(Posted May 17, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Jenifer Cushman, dean of the Center for International Education and associate professor of German at Juniata College, is one of 46 senior faculty or administrators nationwide to be named an American Council on Education Fellow for the 2010-2011 academic year.

As an ACE Fellow, Cushman will observe and work with a college president and other senior officers at an institution of her choosing to see how that college addresses higher education challenges and issues. Cushman will be visiting several campuses in the coming weeks and will make a decision on where she will be placed some time this summer.

"The Fellows Program enhances and sharpens their leadership skills and prepares them to address issues of concern to the higher education community."

Sharon A. McDade, director of the ACE Fellows Program.

The ACE Fellows spend a semester or an entire year combining retreats, interactive learning, campus visits and placement at a host college or university. In the past fellows have helped tackle projects such as implementing a post-tenure review process, developing a teaching-learning center, and improving recruitment and retention of faculty of color.

"The Fellows Program enhances and sharpens their leadership skills and prepares them to address issues of concern to the higher education community," says Sharon A. McDade, director of the Fellows Program.

The ACE Fellows program began in 1965 and has trained more than 1,650 higher education leaders. More than 300 Fellows went on to serve as president or chief executive officers of a college or university.

Cushman joined the Juniata faculty in 2007 from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, where she was director of international and off-campus study from 2005 to June 2007

At Juniata, Cushman oversees the college's extensive study-abroad program, the outreach program Language in Motion, marketing and recruitment efforts for international students, management of a variety of international programs and the college's Intensive English Program.

Cushman earned a bachelor's degree in German and psychology in 1989 from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. She went on to earn a master's degree in 1992 and a doctoral degree in German in 1996, both from Ohio State University.

Cushman's academic career in higher education began 1998, when she was hired as an assistant professor of German and Russian at the University of Minnesota, Morris, a post she held through 2005. She also served as discipline coordinator for the University's Russian program from 1998 to 2005 and became the coordinator of German programs in 2004.

From 2004 to 2005, Cushman was faculty coordinator at the university's Center for International Programs. She also was promoted to associate professor of German in 2005.

Cushman has taught courses and presented talks or research at a number of international universities in Poland, Russia, and Italy. Her teaching and research interests center on German and Slavic literatures and culture, particularly the works of poet Rainer Maria Rilke.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.