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AACP’s Vice President of Academic Services Earns Certified Association Executive Credential

AACP Article

For Immediate Release

Contact Maureen Thielemans; 703-739-2330 ext. 1022

ARLINGTON, VA.—ASAE has announced that Cecilia M. Plaza, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Services at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry.

To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years’ experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. More than 4,300 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential. 

"[Dr. Plaza's] commitment to applying her years of experience and the deep learning she committed to earning the CAE distinction suggests that 'the best is yet to come!'"

Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., R.Ph., AACP Executive Vice President and CEO

In her role as Vice President of Academic Services at AACP, Plaza leads a broad portfolio including governance across the entire Association, Institutional Research, and the American Journal for Pharmaceutical Education teams and is responsible for overseeing and introducing Association management best practices. Plaza received her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2000, her masters in pharmaceutical sciences in 2003, and her doctor of philosophy degree in 2006 from the University of Arizona. Her M.S. and Ph.D. had a concentration in pharmaceutical education with a minor in Educational Psychology and included research in experiential education and curricular evaluation. In 2017, Plaza was selected as an ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar. DELP is a two-year program that supports 12 individuals from under-represented identity groups to advance into the ranks of leadership in the association management profession.

“It has been a privilege to work with Cecilia since she arrived at AACP in 2006 to help expand our Academic Affairs unit. Her growth and her impact on AACP and the Academy has been so significant,” said Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., R.Ph., AACP Executive Vice President and CEO. “Her commitment to applying her years of experience and the deep learning she committed to earning the CAE distinction suggests that “the best is yet to come!”

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 40,000 association executives and industry partners representing 7,200 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world.

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