Ellen S. Hurwitz, PhDPresident Emerita, of American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Ellen S. Hurwitz, a member of ACE Health Foundation's ACE Global Leaders of Excellence Network, received a BA from Smith College in 1964, an M.A. from Columbia University in 1965, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1972, where she subsequently chaired its University Seminar on Slavic History and Culture. She taught history and interdisciplinary studies at Wesleyan University, 1971-73, and at Lafayette College, 1974-88, where she also served as Chair, Department of History, Associate Dean of Faculty, and later as member of the Board of Trustees. An award-winning professor and internationally recognized scholar in medieval Russian and Byzantine history, she served as Provost of Illinois Wesleyan University (1988-92), President of Albright College (1992-99), President of New England College (2000-05), and President, now Emerita, of American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2005-2010). During each of her presidencies she oversaw critical academic and financial transformations which have led to long term success.
Ellen has continued her international service as Chair of AUCA’s Foundation Board, member of the Friends of American University of Afghanistan, Foundation Board. She is a consultant with Stevens Strategy and advises academic institutions on leadership and governance.
Ellen was invited to be senior resident both at the Institute of International Liberal Education at Bard College and at the Winter Park Institute at Rollins College, where she has also taught several courses in Russian History to adult learners. She has also enjoyed return visits to each of the institutions where she presided and is currently writing a memoir about academic leadership, tentatively entitled Leading Lady. She has recently spoken in Kazan, Russia about the challenges of developing an overseas liberal arts college and in Winter Park, Florida about the friendship between our first official ambassador to Russia, John Quincy Adams, and Tsar Alexander I.
Ellen has recently been appointed program developer for the ACE Health Foundation which mentors aspiring and practicing women leaders across the world.
Ellen lives in New Orleans, close to the homes and families of two of her three children. The third lives in Moscow and Uzbekistan.