The 2025 ACE Women’s Network Leadership Conference (WNLC) will convene on February 13–14 in Washington, DC in conjunction with and immediately following ACEx2025. This event aligns with ACE’s Moving the Needle: Advancing Women in Higher Education Leadership® initiative, which has an aim for gender and racial parity among higher education chief executives by 2030. This year’s conference will focus on advancing women in leadership through systemic and personalized strategies and preparing women leaders and state network chairs for upcoming challenges and policy changes after the 2024 elections.
Presidents have faced significant challenges between the 2016 and 2022 surveys of the American College President Study. According to The American College President: 2023 Edition, the college presidency remains dominated by white men. While women have made gains in higher education leadership, progress toward parity has been minimal—particularly for women of color. Many current presidents plan to retire within the next five years, meaning the slight advances for women and people of color are not yet systemic changes. As higher education navigates complex issues and declining public trust, it is crucial that leadership reflects the student population and is prepared to address upcoming challenges and act on future opportunities. This conference unites a community dedicated to sharing best practices, lessons learned, and inspiring lasting impact for women leaders in higher education.
Reserve your seat for this long-standing professional development tradition of the ACE Women’s Network. Join administrators, faculty, and staff of marginalized gender identities to empower and inspire change in higher education. Return to your campus as a more effective advocate and agent of change across your state. Help build institutional capacity to support women’s advancement in the academy and expand women’s opportunities to lead at the highest levels to which they aspire.
This event is open to all who are interested in advancing and supporting women in higher education leadership. Members of the ACE Women’s Network are particularly encouraged to attend. Please note that limited seats are available. For questions about the ACE Women’s Network or the content of this conference, contact womensnetwork@acenet.edu.
Don’t miss this highly anticipated gathering that celebrates women leaders and encourages leadership excellence and inclusion in academia.
WNLC registration includes one ticket to the ACE Women’s Leadership Dinner. Additional tickets may be purchased for $150 each.
NOTE: The ACE Women’s Leadership Dinner is open to registrants of the ACE Experience 2025 and the Council of Fellows Gathering. Tickets are $150 each.
Pricing and Schedule*
2:00–2:30 p.m.: Welcome and Introductions
2:30–3:30 p.m.: WNEC: Personalized Leadership
3:40–4:45 p.m.: Leadership Session
4:45–5:00 p.m.: Day One Wrap-Up
5:00 p.m.: Adjourn Conference and Reconvene at Reception
6:00–6:30 p.m: Reception
6:30–8:30 p.m.: ACE Women’s Leadership Dinner
8:00–9:00 a.m.: Leadership and Networking Breakfast
9:00 a.m.–noon: Programming
WNLC registration includes one ticket to the ACE Women’s Leadership Dinner. Additional tickets may be purchased for $150 each.
6:00–6:30 p.m.: Reception
6:30–8:30 p.m.: Dinner
* Schedule is subject to change.
The ACE Women’s Network supports women interested in pursuing leadership opportunities in higher education by facilitating connections, enabling local leadership training, and sharing best practices, including at the annual ACE Women’s Network Leadership Conference. 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, connect, and support women in higher education careers within that state. The state networks are linked through their connection with ACE and the ACE Women’s Network Executive Council, a group of senior women executives who serve as both mentors and advisers to ACE regarding overall ACE Women’s Network functions.
Your gift to the Women’s Leadership Legacy Fund will help create an inclusive higher education sector that harnesses the skills and talents of women leaders. Through generous grants and scholarships, the fund ensures that cost is not a barrier to women’s professional advancement and enhances the success of future generations.
Donate
Listen
