Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Altadena Resident and Cal State LA Professor Cheryl Koos Named American Council on Education Fellow

Altadena resident is the first ACE Fellow to represent Cal State LA

The American Council on Education (ACE) announced today that Cheryl Koos, interim chair of political science and professor of history at Cal State LA, has been named an ACE Fellow for academic year 2016-17.

Koos was selected for the award based on her academic credentials and potential for administrative leadership, the recommendations of professional colleagues, the judgment of interviewing teams of senior administrators, and overall qualifications as measured against the standards of the ACE Fellows Program.

“It is truly an honor to be the first ACE Fellow to represent Cal State LA,” said Koos, who is a resident of Altadena. “This is an exceptional opportunity to both expand my knowledge about higher education and bring back those experiences to benefit Cal State LA. I am grateful to President Bill Covino and Provost Lynn Mahoney for their support,” she said.

Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration. Thirty-three Fellows, nominated by the senior administration of their institutions, were chosen this year following a rigorous application process.

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.

“The ACE Fellows Program cultivates leaders prepared to meet the constantly evolving challenges of today’s higher education landscape,” said ACE President Molly Corbett Broad. “The diverse and talented 2016-17 Fellows class demonstrates why the program has been such a vital contributor for more than a half-century to expanding the leadership pipeline for our colleges and universities.”

A Cal State LA faculty member since 1999, Koos now serves as interim chair of the Department of Political Science and as special assistant to the provost for leadership development. Previously, she has served as chair of the University’s Department of History. Koos has published articles and chapters on topics ranging from the politics of female identity to World War I. She earned her Ph.D. in history from the University of Southern California.

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. Each Fellow will focus on an issue of concern to Cal State LA while spending the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution.

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.

About ACE

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 or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.

About Cal State LA

Cal State LA is a university dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 27,000 students and 240,000 distinguished alumni, who are as diverse as the city we serve. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Cal State LA has long been recognized as an engine of economic and social mobility. Led by an award-winning faculty, the University offers nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and the humanities.

Cal State LA is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, Billie Jean King Sports Complex, TV, Film and Media Center and the Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good. For more information, visit www.CalStateLA.edu.