Hello Everyone:
I am delighted to be the 2013-14 Presidential Sponsor for the American Council on Education (ACE) Nor Cal Network and to encourage you to become actively involved with the network. The ACE Women’s Network is represented in each state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. It is composed of leaders across the country in the world of higher education and is committed to moving women into college presidencies and other senior level positions.
Throughout my career as a senior administrator, when I was engineering dean at Purdue University, provost at the University of Illinois and now as chancellor at the University of California, Davis, I have always tried to mentor women interested in moving up through the ranks of academic life because I recognize from my own experience the importance of such relationships.
As a woman engineering student in my native Greece and even later as a faculty member at schools in the United States, I often felt isolated and unwelcomed in environments where women were in the distinct minority. These were very difficult at times, but I persevered and committed myself to do all I could to help other women who had similar aspirations. Diversity in leadership positions at our colleges and universities is good for the institutions, good for our country and it is certainly good for women and other under-represented groups who want to reach their full potential to succeed and be of service in academia.
I hope more of you will become actively involved in the ACE NorCal Network as a board member or by becoming a member of the extended network through Northern California. And I hope you can attend our annual conference that will be held October 18, 2013 at Fresno State University. The theme of the conference this year is “Advancing Women in the Field of Higher Education,” and I hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Thank you for supporting the ACE NorCal Network and for the important work you do supporting the cause of women in higher education.
Sincerely,
Linda P.B. Katehi
Chancellor
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