Anna Addonisio, the senior associate dean for administration in Harpur College, has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) fellow for the 2015-2016 school year.

The ACE was established in 1965 with the mission to improve higher education in universities across the nation, according to their website. Addonisio is one of 41 fellows chosen this year, each selected by their respective institutions. Provost Donald Nieman and BU President Harvey Stenger nominated Addonisio for the fellowship.

The fellowship program is in place to help develop the leadership skills of of faculty members in higher education institutions by creating a forum of these candidates. Addonisio will complete her fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“This is a rare opportunity to [learn] from institutions in the US and around the world while I further develop my leadership skills,” Addonisio wrote in an email. “Engagement with these Universities will provide a forum to highlight the great things that are happening here at Binghamton and share some of our best practices.”

A BU alumna, Addonisio was hired in 1999 to the Division of Administration, which oversees faculty at BU. She joined Harpur College’s Dean’s office shortly after, where she has worked since.

After a rigorous application process which included a report detailing why she believed she was a fit for the ACE program, as well as letters of recommendation from her peers, the American Council on Education reviewed Addonisio’s application to see if she had potential to be a future leader.

After being chosen for the fellowship, Addonisio said the next step was to find a good host institution, and UMass Amherst stood out. There she will be engaging with faculty, observing their leadership skills and attending seminars.

“UMass Amherst is the flagship of the Massachusetts commonwealth,” Addonisio wrote. “[It] is a research ‘powerhouse’ and like Binghamton has a strong commitment to the liberal arts education, embracing core values of integration, innovation and growth.”

Dean of Harpur College Anne McCall has worked closely with Addonisio in the past. She said that Addonisio will benefit from this program, and in turn the University will gain from what she learns.

“Anna Addonisio brings honor to our university as she prepares for future responsibilities,” McCall said. “She is an outstanding fit for the program, as she is a leader in our college and on campus.”

Addonisio said that she looks forward to what she can bring back to BU, and she hopes that she can use her knowledge to further the University’s mission.

“My goals are to develop a University perspective that integrates financial planning and resource development into a strategic plan,” Addonisio wrote. “And develop partnerships with local, state, national and international communities.”