences and Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University (CT)

Rhonda M. Gonzales (2014–15), Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Denver (CO)

Maureen A. McCarthy (2015–16), Dean, College of Sciences and Humanities and Professor of Psychological Science, Ball State University (IN)

Robert Marley (2012–13), Robert B. Koplar Professor of Engineering Management, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Karen D. Morgan (2018–19), Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Johnson C. Smith University (NC)

Kara M. Rabbitt (2019–20), Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives, William Paterson University (NJ)

Ritu Raju (2017–18), Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tarrant County College District (TX)

Class of 2023–26 | Term Concludes at the 2026 Council of Fellows Gathering

James Applegate (ACE Fellow 1994–95), Visiting Professor and Interim Director of the Center for the Study of Education Policy, Illinois State University

Peter A. Blitstein (2013–14), Provost and Dean of Faculty and Associate Professor of History, Lawrence University (WI)

Bryan J. Boatright (2021–22), Interim Co-vice President for Academic Affairs, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, and University Registrar, University of Mount Union (OH)

Lori Ciccomascolo (2022–23), Professor of Education and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Student Success, The University of Rhode Island

Cherisse Jones-Branch (2021–22), Dean of the Graduate School, Arkansas State University

Hilton K. Kelly (2021–22), Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Education, University of Wisconsin–Platteville

Sarah Pfatteicher (2016–17), Executive Director, Five College Consortium

Stephanie Santorico (2022–23), Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Creative Activities, University of Colorado Denver

Council of Fellows Committees

Finance and Development Committee

This committee presents an annual report and proposes an annual budget for the COF. In addition, this committee is responsible for managing the COF Annual Fund and other fundraising projects, upon assignment by the Executive Committee, as well as reviewing the COF's fundraising needs and making recommendations to the Executive Committee.

Supporting the Fellows Program and Alumni Activities

Council of Fellows Annual Fund supports the activities of the Council of Fellows or your alumni organization including professional development programs, communication among former ACE Fellows, and marketing of the Fellows Program.
Fund for the Future is a quasi-endowment fund used exclusively to support recruiting and providing scholarship support for nominating institutions.
Marlene Ross Institutional Grant Fund is designed to support, enhance, and sustain the institutional diversity within the ACE Fellows Program by providing financial assistance to nominating institutions in need of institutional aid to support an ACE Fellow. This grant will support the development of leaders for our colleges and universities and allow the Fellows Program to remain strong and inclusive for years to come.
ACE Fellows Legacy Circle is a planned giving effort which will help support the longevity of the ACE Fellows Program.

Current Co-chairs

Chair: Rhonda M. Gonzales (rhonda.gonzales@du.edu)

Co-chair: Catherine Whelan (cwhelan@ega.edu)

Professional Development Committee

This committee plans, coordinates, evaluates, and promotes the continuing professional development activities of the COF. The Professional Development Committee also plans the professional development workshops at the COF Weekend and the ACE Annual Meeting.

Current Co-chairs

Chair: Peter A. Blitstein (peter.a.blitstein@lawrence.edu)

Co-chair: Joddy Murray (joddy.murray@siu.edu)

Outreach and Engagement Committee

This committee serves as a bridge among prospective, current, and former ACE Fellows and is responsible for supporting ACE Fellows Program marketing and recruitment strategies; periodically reviewing the Council of Fellows Bylaws; and recommending necessary changes to the bylaws via the Executive Committee.