ACE fellow joins UCCS

A career Air Force officer and professor of English at the U.S. Air Force Academy will spend the next year at UCCS as an American Council on Education fellow.

Col. Kathleen Harrington, one of only 21 permanent professors at USAFA, will spend the academic year at UCCS, working closely with Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Provost Peg Bacon, Martin Wood, chief operating officer, University Advancement , and other campus leaders.

“This fellowship is a wonderful opportunity,” Harrington said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic organization.”

Since 2004, Harrington has taught English core courses at USAFA. As a permanent professor, she heads the English and Fine Arts Department and leads 37 faculty and staff in teaching 37 undergraduate courses for the academy’s 4,000 students. She also oversees USAFA’s forensic team, a journal, “War, Literature and the Arts,” and the Academy’s executive writing program. Unique to the service academies, permanent professors are nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Previously, she commanded a 380-person communications squadron and served as deputy commander of a mission support group at the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. She also served as a speechwriter and executive officer for the commander of U. S. Air Forces in Europe.

A 1984 USAFA graduate, Harrington earned master’s degrees in both systems management and English. She earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington in 1999.

In April, 42 college and university senior faculty were selected for the 2009-10 ACE Fellows Program. The program combines seminars, interactive learning opportunities, campus visits and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a semester or academic year. During the placement, the fellows observe and work with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution, attend decision-making meetings and focus on issues of concern.

Since its inception in 1965, 1,652 people have participated in the program. More than 300 later served as chief executive officers of colleges or universities and 1,100 have served as provosts, vice presidents or deans.