Penn State Harrisburg Vice Chancellor Sherri Kermanshachi named 2026-27 ACE Fellow

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Sharareh "Sherri" Kermanshachi, vice chancellor for research and outreach at Penn State Harrisburg, has been named a 2026-27 fellow by the American Council on Education (ACE).

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 through its distinctive and intensive nominator-driven, cohort-based mentorship model.

The 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.

"I am truly honored to be selected as a 2026-27 ACE Fellow," Kermanshachi said. "This is an incredible opportunity to continue growing as a leader, and I look forward to learning from senior leaders at host institutions, collaborating with an exceptional cohort of higher education administrators, and transforming those experiences into impactful initiatives that serve our faculty and students."

Kermanshachi, who has led the Office of Research and Outreach at Penn State Harrisburg since August 2023, is one of 31 ACE Fellows selected this year.

Before joining Penn State Harrisburg, Kermanshachi previously served at the University of Texas at Arlington as director of research initiatives in the College of Engineering; director of the Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars Technology Transfer programs; director of the Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Environment (RISE) Lab; and professor of civil engineering.

More than 2,500 higher education leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program over the decades, with close to 150 fellows currently serving as presidents and provosts, and many more serving as senior administrators and deans.

More information about the ACE Fellows Program can be found on the ACE website.