Jennifer Jensen named American Council on Education Fellow

The American Council on Education (ACE) has named Jennifer Jensen, associate dean for academic affairs of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of political science, an ACE Fellow for academic year 2012-13.

Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators for responsible positions in college and university administration. Fifty-seven Fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year following a rigorous application process.

Initial support for Jensen’s nomination came from former Binghamton University President C. Peter Magrath. Her participation in the program now carries a firm commitment from President Harvey Stenger. “This selective fellowship program will provide Jennifer with experiences and perspectives that she will bring back to Binghamton,” he said. “Learning about best practices from other institutions of higher education can only benefit us as we increase enrollment, hire additional faculty and strive to become the premier public university of the 21st century.”

Sharon A. McDade, director of the program, noted that most previous Fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration. Of the more than 1,700 participants in the first 47 years of the program, more than 300 have become chief executive officers and more than 1,100 have become provosts, vice presidents or deans.

“We’re extremely pleased with the strength of the incoming class,” McDade said. “The Fellows Program will sharpen and enhance their leadership skills and their network, and prepare them to address issues of concern to the higher education community.”

Jensen earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and her master’s and PhD in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joined the faculty at Binghamton University in 2005, after working as a renewable energy lobbyist in Washington, D. C. and teaching at Bucknell University and the University at Albany. Her research and teaching focuses on state politics and intergovernmental relations, interest groups and political careers.

Jensen became associate dean for academics in Harpur College in 2008. In that role she manages the Harpur College undergraduate curriculum and enrollments, implements academic policies and procedures, oversees the Harpur Academic Advising Office and English as a Second Language Program, manages orientation for new faculty and undergraduate directors, and supervises the academic integrity process. 

Each ACE Fellow will focus on an issue of concern to the nominating institution while spending the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at one or two host institutions. Jensen’s host(s) institution is yet to be confirmed, but she is expected to focus on best practices in academics as she strengthens her background in general management and academic budgeting, as well as best practices in academic integrity.

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 that will benefit Binghamton University.

Fellows attend three week-long retreats on higher education issues organized by ACE, read extensively in the field and engage in other activities to enhance their knowledge about the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education today.

Founded in 1918, ACE represents more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide, providing leadership on key higher education issues and influencing public policy through advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.