UK ACE Fellows Update: Dean Brennen and Vice President Feist-Price

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2019) — Earlier this year, College of Law Dean David A. Brennen and Vice President for Institutional Diversity Sonja Feist-Price were selected to participate in the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Fellows Program, the longest-running leadership development program in the United States. Their assignment locations and details have been confirmed.

Brennen will spend his fellowship in Northfield, Minnesota, at St. Olaf College. He will be in residence there for the entirety of the 2019-20 academic year.

“As a Fellow at St. Olaf College, I will be working alongside St. Olaf President David Anderson and his senior staff to gain greater insights into leadership challenges associated with overseeing operations of a private liberal arts college,” Brennen said. “I am honored that Provost Blackwell and President Eli Capilouto nominated and sponsored me for this fellowship.”

Mary J. Davis has been named the interim dean of the College of Law while Brennen completes his ACE Fellowship.

Feist-Price will be hosted on a monthly basis at Bellarmine University’s campus with President Susan M. Donovan serving as mentor. The monthly visits will aid Feist-Price’s understanding of strategic planning, fundraising and student success initiatives from the presidential level.

“In addition to learning from President Donovan and her team, I will also have an opportunity to share what makes the University for Kentucky the wonderful and special place it is for our students, faculty and staff,” Feist-Price said.

She aims to take this yearlong learning experience and apply the lessons gained upon her full-time return.

“My ultimate desire is to become a better agent of change here at the University of Kentucky via micro and macro interactions with students, faculty and staff.  I’m appreciative to President Capilouto for affording me this invaluable leadership development opportunity,” said Feist-Price.

The ACE Fellows Program is the premier higher education leadership development program in the United States. The program fosters individualized learning through a multifaceted agenda that includes placement at a host institution, mentoring by senior campus leaders and visits to campuses and higher education-related organizations.

For more information on the ACE Fellowship Program, please click here.