Dr. Mary S. Spangler, chancellor of Houston Community College, announced the 2011-12 American Council on Education Fellow appointment of Dr. Peter W. Wooldridge from Durham Technical Community College. Wooldridge will spend the fall 2011 semester at HCC’s Northwest College.
The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is designed to strengthen institutional capacity and build leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators. Fifty Fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year in a national competition.
The ACE Fellows Program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, campus visits and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single semester or year. The Fellows are included in the highest level of decision making while participating in administrative activities and learning about an issue of benefit to their own college.
Wooldridge was highly recommended by his supervisor and colleagues. Wooldridge is the Executive Dean for Student Learning and Assessment at DTCC. He recognizes the role future leaders of institutions of higher learning will play in providing accessible education to all Americans.
“I want to be a VP/CIO who helps to shape the community college of tomorrow. ‘Open door’ can no longer be defined as ‘an equal opportunity for an education.’ The definition must be broadened to include “an equal opportunity to participate in the redefinition of our culture.” I want to bring this perspective to my community college and I want my community college to lead the way in this effort,” Wooldridge said.
As an ACE Fellow, Wooldridge will focus on an issue of concern to his nominating institution of DTCC while spending all or part of the next academic year working with Dr. Spangler and at Northwest College with Dr. Zachary Hodges, president HCC Northwest.
“The ACE Fellows program is the premiere higher education leadership program in the country. I was privileged to be a 1992-93 Fellow and later served as Chair of the Council of Fellows. As leaders in higher education, we are responsible for mentoring the next generation of leaders, and Chancellor Spangler and I take this responsibility seriously. We are delighted to have Dr. Wooldridge with us for this academic year, and we know this will be a rewarding experience for Dr. Wooldridge as well as for HCC,” added Dr. Hodges.