Venegas is Named American Council on Education Fellow

LOS ANGELES, March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kristan Venegas, associate professor of clinical education at USC Rossier School of Education, was named an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for the academic year 2013-14, ACE President Molly Corbett Broad announced today. The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, 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.

Venegas is the first woman and the first Latina from USC to be named an ACE Fellow.

A research associate for the USC Pullias Center for Higher Education within USC Rossier, Venegas focuses on college access and financial aid for low-income students of color.  She is a former James Irvine Minority Doctoral Fellow, ASHE/Lumina Dissertation Fellow, and USC Mexican American Alumni Scholar. Her most recently funded projects relate to the role of college preparation programs in providing financial information and graduate student loan indebtedness.

"This is a well-deserved acknowledgement of Dr. Venegas' important work on college access for students of color," said USC Rossier Dean Karen Symms Gallagher. "The school's mission of improving learning in urban education is greatly enhanced by Dr. Venegas' contributions, and I congratulate her on this national recognition."

Fifty ACE fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year following a rigorous application process. Most previous Fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration, and more than 300 of the nearly 2,000 higher education leaders who have participated in the ACE Fellows Program since its inception served as chief executive officers of colleges or universities. More than 1,300 served as provosts, vice presidents and deans.

With more than 15 years of experience in student services, Venegas teaches courses related to postsecondary administration and student affairs. She joined the USC faculty in 2007. In 2011, she was selected as a USC Remarkable Woman of the Year and as an Emerging Leader by the National Academic Advising Association. She was recently chosen by the National Hispanic Media Coalition to represent education issues related to the Hispanic community.

Venegas earned her PhD in higher education policy analysis at USC Rossier.

During her fellowship, Venegas will focus on an issue of interest while spending the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution.

ACE Fellows participate in three retreats designed to broaden their knowledge of leadership, strategy, and the world of higher education. Additionally, fellows create individualized plans to enhance their learning in a particular area of interest over the year.

The mission of the USC Rossier School of Education (ross-EAR) is to improve learning in urban education locally, nationally and globally. Rossier leads the way in innovative, collaborative solutions to improve education outcomes. Our work is field-based, in the classroom, and online, and reflects a diversity of perspectives and experiences. We pride ourselves on innovation in all our programs, preparing teachers, administrators, and educational leaders who are change agents. We support the most forward-thinking scholars and researchers, whose work is having direct impact on student success in K-12 schools and higher education.  We are leaders in using cutting-edge technology to scale up our quality programs for maximum impact.

SOURCE USC Rossier School of Education