ACE Women's Network
The ACE Women's Network is a national system of networks within each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia with the goal of advancing and supporting women in higher education. Each state network is led by a state chair who works with institutional representatives and at least one presidential sponsor to develop programs that identify, develop, encourage, advance, link, and support (IDEALS) women in higher education careers within that state.
- IDENTIFIES emerging and successful women leaders.
- DEVELOPS their leadership abilities through state and national programming.
- ENCOURAGES the use of those abilities.
- ADVANCES them through nomination to appropriate positions.
- LINKS them to one another and to mentors.
- SUPPORTS the tenure of mid- and senior-level women administrators and presidents throughout their career cycles.
The state networks are linked to one another through their connection with ACE and the ACE Women's Network Executive Council, a group of senior women executives from across the country who serve as both mentors to the state chairs and as advisers to ACE on the overall functioning of the ACE Women's Network. State chairs also benefit from the mentorship and advice from college and university presidents and chancellors who have agreed to serve as presidential sponsors.
National Mission
The ACE Women’s Network facilitates the networking of women interested in pursuing leadership opportunities in higher education. A four-part structure—Network Executive Council, independent, state-based networks with state chairs, presidential sponsors, and institutional representatives—facilitates these connections, allows for sharing of best practices, particularly at the State Chairs Annual Conference, and enables local leadership training by the state networks.
Illinois Network Mission
The Illinois ACE Women’s Network (ILAWN) serves as a dynamic platform for individuals aspiring to pursue leadership opportunities in higher education. It facilitates networking, fosters the sharing of best practices, and enables the development of local leadership programming by the state networks.
Drawing upon the extensive resources of ACE, the Network provides a framework for implementing the IDEALS core principles, which focus on advancing and supporting women leaders in higher education. Through this collective effort, the Network seeks to create pathways for professional growth, strengthen leadership capacities, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic leadership.