University Hosts Group of ACE Fellows

By Peggy Novotny

Five fellows from the American Council on Education visited East Carolina University campus on Jan. 30. Karla Hughes, dean of the College of Human Ecology, who is also a fellow this year, hosted the group.

Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows program is one the longest running leadership development programs in the country and focuses on identifying and preparing senior leadership for the nation’s colleges and universities.

An important part of the ACE program is the opportunity for fellows to visit a variety of large and small institutions and learn about outstanding programs. Fellows meet with top campus administrators to ask questions and benefit from the shared knowledge of university deans, chancellors and presidents.

Hughes led the fellows on a tour of campus facilities where they met administrators representing arts and sciences, athletics, humanities and medicine. Stops included breakfast in the West End Dining Hall with former ECU ACE fellows, the Global Classroom, the Ward Sports Medicine Building, the Warren Life Science Building Cardiovascular Center and the Brody School of Medicine.

The fellows raised questions for Chancellor Steve Ballard and Provost Jim Smith at lunch about the challenges of shepherding a large university. Other leaders who shared their expertise during the day were Jeffrey Elwell, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications; Ralph Rogers, dean of the College of Technology and Computer Science; Elmer Poe, associate vice chancellor for Academic Outreach; Rosina Chia, assistant vice chancellor for Academic Outreach; Glen Gilbert, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance; Nick Floyd, assistant athletic director; Michael Lewis, vice chancellor for Health Sciences; Cynda Johnson, dean of the School of Medicine; Phyllis Horns, dean of the School of Nursing; and Stephen Thomas, dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences.

The tour concluded with presentations by faculty in the College of Human Ecology on the college’s partnerships and projects associated with the revitalization of west Greenville.