Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson announced that Stacey Franklin Jones, D.Sc., Dean, School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., one of forty American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows, is spending the 2005-2006 academic year as a visitor to Rensselaer’s campus.

Established in 1965 by the American Council on Education (ACE), the ACE Fellows program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators for leadership positions in college and university administration. Fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, are selected in a national competition.

“We are delighted to host at Rensselaer a person of Dr. Jones’s caliber, motivation, and leadership ability,” said President Jackson. “We expect that her experience at Rensselaer will help Dr. Jones to continue on an already high career trajectory.”

Each ACE Fellow focuses on an issue of concern to the nominating institution while being mentored by the college or university president and other senior officers at the host institution. The fellow is included in the highest level of decision-making, participates in administrative activities, and works on specific issues or projects at the host institution. Fellows attend three week-long seminars on higher education issues organized by ACE, read extensively in the field, and engage in other activities to enhance their knowledge about the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education today and in the next century, according to the ACE.

While at Rensselaer Dean Jones is focusing on: fundraising, particularly in the area of research; strategic communications; faculty development and management; and student leadership, performance, and diversity issues.

Dean Jones earned her bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics from Howard University, two master’s of science degrees in numerical science and systems engineering/technical management from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and received her doctor of science degree in computer science from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to entering the academy, she spent more than 15 years developing complex imaging systems, conducting internal research and development, and managing engineering and education programs for the defense electronics industry. She spent several years on the research and teaching faculty at the John Hopkins University. Notable is her co-design of a surgical training regime for engineers developing computer integrated surgical systems. She is a senior member of IEEE, National Society of Black Engineers 2004 Outstanding Woman in Technology and a 2005-2006 Bush/Hewett Foundation Award Grantee.

Marlene Ross, Ph.D., director of the Fellows Program, noted that most previous fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration. Of the more than 1,450 participants in the first 40 years of the program, more than 250 have become chief executive officers and more than 1,300 have become provosts, vice presidents, or deans.

“We’re extremely pleased with this class of fellows,” Ross said. “The individuals selected have demonstrated strong leadership ability. The Fellows Program will sharpen and enhance their leadership skills and prepare them to address issues of concern to the higher education community.”

About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the nation’s largest higher education association, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations nationwide. It seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and influence public policy through advocacy, research and program initiatives.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu