The ACE Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities

About the Commission

The ACE Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities was created to increase visibility for the important contributions of religious and faith-based colleges and universities and to foster collaboration between religious and nonreligious institutions on topics such as access, affordability, and completion that benefit the whole of higher education.

To coordinate the efforts on this commission, Ted Mitchell, president of ACE, has invited Shirley V. Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and Clark G. Gilbert, commissioner of the Church Educational System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to serve as the inaugural chairs. Hoogstra and Gilbert are working closely with ACE to initiate this commission. In addition to the chairs, an initial executive committee—composed of presidents from a range of institutions—is working to help steer the commission’s efforts.

Executive Committee

CHAIR

Clark G. Gilbert, Commissioner, Church Educational System, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

VICE CHAIR

Shirley V. Hoogstra, President Emerita, The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

MEMBERS

Robin Baker, President, George Fox University (OR)
Gayle D. Beebe, President, Westmont College (CA)
Ari Berman, President and Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva University (NY)
Donna M. Carroll, President, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Robert A. Dowd, President, University of Notre Dame (IN)
Jim Gash, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pepperdine University (CA)
Brian L. Johnson, President, Warner Pacific University (OR)
Peter K. Kilpatrick, President, The Catholic University of America (DC)
D. Michael Lindsay, President, Taylor University (IN)
Thayne M. McCulloh, Gonzaga University (WA)
Candice McQueen, President, Lipscomb University (TN)
Leslie Nelson Pollard, Oakwood University (AL)
Deana L. Porterfield, Seattle Pacific University
C. Shane Reese, President, Brigham Young University (UT)
Philip G. Ryken, President, Wheaton College (IL)
Debra A. Schwinn, President, Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL)
Beck A. Taylor, President and Professor of Economics, Samford University (AL)
Dwaun J. Warmack, President, Claflin University (SC)

Connect with Us

Derrick Anderson

Senior Vice President

Education Futures

Derrick M. Anderson is a national leader in education policy, public service, and institutional innovation. As senior vice president of Education Futures at the American Council on Education (ACE), Anderson designs and oversees initiatives that engage ...

Derrick Anderson

Senior Vice President

Education Futures

Gailda Pitre Davis

Vice President and Executive Director

ACE Connect

Gailda Pitre Davis serves as vice president and executive director for ACE Connect. In this capacity, she leads ACE’s community engagement strategy with a focus on collective impact to transform higher education. Through ACE Connect, Davis helps commu...

Gailda Pitre Davis

Vice President and Executive Director

ACE Connect

Kim Lee

Director of Community Engagement

ACE Connect

Kimberly “Kim” Lee is the director of community engagement at the American Council on Education (ACE). Additionally, Lee serves as an adviser for the ACE Learner Success Lab. Lee brings to ACE over 20 years of experience in leadership roles that empha...

Kim Lee

Director of Community Engagement

ACE Connect

Learn More About the 2025 Convening

The ACE Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities will convene on June 9, 2025, in Washington, DC. The event includes both a by-invitation, presidents-only morning session and a public afternoon program, featuring a keynote address and documentary screening.

Due to the unique structure of the day and space limitations, registration is required. Please contact us if you are interested in attending.

Nominations

Nominations for the executive committee and questions about the commission can be sent to Gailda Pitre Davis, vice president and executive director, ACE Connect, at gdavis@acenet.edu.

2024 Convening Media Coverage

Our 2024 event brought together a diverse set of higher education leaders and was well covered in the national media.

'Unique contribution': Religious college leaders unite to tackle challenges facing higher education
The Christian Post

New commission of religiously affiliated higher education aims to spark collaboration
Religion News Service

New Commission on Faith-Based Institutions Launched
Inside Higher Ed

US faith-based campuses feel a political moment
Times Higher Education

ACE Launches Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities to Foster Collaboration and Innovation in Higher Education
University Herald

Calling faith critical to higher education, educators launch new Commission on Faith-based Universities
Desert News