Association for Communication Excellence

07/16/2026

2+ years. Lifelong connections. A career built on community. That's what a “Face of ACE” is all about! Meet Michelle Olgers, incoming ACE Learning Community Director!

Michelle has been an ACE member since 2015, and her journey is nothing short of inspiring. From building a communications team from the ground up at Virginia State University's College of Agriculture to advancing food and agriculture research at FFAR, she has spent her career helping people access information that changes their lives.

A 2020 ACE Award of Excellence recipient, graduate of VALOR and LEAD21, and passionate long-distance hiker and wine enthusiast — Michelle brings heart, expertise, and a deep commitment to the agriculture communications community.

We're proud to call her part of the ACE family. 💚

Get to know Michelle on the ACE Ambassadors webpage: https://aceweb.org/ACE-Ambassadors

07/15/2026

07/13/2026

30 years. Countless collaborations. A career built on connection. Meet Joy Drohan, one of our newest “Faces of ACE.”

Joy is a freelance writer and editor based in Pennsylvania, specializing in agricultural, environmental, and energy science. For three decades, she's partnered with land-grant universities and colleges of agriculture across the country — about 40% of her career work has come from these collaborations!

Joy discovered ACE through a referral from a longtime client and was shocked she'd never heard of the group before, calling it "exactly up my alley." Since joining, she's been exploring the website and learning communities, and has joined the 2026 Level Up conference committee.

We're proud to call her part of the ACE family. 💚

Get to know Joy on the ACE Ambassadors webpage: https://aceweb.org/ACE-Ambassadors

07/10/2026

Following an inspiring 2026 ACE Annual Conference, the 2026–2027 ACE Leadership Institute Cohort came together for their first session, two and a half days of in-person leadership development and cohort building.

In partnership with Voyagers Consulting, this outstanding group of communications professionals began a year-long leadership journey focused on strengthening leadership skills, expanding professional influence, and creating meaningful change within their organizations and across the communications profession.

Please join us in congratulating the 2026–2027 ACE Leadership Institute Cohort:

Inka Bajandas
Matt Browning
Amy Calabretta
Kirsten Conard
Tate Cronin
Jackie Hanson
Cyril Ibe, Ph.D.
Olivia McClure
Claire Montoya
Amy Muise
Sonya Moore-Davis
Stephanie Perla
Heleen Sheets
Kim Scotto
Allison Vitt
Lesa Vold
Vickey D. Williams, Ph.D.

We look forward to following their leadership journey over the coming year and celebrating their accomplishments along the way. Congratulations to each of these outstanding leaders!

07/09/2026

🌟 OPS Winner Spotlight: Media Relations 1 | Media Relations Campaign 🌟

A big congratulations to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science - UF/IFAS Communications for earning an Outstanding Professional Skill (OPS) award for their exceptional work, "Alligator Bites: Humans Are To Blame."

👏 Kudos to the talented team behind the design:
Lourdes Mederos, Luz Bahder — your creativity and professionalism truly set the standard! This recognition is part of ACE’s Critique & Awards Program, which honors outstanding work in communication and design. 🏆

👉 View all of the 2026 award winners here:
https://aceweb.org/2026-Critique-&-Awards-Program-Winners/

Keep checking back as we continue sharing more OPS winners and their incredible work.

07/07/2026

The ACE Service Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to ACE.

We are thrilled to congratulate The 2024 Ace Review Team as this year's recipients!

Help us give a huge congratulations to Linda Benedict, Bob Sams, Robert Casler, Becky Koch, Jeanne Gleason, Kevin Gamble, Janet Rodekohr, David King and Holly Young!

07/06/2026

🌟 OPS Winner Spotlight: Education Technology and Design 3 | Innovative Use of Instructional Technology in Education 🌟

A big congratulations to the New Mexico State University Innovative Media Research & Extension for earning an Outstanding Professional Skill (OPS) award for their exceptional work, "Cozy River Valley."

👏 Kudos to the talented team behind the design:
Barbara Chamberlin, Amy Smith Muise, Adrian Aguirre, John "CC" Chamberlin, Philip McVann — your creativity and professionalism truly set the standard! This recognition is part of ACE’s Critique & Awards Program, which honors outstanding work in communication and design. 🏆

👉 View all of the 2026 award winners here:
https://aceweb.org/2026-Critique-&-Awards-Program-Winners/

Keep checking back as we continue sharing more OPS winners and their incredible work.

07/03/2026

🌟 OPS Winner Spotlight: Marketing 2 | Marketing Communications Campaign with a budget of $1,000 or above 🌟

A big congratulations to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture for earning an Outstanding Professional Skill (OPS) award for their exceptional work, "34th Summer Celebration."

👏 Kudos to the talented team behind the design:
Tate Cronin, Katie Whitehouse, Katie Jones, Jenn Eastman, Nadia Harris, Caitlynn Dowland, Lauren Tolley — your creativity and professionalism truly set the standard! This recognition is part of ACE’s Critique & Awards Program, which honors outstanding work in communication and design. 🏆

👉 View all of the 2026 award winners here:
https://aceweb.org/2026-Critique-&-Awards-Program-Winners/

Keep checking back as we continue sharing more OPS winners and their incredible work.

07/02/2026

Congratulations to Cara Lawson and Ann Y. Robinson, recipients of the ACE Learning Community Award of Excellence!

This award honors individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the discipline or area of communications represented by a Learning Community as well as leadership and involvement in ACE. A recipient may be a current or a past member of the Learning Community.

👏 Please join us in celebrating Cara and Ann for this well-deserved recognition! 👏