University of South Carolina Vice President Julian R. Williams, J.D., has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for the 2023-24 academic year.
Following nomination by the senior administration of their institutions and a rigorous application process, 36 Fellows were selected this year.
“The ACE Fellowship will serve to build Julian’s knowledge, skills and abilities as an up-and-coming leader,” University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis said. “I am confident that he will make an exceptional ACE Fellow and that the enhancement of his leadership skills will benefit the University of South Carolina.”
The program seeks to strengthen colleges and universities by preparing faculty, staff and administrators for senior positions in college and university leadership. Fellows will conduct projects of pressing concern for their home institutions and seek to implement their findings upon completion of the fellowship placement.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to study higher education with a diverse group of higher education leaders from a variety of colleges and universities,” Williams said. “I look forward to growing as an academic leader and returning to the University of South Carolina with new ideas and perspectives to address the many challenges facing higher education today.”
Williams is a member of the university’s executive cabinet and serves as vice president for the university’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
In his two years at South Carolina, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusive excellence, best exemplified by the creation of the DEI office’s Inclusive Excellence Institute. The institute is a seven-month educational opportunity that helps faculty and staff deepen their knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion through education and lived experiences.
“The ACE Fellows Program has a proven track record of developing agile leaders, and it fuels the expansion of a talented and diverse higher education leadership pipeline,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “ACE Fellows engage in unique learning experiences before returning to their home campuses armed with a fresh outlook and distinct skillset. I am excited to see all that this class accomplishes.”
The program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations, and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single year.