Washington, DC (March 19, 2013)—Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education (ACE), announced today that Dr. John Melendez, vice president for student affairs at New Jersey City University, has been named an ACE Fellow for academic year 2013-14.
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. Fifty Fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year following a rigorous application process.
Margarita Benítez, interim director of ACE’s Emerging Leaders Group and the ACE Fellows Program, noted that most previous Fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration. Nearly 2,000 higher education leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program since its inception, with more than 300 Fellows having served as chief executive officers of colleges or universities and more than 1,300 having served as provosts, vice presidents and deans.
“The 2013-14 class of Fellows is a talented, diverse group,” Ms. Benítez said. “The ACE Fellows Program will strengthen their leadership skills, expand their networks and prepare them to tackle the wide array of issues facing the higher education community.”
Dr. Melendez has served as vice president for student affairs at NJCU since 2007. His higher education career spans 31 years, including 15 years as a financial aid administrator. As chief student affairs officer, he is responsible for coordinating strategic enrollment management functions and student development offices. He administers a budget of approximately $6.8 million and leads a division of approximately 100 staff members.
Over the years, Dr. Melendez has chaired the University’s Strategic Enrollment Management Executive Council and the Critical Incident Response Team. He has written successfully funded federal, state, and foundation grant applications and served on the University’s Strategic Planning Committee. In addition, he serves on the school board of the University Academy Charter High School and chairs the New Jersey Chief Student Affairs Officers group.
A native of Newark, New Jersey, his professional career has been focused on serving first-generation, low-income students from urban communities. From 2005 to 2009, Dr. Melendez led the University’s participation in the Building Engagement and Attainment for Minority Students Program, a national initiative sponsored by the Institute for Higher Education Policy and the Lumina Foundation.
He earned a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Seton Hall University, a Master of Arts in Counseling from New Jersey City University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Rutgers University. In 2006, Dr. Melendez completed a yearlong fellowship experience with Leadership New Jersey and in 2011 participated in the AASCU Millennium Leadership Initiative. He resides in Union, N.J.
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. As an ACE Fellow, Dr. Melendez will focus on an issue of concern to the University while spending the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution.
ACE Fellows also attend three week-long retreats on higher education issues organized by ACE, read extensively in the field and engage in other activities to enhance their knowledge about the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education today.
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 more than 200 related associations, nationwide. 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.