Robert J. Frosch, senior associate dean of facilities and operations and professor of civil engineering

Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration.

Frosch has been with Purdue since 1997. His excellence in teaching, research, and service has been recognized by his students and colleagues through numerous awards, including the Harold Munson Teaching Award, the Edmund M. Burke Outstanding Professor Award, the Roy E. and Myrna Wansik Civil Engineering Research Award, and the Ross Judson Buck Outstanding Counselor Award. He received his BSE from Tulane University and his MSE and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. His research, which focuses on the design and behavior of structural concrete, has resulted in changes in engineering practice and changes to the building codes for both buildings and bridges.

“I am extremely honored to have been selected to this class of Fellows,” Frosch said. “I am confident that the ACE Fellowship program will help me become a stronger leader helping guide Purdue and higher education into the future.”

The ACE program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations, and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single year.

During the placement, Fellows observe and work with the president and other senior officers at their host institution, attend decision-making meetings, and focus on issues of interest. Fellows also conduct projects of pressing concern for their home institution and seek to implement their findings upon completion of the fellowship placement.

At the conclusion of the fellowship year, Fellows return to their home institution with new knowledge and skills that contribute to capacity-building efforts, along with a network of peers across the country and abroad.

Source: Purdue News Room