“We are pleased that Dave Schnase has been selected as an ACE Fellow and congratulate him on this accomplishment,” said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of Membership and Student Affairs. “He is the first NCAA staff member to be chosen for this prestigious professional experience and we are eager for Dave to continue his work in presidential outreach, focusing on first-time chancellors and presidents.”

The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators for responsible positions in college and university administration. Forty-six Fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year following a rigorous application process.

Schnase has worked at the NCAA for 15 years and has served in his current position for the last six years. Prior to arriving at the NCAA, he worked at Marshall University in athletics compliance and judicial affairs.  His current responsibilities include oversight of internal operations, Eligibility Center operations, presidential outreach, governance, legislation, and interpretations. 

Schnase earned his law and master’s of education degrees from the University of Kansas and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska.  In addition, he has been trained in mediation and negotiation.  He is an active member of the community serving on various boards including his current role as president of Chaucie’s Place, a nonprofit child advocacy center in Carmel, Indiana.

Sharon A. McDade, Ed.D., director of the ACE Fellows Program, noted that most previous Fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration. Of the nearly 1,700 participants in the first 45 years of the program, more than 300 have become chief executive officers and more than 1,100 have become provosts, vice presidents, or deans.

“We’re extremely pleased with the strength of the incoming class,” McDade said. “The Fellows Program will sharpen and enhance their leadership skills and their network, and prepare them to address issues of concern to the higher education community.”

Each ACE Fellow will focus on an issue of concern to the nominating institution while spending the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution. Schnase will work on improving the NCAA’s outreach program for first-time chancellors and presidents, and other special projects for the Association.