Skip to main content

Stitts named an ACE Fellow

The American Council on Education (ACE) announced Wednesday, March 21, that Dr. Doria “Kathy” Stitts, associate provost and dean of University College and Lifelong Learning (UCaLL) and interim dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education, has been named an ACE Fellow for the 2018-19 year.

Stitts was selected following nomination and a rigorous application process; she is one of 45 Fellows selected this year.

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 through its distinctive and intensive nominator-driven, cohort-based mentorship model. Following nomination by the senior administration of their institutions and a rigorous application process, 45 Fellows were selected this year.

Stitts began her career at WSSU in 2003 as an associate dean of the School of Business and Economics and associate professor of marketing. She served as associate provost for the Division of Lifelong Learning from 2010-2012 and has led UCaLL as the associate provost and dean since 2012.

“I am honored to have been nominated and  selected for the ACE Fellows Program,” Stitts said. “I am excited that I will  have the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of leaders with professional expertise and personal perspectives to  inform, energize, and challenge me as I continue to advocate for equitable opportunities for those who desire an education. I plan to return to WSSU with a renewed sense of self, supported by new networks that will help develop solutions and celebrate successes of the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of Higher Education.”

More than 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 gone on to serve as senior leaders of colleges and universities.

“For more than a half-century, the ACE Fellows Program has been a powerful engine fueling the expansion of a talented and diverse higher education leadership pipeline,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “We are excited to welcome this new class of Fellows and look forward to each enjoying a transformative experience that will help advance individual leadership readiness while also enriching the capacity of institutions to innovate and thrive.”

About ACE

Celebrating its centennial in 2018, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing nearly 1,800 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 www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.

About Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.

Dr. Doria "Kathy" Stitts

More News

WSSU celebrates its largest spring graduating class in a decade

WSSU graduates were encouraged May 15 to walk confidently, trust themselves and live with purpose and integrity during Spring 2026 Commencement Exercises in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Read Moreabout WSSU celebrates its largest spring graduating class in a decade

Senior Spotlight: Through grief and grit, WSSU student earns her degree

In 2021, during her sophomore year at WSSU, Mikayla Courtney experienced the unthinkable. But despite her setbacks, she will among the 905 graduates crossing the stage on Friday.

Read Moreabout Senior Spotlight: Through grief and grit, WSSU student earns her degree

WSSU graduate Jason Freeman arranges music for Kentucky Derby this weekend

Kentucky Derby spectators will be treated to a unique musical arrangement courtesy of WSSU alumnus Dr. Jason Freeman.

Read Moreabout WSSU graduate Jason Freeman arranges music for Kentucky Derby this weekend