The 2025-26 academic year, brings the celebration of the tenth year of the Michigan ACE Women’s Network Senior-Level Leadership Job Shadow Program. This formal mentorship program provides mid-level women leaders who aspire to a senior-level positions the opportunity to enhance their professional knowledge and skills with the guidance of a senior staff leader who serves as their mentor.
The Shadow Program boasts an impressive history of 42 senior leaders who have served as hosts from 28 different institutions, including community colleges and public and private institutions. The 51 mentees have hailed from 24 different Michigan institutions and have served in a variety of mid-level positions.
The 2025-26 mentors include Dr. Nerita Hughes, President, Bay De Noc Community College; Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, President, Michigan State University; Dr. Christopher Dougherty, President, Madonna University; Dr. Steven Corey, President, University of Olivet; Dr. Jenny Hall Jones, Vice President, Student Affairs, and Dr. Tonya Forbes, Vice President, Instruction, Kellogg Community College.
The 2025-26 program mentees include Dr. LaToya Mason, Dean of Health Sciences Education at Lake Michigan College; Meagan Treadway, Director of Special Projects, NextEd Co-Lab at Grand Valley State University; Doreen Tinajero, Senior Project Manager, University of Michigan; Dr. Tynisha McGee, District Dean in Educational Affairs, Wayne County Community College; Dr. Kellyn Mackerl-Cooper, Associate Director, Trotter Multicultural Center, University of Michigan; and Dr. Catherine Meyer-Looze, Associate Professor and Unit Head, Grand Valley State University.
The Shadow Program Committee hosted a virtual orientation on September 12th to introduce the mentors and mentees and review the program purpose, structure, and expectations. All the program participants indicated they are enthusiastic about the opportunity to gain impactful mentorship for the upcoming year.
A 2023 phenomenological study conducted by Malia Roberts, Ph.D., underscored the importance of formal mentorships as an important strategy for preparing and equipping future women leaders in higher education. The study revealed the significance of creating spaces that allowed aspiring women leaders to be more intentional and introspective about their personal and professional development. It also demonstrated how the mentees experienced a broadened view of leadership and gained a greater purpose as a result of being in the Shadow Program.
Established in 1978, the Michigan ACE Women’s Network is an award-winning state chapter of the American Council on Education (ACE). MI ACE works with the ACE to meet IDEALS– identifying, developing, encouraging, advancing, and supporting women in higher education. Learn more at https://miacenetwork.org.