College of Education Dean Perry Schoon.
Perry Schoon, College of Education dean at Illinois State University, has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) fellow for the 2016-2017 academic year. He will be spending the 2016-2017 academic year at a host institution, yet to be determined. Vice President and Provost Janet Krejci will be selecting an individual to serve as an acting dean in the near future.
Schoon is one of 33 senior-level faculty and administrators in higher education nationwide selected by ACE to participate in the program, which combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, campus visits, and observations to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single year.
“It is an honor for Dean Schoon to be selected as an ACE Fellow and is a testament to his previous contributions and his future potential as a leader in higher education,” said Krejci. “In these challenging times in higher education, Dean Schoon will be able to learn from experts nationally and internationally. This new knowledge will clearly benefit Illinois State upon his return.”
ACE is the nation’s premier higher education leadership development program and prepares senior leaders to serve American colleges and universities. Throughout their placement, ACE Fellows will develop a network of higher education leaders from across the country and abroad through the program’s three retreats on higher education issues organized by ACE. Fellows will also read extensively in the field and engage in interactive learning opportunities to increase their understanding of higher education challenges and opportunities.
“President Larry Dietz and Provost Krejci have given me the opportunity to really learn as much as I can from higher education experts in this coming year, and for that I am grateful,” said Schoon. “Although I will miss being on campus and interacting with the University community, I look forward to this unique opportunity and the ability to bring cutting edge knowledge and experiences back to Illinois State University.”
Nearly 2,000 higher education leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program over the past five decades, with more than 80 percent of fellows having served as senior leaders of colleges and universities.
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents and related associations. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu.
