Applications Open for Annual ACE Awards

Winners will be honored at the ACE Experience 2025(ACEx2025) and the ACE Women's Leadership Dinner, both taking place in Washington, DC, from Feb. 12-14. Learn more about each award and how to apply below.

TIAA Institute Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education

The TIAA Institute Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education is named in honor of the late Theodore M. Hesburgh, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, esteemed leader in higher education, and former member of the TIAA and CREF Boards of Overseers for 28 years. This award is intended to recognize a current college or university president/chancellor who embodies the spirit of the late Reverend Hesburgh, his commitment to higher education, and his contributions to the greater good.

Nominations for this award close Nov. 8. ACE is thankful for the TIAA Institute's support of this award. Learn more about the Hesburgh Award here.

ACE Donna Shavlik Award

The ACE Donna Shavlik Award, ​​​​​established in 1999, honors an individual whose leadership demonstrates a sustained commitment to advancing women in higher education through actions or initiatives enhancing women's leadership and career development, campus climate, and mentoring of women. The award was created to honor Donna Shavlik, past director of ACE's former Office of Women in Higher Education.

Nominations will be accepted through Nov. 12. ACE is grateful to Fidelity Investments for its support of this award. Learn more here.

ACE State Network Leadership Award for the Advancement of Women in Higher Education

The ACE State Network Leadership Award for the Advancement of Women in Higher Education, established in 2004, recognizes an innovative program sponsored by a state network within the ACE Women's Network or by a college or university that helped advance or support women's issues in higher education. ACE has bestowed this award since 2004.

Nominations close Nov. 12. For more information and to submit nominations, click here.

ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation

Established in 2014, the ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation honors institutions that have responded to challenges in innovative and imaginative ways that allow the institution to thrive. The winners of the award, which includes a small and large school category, each receive a $10,000 prize.

The application deadline is Nov. 21. ACE is grateful to Fidelity Investments for its support of this award. Click here to learn more.

Register for ACEx2025

Designed for presidents and chancellors, ACEx2025's high-level perspectives will focus on the critical national and international issues impacting higher education.

Registration is now open to both ACE members and non-members. Members can register at a discounted rate, and through Oct. 31, non-members can join ACE at a 20 percent discount off membership dues and register for ACEx2025 at the member rate. Contact the ACE membership department to learn more.