Margaret (Meg) Schedel, a professor in Stony Brook University’s Department of Music, was named among 25 emerging college and university leaders selected to the 2025-26 class of the American Council on Education® (ACE) ACE Fellows Program.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected for the ACE Fellows Program, which has a long and distinguished history of preparing higher education leaders,” said Schedel, a former chair of the Department of Art. “This fellowship offers an invaluable opportunity to observe and learn from a university president, providing insights into executive leadership and decision-making processes. I am particularly excited to engage with my cohort of fellows, as the program emphasizes collaborative learning and mentorship among emerging leaders in higher education.”
ACE described the class as “embodying the diversity of the nation’s higher education landscape, and representing a broad spectrum of genders, races, ethnicities, institution types, and disciplinary backgrounds.” The cohort also spans various geographic regions and aligns with diverse institutional and higher education association missions.
Since its creation in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program has strengthened institutions in American higher education by identifying and preparing more than 2,500 faculty, staff and administrators for senior leadership positions through a distinctive and intensive cohort-based mentorship model.
“The ACE Fellows Program is a cornerstone of the higher education leadership pipeline, supporting emerging leaders as they develop vital skills and knowledge,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “Fellows gain hands-on experience and learn from seasoned mentors, returning to their institutions ready to lead with confidence and creativity in an ever-changing higher education landscape.”
The program integrates leadership training with policy analysis and strategic planning skills development, ensuring Fellows are equipped to take on key roles shaping the educational landscape. It incorporates features such as retreats, interactive learning opportunities, a project addressing a critical topic of interest, a placement experience at another higher education institution and the chance to build a valuable network of higher education leaders.
Throughout the year, Fellows engage in tailored experiences that include shadowing a college or university president mentor, participating in high-level administrative activities and tackling real-world projects. The experience enables ACE Fellows to view leadership in action and bring both the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to implement effective changes back to their home institutions.
“I congratulate Meg for her acceptance to the ACE higher education leaders program,” said Carl W. Lejuez, Stony Brook University executive vice president and provost. “Meg is an exceptional musician, composer and educator, and an asset to Stony Brook. Through her contributions to university programs, faculty committees and academic departments, she helps to make Stony Brook a leader in innovation and a top-choice destination for students from New York and beyond. I am confident she will be a valuable member of the ACE program and that her participation will further distinguish her as a thoughtful, creative leader.”
“I’m so pleased for Meg to have been selected as a 2025-26 ACE fellow,” added David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This is a highly prestigious program and an amazing opportunity for her to continue to strengthen her expansive skillset as a leader. Our College will only benefit from the training and new knowledge she will receive. On behalf of CAS, my sincere congratulations.”
The ACE Fellows Program is the longest-running leadership development program in the United States. More than 80 percent of Fellows have gone on to serve as chief executive officers, chief academic officers, other cabinet-level positions, and deans of colleges and universities.
— Robert Emproto
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