Wayne State Deputy President Phyllis I. Vroom has been chosen by the Michigan American Council on Education (MI-ACE) Women's Network as a recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award.

MI-ACE Women's Network annually bestows its top honor upon two Michigan women in higher education who have provided outstanding leadership to women in their institutions, professions and society at large. Honorees have also distinguished themselves as advocates for women and leaders for change.

Aside from ascending the academic ladder from professor to deputy president, Vroom has written several chapters and articles on women of color in leadership roles, and is widely recognized for her mentoring skills.

"To me, success is a generative process. Women leaders are only successful insomuch as they cultivate new leaders whose accomplishments will exceed the achievements of those who mentored them. This philosophy has come to define my leadership style over the years," said Vroom.

She joined the WSU School of Social Work in 1969 as an assistant professor. During her tenure, she was the coordinator for the bachelor of social work program, and then the master of social work program. Vroom also served as associate dean for the School of Social Work for nine years and finished her tenure as the School of Social Work's dean, a position she held for nearly a decade.

In late 2012, WSU President Allan Gilmour appointed Vroom the university's deputy president.

Vroom also serves on the board of the Black Family Development, Inc.

In 2011, she received the first Wayne State University Michigan ACE Network's Woman of Distinction Award.

Vroom will receive her award - along with fellow honoree Laurie Chesley, dean of arts and sciences at Grand Rapids Community College - at the MI-ACE Women's Network conference, occurring June 3 to 4 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.

For more details, visit miacenetwork.org.