The program integrates leadership training with federal policy insight and skill development, equipping fellows to take on key roles in an evolving sector. Fellows take part in retreats, interactive learning opportunities, projects and a placement experience at another college or university. The program also provides the chance to build a valuable network of higher education leaders. The fellowship year offers opportunities for ACE Fellows to view leadership in action and emerge with both the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to implement effective changes for higher education.听

鈥淏eing named an ACE Fellow offers an opportunity to deepen my engagement in institutional decision-making, learn alongside a national cohort of peers and draw from proven best practices to strengthen leadership capacity and drive meaningful, mission鈥慶entered impact,鈥� Craddock said.听

Craddock joins an elite list of previous ACE Fellows from the University of Louisville. They are Richard Clover, 2001-2002, and Arist贸fanes Cede帽o, 2006-2007. UofL also has hosted five fellows through the聽American Council on 糖心视频 program.

The ACE Fellows Program is one of the longest-running leadership development programs in the United States with more than 2,500 alumni 鈥� many now聽presidents, provosts and senior executives.

UofL, initially designated as a community engagement university in 2008, was among 277 schools reclassified by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on 糖心视频.

鈥淭he University of Louisville is proud to receive the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for another six years,鈥� UofL President Gerry Bradley said. 鈥淭his achievement is a testament to our partnerships across Louisville, and the work we鈥檙e doing on campus and beyond.鈥�

In 2025, the聽Carnegie Foundation once again named UofL a Research 1 (R1) institution聽for its elite status as a top research university and named UofL an聽Opportunity College and University (OCU)聽for its work fostering student success. UofL is one of only 13 universities nationwide to earn R1, OCU and Community Engaged designations from Carnegie and is the only ACC school to receive the OCU title.听

manages partnerships and programs at UofL with organizations across Louisville, the Commonwealth, and surrounding regions to drive impact in four areas: education, health and quality of life, social and human services and economic development. These programs focus on key areas of partnerships and engaged scholarship defined by the Carnegie classification, including the and the聽.

鈥淭his recognition highlights our dedication to integrating community engagement into UofL鈥檚 core mission,鈥� UofL Vice President for Community Engagement Douglas Craddock said. 鈥淭his distinction reaffirms our role as a trusted partner in advancing the public good.鈥�

聽of all institutions that hold this distinction.

The 鈥� which oversees Signature Partnership strategy and events 鈥� sponsored an appearance by known as the 鈥淗ip Hop Preacher鈥� for his ability to connect with young people to motivate them to succeed.

鈥淒r. Eric 鈥楨T鈥� Thomas鈥� passion, drive and grit are second to none,鈥� said Vice President for Community Engagement Douglas Craddock. 鈥淗is keen ability to connect with everyone he interacts with is evident and both impactful and inspirational. His visit to UofL was remarkable and will have a lasting effect on our campus and community.鈥�

Sharing his own life experiences, Thomas talked about 鈥済oing from a GED to a Ph.D.鈥� to encourage the audience to achieve greatness.

鈥淚’m a high school dropout. I was homeless for two and a half years, and somebody came in my life and said, ‘It’s not where you are, it’s where you want to be,’ and they helped me go from a GED to a Ph.D.,鈥� he said.

A New York Times best-selling author for his book, Thomas uses easy-to-recall phrases to help plant motivational ideas in students鈥� minds:

• 鈥淲hen you want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.鈥�
• 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what hand you have; it matters the way you play the hand you have.鈥�
• 鈥淕od鈥檚 going to take care of you, don鈥檛 worry about that. But the question is, are you going to have the character to sustain that blessing?鈥�

Thomas understands young people facing challenges because he has walked in their shoes. His urgent message to stop waiting for inspiration to strike and take control of your life is one he wishes someone had given him when he was a teenager鈥攍ost, homeless, failing in school and dealing with the challenges of being a young Black man in America.

Once he was able to break free from thinking of himself as a victim and truly understand his strengths, he switched the script. And today, he reaches out to reveal how others can rewrite their life’s script.听

His work perfectly aligns with , which works to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of west Louisville.听The goal is to collaborate with various community partners to improve the education, health, wellness and social status of individuals and families who live in Metro Louisville鈥檚 urban core.

鈥淯ofL鈥檚 Signature Partnership Initiative works closely with community residents, Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville Metro Government, Metro United Way, the Urban League, faith-based organizations and many others in existing and new programs to eliminate or reduce disparities that West Louisville residents experience in education, health, economic and social conditions,鈥� Craddock said.听鈥淲e draw upon the expertise and energy of faculty, staff and students from every school and college at UofL to deal with the quality of life issues affecting our community.鈥�

In addition to addressing the JCPS students in the Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom on Feb. 15, Thomas also spoke with student athletes on the football and men鈥檚 basketball teams.