STEPHENS NAMED AS ACE FELLOW

Jane Stephens, academic associate in Southeast Missouri State University's provost office and professor of history, has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) fellow for the 1992-1993 academic year.

The announcement was made recently by Robert H. Atwell, ACE president.

The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is de~signed to strengthen leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising faculty and staff members for positions in college and university administration.

Thirty-two fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year in the national competition.

Stephens has been a member of Southeast's faculty since 1978, and was director of the honors program from 1985 to 1989. She has served as academic associate, responsible for curriculum and planning, for the past two years.

She also has teaching experience at Western Illinois University, Ball State University, and at two high schools in Indiana.

Stephens is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, and earned master's and doctoral degrees from Ball State University at Muncie, Ind.

Kala Stroup, president of Southeast and an ACE fellow in 1976, said she is pleased with Stephens' selection.

"Jane is outstanding in terms of her leadership ability. She is motivated and greatly interested in developing additional leadership skills, in gaining a national perspective in higher education and in gaining the insights that develop while working on another campus," Stroup said.

"This is a great honor for Jane and for Southeast Missouri State University. She will be a strong positive force in the ACE Fellows Program."

Typically, ACE fellows are assigned for a year to a college or university president and chief academic officer, either at a host campus or at the home institution, to participate in administrative activities. Fellows attend three six-day seminars on higher education issues organized by ACE, read extensively in the field, produce an analytical report and engage in other activities to prepare them for leadership positions.

Marlene Ross, director of the Fellows Program, said most previous fellows have made significant advances into major positions in academic administration. Of the 989 participants in the first 26 years of the program, 143 have become chief executive officers and more than 550 have become vice presidents, provosts or deans.

The American Council on Education is the umbrella association for the nation's colleges and universities. ACE membership includes nearly 1,600 degree-granting institutions and more than 200 higher education associations and organizations.

Through voluntary and cooperative action, ACE coordinates national public policy positions on higher education issues and promotes educational standards.