Supporting Leaders in Higher Education
ACE Leadership Network of Florida, UTampa Chapter
The American Council on Education (ACE) Leadership Network of Florida is a national system of networks within each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia with the goal of advancing and supporting professionals in higher education.
ACE Leadership Network of Florida "convenes and leads advocacy efforts in higher education with a united vision for the future, galvanzing its members to make change...designing solutions for today's challenges, serving the eneds of a diverse student population, shaping effective public policy and promoting a more inclusive future."
ACE Leadership Network of Florida, then has the goal of advancing and supporting leaders in higher education through programs and initatives that alighn with a shared set of core principles known as the IDEALS.
Core Principles
IDEALS
The ACE Leadership Network of Florida develops programs and initiatives that align with a shared set of core principles known as the IDEALS. With these IDEALS, the ACE Leadership Network of Florida aims to:
— Identify higher education leaders and those with potential.
— Develop their leadership abilities through professional and leadership development programs, events and activities.
— Encourage the use of those abilities.
— Advance their careers by nominating them and working with search firms (e.g. training by search consultants on the executive search process).
— Link them to mentors and professional networks.
— Support those in mid- and senior-level positions (and in leadership more broadly).
History
The idea to establish a chapter at the University of Tampa stemmed from former Professor of Political Science Mary Anderson's interest in creating a mentorship group for aspiring leaders, as well as Vice President of Operations Monnie Wertz’s leadership connections with the ACE Leadership Network of Florida. The two began pursuing this organization as a vehicle for advancing leadership at UTampa.
Mission
The American Council on Education (ACE) Leadership Network of Florida is a statewide community of passionate volunteers who are deeply committed to the goal of developing, advancing and supporting higher education leaders. We vigilantly work towards our IDEALS which are to Identify, Develop, Encourage, Advance, Link, and Support higher education leaders. The ACE Leadership Network of Florida consists of Presidential Sponsors, a State Leader who chairs an Executive Board, Regional Leaders, and Institutional Representatives who lead campus initiatives to advance our IDEALS at two-and four-year public and private colleges and universities across the state.
The ACE Leadership Network of Florida is, and has always been, open to any professional employee of any accredited higher education institution within the state of Florida. Thus, all employees (e.g. administrators, faculty, staff, OPS/Non-Students, etc.) can participate in any events, programs and/or activities offered by the ACE Leadership Network of Florida.
Guiding Vision and Strategy
Steering Committee
| 2025 | |
| Deirdre Dixon | Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship |
| Susannah LeMarquand | Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance |
| Jamie Pilarczyk | Online and Digital Communications Manager |
| Stephanie Russell Krebs | Vice President of Student Affairs and Strategic Initiatives |
| Kelsey San Antonio | Legal Counsel in Human Resources |
| Jamie Schabacker | Assistant Vice President of Administrative Services and Risk Management |
| Holley Tankersley | Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education (CCSME) |
| Natasha Veltri | Professor of Information and Technology Management |
| Monnie Wertz | Vice President of Operations |
| Aimee Whiteside | Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Letters and Professor of English and Writing |
| Ann Williams | Professor of Biology |
| Adrianne Wilson | Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Education |
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