Fuster Named American Council on Education Fellow
The American Council on Education (ACE), announced Wednesday that Bradley Fuster, special assistant to the provost for innovative learning, has been named an ACE Fellow for academic year 2016–2017.
Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration. Thirty-three Fellows, nominated by the senior administration of their institutions, were selected this year following a rigorous application process.
Nearly 2,000 higher education leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program over the past five decades, with more than 80 percent of Fellows having served as senior leaders of colleges and universities, including Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner (ACE Fellow, 1996–1997).
"The ACE Fellows Program cultivates leaders prepared to meet the constantly evolving challenges of today’s higher education landscape,” said ACE President Molly Corbett Broad. "The diverse and talented 2016–2017 Fellows class demonstrates why the program has been such a vital contributor for more than a half-century to expanding the leadership pipeline for our colleges and universities."
Fuster joined the faculty at Buffalo State in 2005 to serve as founding chair of the Music Department, during which time he oversaw initial and continuing accreditation from NASM, the construction of Louis P. Ciminelli Recital Hall, the expansion of ensemble offerings, the new minor in digital music production, and the online masters in music education.
Fuster left the music department in 2014 to serve as interim associate vice president of enrollment management, and later as interim chief information officer, before assuming the position of special assistant to the provost for innovative learning. Fuster teaches classes in the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program and is a frequent contributor to US News & World Report.
He holds degrees from SUNY Geneseo, Yale University, and the University of Southern California.
“When I first became a tenure-track college professor in 1999, I thought I would never take a sabbatical. I was too busy enjoying teaching, doing scholarship and creative work, and contributing energy in support of the institution," said Fuster. "I knew if I were to invest time and passion in a year-long endeavor, it would need to be something transformative. The ACE Fellowship provides the perfect environment in which to grow, learn, and lead. By shadowing a university president next year, I hope to fortify my own leadership abilities and add value to Buffalo State upon my return. I am humbled, flattered, and honored to have been selected to join the ACE Fellows and remain proud to represent Buffalo State."
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. Each Fellow will focus on an issue of concern to the sponsoring institution while spending the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution.
Throughout their placement, ACE Fellows will develop a network of higher education leaders from across the country and abroad through the program’s three retreats on higher education issues organized by ACE. Fellows will also read extensively in the field and engage in interactive learning opportunities to increase their understanding of higher education challenges and opportunities.
About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents and related associations. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, please visit acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.