Council of Fellows

The Council of Fellows (COF) coordinates the activities of the ACE Fellows Program alumni. The 2026–27 chair is Jenifer Cushman, president of University of Maine at Augusta and ACE Fellow 2010–11.

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 Experience

COUNCIL OF FELLOWS BYLAWS

Council of Fellows Board Members

Officers

Jenifer Cushman, Chair
President, University of Maine at Augusta, and ACE Fellow 2010–11

James Cousins, Chair-Elect
President, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Sarah Pfatteicher, Immediate Past Chair
Executive Director, Five College Consortium, and ACE Fellow 2016–17

Stephanie Santorico, Secretary
Dean of Sciences, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and ACE Fellow 2022–23

Executive Committee Members

Jenifer Cushman, President, University of Maine at Augusta, and ACE Fellow 2010–11, Chair

James Cousins, President, Kentucky Wesleyan College and ACE Fellow 2019–20, Chair-Elect

Sarah Pfatteicher, Executive Director, Five College Consortium, and ACE Fellow 2016–17, Immediate Past Chair

Stephanie Santorico, Dean of Sciences, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and ACE Fellow 2022–23, Secretary

David A. Stone, Vice President for Research and Professor of Health Science and Philosophy, Oakland University, and ACE Fellow 2014–15 (Finance and Development Committee)

Jim B. Fatzinger, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, Vandrbilt University; Fulbright Specialist, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; President, Kentucky Chapter of the Fulbright Association; and ACE Fellow 2011–12 (Outreach and Engagement Committee)

Kara M. Rabbitt, Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives and Adult and Professional Studies, William Paterson University, and ACE Fellow 2019–20 (Professional Development Committee)

Carlos A. González-Campos, Dean of Planning, Institutional Effectiveness, and Accreditation, CETYS University, and ACE Fellow 2011–12 (Outreach and Engagement Committee)

Individual Class Board Members

Class of 2024–27 | Term Concludes at the 2027 Council of Fellows Gathering

Brian Beitzel, Associate Dean, School of Education, Human Ecology, and Sports Studies, State University of New York at Oneonta, and ACE Fellow 2018–19

Bethami Dobkin, President, Westminster University, and ACE Fellow 2001–02

Jennifer J. Dugan, Provost, Muskingum University, and ACE Fellow 2009–10

Jamie Frueh, Associate Provost, Bridgewater College, and ACE Fellow 2022–23

Beatriz González, President of the Wolfson Campus, Miami Dade University, and ACE Fellow 2004–05

Brian L. Johnson, President, Warner Pacific University, and ACE Fellow 2011–12

Susan Lewis, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Abilene Christian University, and ACE Fellow 2021–22

Hector M. Molina, Chief Operations Officer, Fayetteville State University, and ACE Fellow 2023–24

Mitzi M. Montoya, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of Utah, and ACE Fellow 2008–09

Sarah Pfatteicher, Executive Director, Five College Consortium, and ACE Fellow 2016–17

Deborah E. “Debi” Preston, President, Mercer County Community College, and ACE Fellow 2004–05

Cathy Sandeen, President, California State University, East Bay, and ACE Fellow 2010–11

Frank Shushok Jr., President, Roanoke College, and ACE Fellow 2017–18

David A. Stone, Vice President for Research and Professor of Health Science and Philosophy, Oakland University, and ACE Fellow 2014–15

Class of 2025–28 | Term Concludes at the 2028 Council of Fellows Gathering

Anne L. Balazs, Dean, John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, University of Toledo, and ACE Fellow 2013–14

Janelle M. Chiasera, Dean, School of Health Sciences, and Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University, and ACE Fellow 2015–16

Jenifer Cushman, President, University of Maine at Augusta, and ACE Fellow 2010–11

Edmund “Butch” Herod, President, Central College, Houston Community College System, and ACE Fellow 2008–09

Danielle R. Holley, President, Mount Holyoke College, and ACE Fellow 2021–22

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

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

Karen D. Morgan, Independent Consultant, and ACE Fellow 2018–19

Kara M. Rabbitt, Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives and Adult and Professional Studies, William Paterson University, and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Jay Roberts, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Warren Wilson College, and ACE Fellow 2019–20

Kevin Rolle, Chief of Staff, Alabama State University, and ACE Fellow 2012–13

Allen P. Vital, Chief of Staff, Southern University System, and ACE Fellow 2022–23

Class of 2026–29 | Term Concludes at the 2029 Council of Fellows Gathering

Roze Hentschell, Chief Academic Officer, Colorado State University System, and ACE Fellow 2021–2022

Stacey Lowery Bretz, Dean, Getty College of Arts & Sciences, Ohio Northern University, and ACE Fellow 2020–2022

Caroline Kobet Pezzarossi, Interim Dean, Curriculum, Outreach, Resources, and Effectiveness, Gallaudet University , and ACE Fellow 2021–2022

Wanda Ford, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and ACE Fellow 2014–2015

Lori Ciccomascolo, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Springfield College, and ACE Fellow 2022–2023

Jim B. Fatzinger, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University, and ACE Fellow 2011–2012

Gary B. Crosby, President, Saint Elizabeth University, and ACE Fellow 2019–2020

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 Council of Fellows Annual Fund and other fundraising projects assigned 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, 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 recruitment of potential ACE Fellows and to provide 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 that are in need of institutional aid to support an ACE Fellow. This grant will support the development of leaders for 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 Officers

Chair: David A. Stone (dstone@oakland.edu)

Past Chair: Lori Ciccomascolo (loricicco@uri.edu)

Secretary: Rosaria Meek (rosaria.meek@ung.edu)

To join a committee, please contact one of its officers.

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 Gathering and the ACE Experience.

Current Officers

Chair: Kara M. Rabbitt (rabbittk@wpunj.edu)

Past Chair: Jamie Frueh (fruehjj@westminster.edu)

To join a committee, please contact one of its officers.

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’s marketing and recruitment strategies, periodically reviewing the COF bylaws, and recommending necessary changes to the bylaws via the Executive Committee.