Tuesday, August 08, 2017

The University of North Carolina Wilmington was selected by the American Council on Education to serve as a host institution to 2017-18 ACE Fellow T. Alissa Warters, associate provost for academic affairs and enrollment management at Francis Marion University, who will spend 12 weeks this academic year at UNCW. Marilyn Sheerer, UNCW provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, will serve as her primary mentor.
 
“Being selected to act as a host institution is a true testament to UNCW’s continued commitment to excellence,” said Sheerer. “Our reputation for integrity, innovation, diversity and community engagement makes us an appealing location for academic leaders to further develop their skills and collaborate across academia. Participation in the ACE program is an excellent opportunity for Dr. Warters and UNCW alike."

In April 2017, the university announced that Lori Messinger, UNCW associate vice chancellor for community engagement, was awarded an ACE Fellowship for 2017-18. As part of the program, she will spend a year at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutional and leadership capacity in American higher education by identifying and preparing faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration. Forty-six Fellows, nominated by the senior administration of their institutions, will comprise the 2017-18 cohort at colleges and universities across the nation.
 
Warters, who received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, serves in many facets at Francis Marion. In addition to being associate provost, Warters acts as the director of the Robert E. McNair Center for Research and Service and is a professor in the department of political science and geography. Her research on presidential families and first ladies has been published in leading political science journals, including the American Review and White House Studies. She also plans and executes the annual McNair Scholars’ experiential learning trips to Europe.

As an ACE Fellow at UNCW, Warters will examine university succession planning – specifically the identification and development of future leaders – for implementation at Francis Marion upon the conclusion of her fellowship.

-- Christina Schechtman

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