Each year, NISTS recognizes exemplary transfer advocates who are influencing policies, practices, and programs to benefit transfer students. This year, we were thrilled to recognize twelve outstanding winners in four different categories at NISTS 2023, both virtually and in person. Please join us in congratulating these amazing professionals and students!
Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion - Catalyst Awards
The Catalyst Award recognizes mid-career professionals who are game-changers in the transfer field. These individuals have worked over time to make a significant impact at the institutional, regional, and/or state levels. Awardees demonstrate evidence of leadership, appropriate risk-taking, and disrupting the status quo. They use relevant research and theoretical frameworks to develop transfer programs and services. And, they ensure the sustainability of initiatives by developing staff and using data to make improvements. Generally, these individuals have served in transfer-related roles for approximately ten years.
Jessie Ryan, Executive Vice President
The Campaign for College Opportunity
Darla M. Cooper, Executive Director
The RP Group
Rita Snyder Furr, Assistant Director, ADVANCE Operations
George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College
Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion - Rising Star Awards
The Rising Star Award recognizes individuals who are making important contributions but are relatively new to the transfer field. Awardees create new programming or substantially improve programming that is responsive to the specific transfer student population and shows evidence of success. Rising Stars use best practices and theoretical frameworks to design, implement, and assess their efforts and use resulting data to guide future work. They use their strong communication and collaboration skills to educate others about transfer students and are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Generally, these individuals have served in transfer-related roles for three to five years.
Jaclyn Duerr, Program Manager for Transfer Student Success
University of California, San Diego
Mayra Arroyo, Coordinator, Transfer Services
Rowan University
Emily Tichenor, Director, University Transfer (past)
Tulsa Community College
Jacqui Rogers-Frere, Interim Assistant Registrar
College of Southern Maryland
National Transfer Student Ambassadors
The Transfer Student Ambassador Program invites up to four outstanding transfer students to influence the national transfer conversation by sharing their voices at the NISTS annual conference. Winners are selected for their demonstrated excellence in leadership, public speaking skills, and potential for sharing meaningful information with transfer professionals at the local and national levels.
Juan "Oso" Bran-Gudiel
University of California, Santa Barbara
Atziri C. Regalado Juarez
University of Utah
Emily Armlin
Union College
Jolynna Dang
University of California, Irvine
Barbara K. Townsend Dissertation Winner
The transfer field thrives when intentional, rigorous inquiry is conducted and applied to practice. NISTS celebrates emerging scholars who exemplify this philosophy through the Barbara K. Townsend Dissertation Award.
Courtney S. Green, Ph.D., P.E., Teaching Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Do you know an outstanding transfer advocate, researcher, or student who deserves to be recognized for their stellar work and contributions to the transfer field? Please let us know! Our nomination forms open each summer, and we can't wait to read your submissions. Full details are available on the annual awards webpage.