The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition
is proud to honor college faculty, administrators, staff members, and students for
their work on behalf of first-year students and the impact their efforts make on the
students and cultures of their institutions.
Each year with our partners at Penguin Random House Publishing, we recognize up to
10 individuals with the Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award and celebrate
them at the Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience.
The 2024-25 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates are:
Tonya Doane
Bennett College
Tonya Doane is a dynamic and dedicated leader at Bennett College, where she excels
as the Director of Student Success and Co-Responder for Retention, as well as an Adjunct
Instructor in English and Women’s Studies. Her commitment to empowering students from
diverse backgrounds is evident in her holistic approach, which focuses on equipping
them with essential skills and addressing their comprehensive needs. She has significantly
contributed to initiatives like Tutoring Services, Transfer Tuesdays, and the Emerging
Scholars Peer Mentoring Program for first year students. She also co-developed the
College’s Success Coaching Model, a personalized wrap-around service that underscores
her commitment to student support. Her passion for fostering a collaborative environment
is central to her work, as she strives to build a strong sense of community and belonging.
Through her efforts, Tonya Doane aims to enhance academic success, retention, persistence,
and graduation rates, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Lorrie Frederick
Community College of Baltimore County
Lorrie Frederick is the Assistant Director of Student Engagement for First-Year Experience
(FYE) at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). In her role at CCBC, Lorrie
oversees co-curricular FYE initiatives designed to welcome students to the college
community, provide new students resources to be successful, and offer students avenues
to build connections and support systems. Her core programs include a summer bridge
program, new student orientation, a peer mentor program, and a second-year transition
program.
Lorrie earned her Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Morgan
State University and her Master of Science in counseling with a concentration in college
student personnel services from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She was a
first-year student at Stevenson University in Baltimore, Maryland. She was an involved
student leader and student-athlete who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English
Language and Literature and a Bachelor of Science in human services.
Hal Fulmer
Troy University
Dr. Hal Fulmer served as the Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate and First
Year Studies at Troy University from 2004 until his retirement in fall 2024. Since 2011, he has served as the Director of the John W. Schmidt Center for Student
Success, leading 30 professional staff in support of all areas of retention and degree
completion. He was a member of the team that designed the Center and led the efforts
to redesign the University’s General Studies Program in 2015. He holds the rank of
Professor with tenure in the Hall School of Journalism and Communication. He served
in faculty and administrative roles at Georgia Southern University and began his professional
career at Mississippi State as a faculty member. His graduate work was earned at
the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University. At retirement, Dr. Fulmer
has over 40 years of higher education teaching and service.
Martine Howard
Camden County College
Dr. Martine Howard is a professor and Chairperson of the Languages and Communications
Department at Camden County College in New Jersey, where she has served for 30 years.
An alumna of Camden County College, she holds degrees from Rowan University, the University
of Delaware, and New Jersey City University. Dr. Howard was honored with the Lindback
Distinguished Teaching Award in 2013 for her exceptional student-focused teaching
of French and Spanish. She earned her Ed.D. with a dissertation on a 15-credit completion
initiative that won the Dissertation in Practice Award. The 15 to Finish campaign
she launched helped first-year students enroll in 15 credits per semester, to graduate
on time. Her dedication to first-year students was further evidenced by her leadership
in organizing a task force in 2023 to implement a First Year Experience Course and
create discussions with faculty and administration on how to best enforce it college-wide.
Robert Jacks
Virginia Tech
Robert Jacks serves as the Director for Academic Advising in the College of Architecture,
Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech. In this role he supervises a team of six professional
academic advisors and oversees the undergraduate student journey from the time students
first think about joining VT to orientation and graduation. During the past 11 years
at VT, Rob has taught three different First-Year Experience classes and helped create
several others. Rob is passionate about advocating for students, removing barriers
to both entry and graduation, and creating programs that enhance undergraduate student
retention.
Rob graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Business and a MAEd in Curriculum and
Instruction. In 2017 he received Virginia Tech’s highest advising honor, the Provost’s
Award for Excellence in Academic Advising and in 2023 he was the inaugural recipient
of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design’s Outstanding Administrative/Professional
Faculty Award.
Kasey Karen
Georgia College and State University
Kasey Karen, Ph.D. is a Professor at Georgia College & State University in the Department
of Biological & Environmental Sciences. In 2022, when GCSU provided the opportunity
for faculty to teach the first-year academic seminar courses, Dr. Karen eagerly volunteered
and spent some time working on the course design in a Summer HIPs Institute. In her
role as the Undergraduate Biology Program Coordinator, she also worked on developing
a Freshman Engagement Series for the whole department to create more opportunities
for first-year students to meet other biology majors, the department faculty and staff,
and learn more about the major itself.
Karen earned a doctorate in molecular genetics and microbiology at Stony Brook University
and a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of New Hampshire. She
loves to foster and rescue cats and dogs, crochet, and bake, especially pies.
Leo Lachut
University of Connecticut
Leo Lachut currently serves as the Interim Director of First-Year Programs (FYP) and
Learning Communities (LC) at the University of Connecticut (UConn). With over 25 years
of experience teaching First-Year Experience (FYE) courses, Leo is deeply committed
to student success, particularly in supporting first-generation students. In his role,
Leo oversees initiatives that help first-year students transition into university
life. He collaborates with faculty, staff, and student leaders to create inclusive
environments that foster belonging and academic achievement.
As a first-generation college student himself, Leo has been instrumental in developing
programs that address the unique challenges faced by first-generation students, contributing
to higher retention rates and improved academic outcomes. His dedication ensures that
UConn remains a welcoming and supportive institution. With a background in counseling
psychology, educational leadership, and a strong track record of student advocacy,
Leo continues to lead UConn’s FYP and LC programs while adapting to the evolving needs
of students.
Lance Vanderberg
Taylor University
Dr. Lance Vanderberg is the Coordinator of Academic Success at Taylor University.
He teaches applied learning courses, works with students as an academic coach, and
provides leadership for university retention efforts. Lance also leads the Transition
to College Program for provisionally accepted freshmen. He got his start in higher
education through coaching cross country and track at Taylor for 13 years. Lance received
his undergraduate degree in social studies education and his master’s degree in higher
education. Both degrees are from Taylor. He also recently completed the PhD in Higher
Education program at Indiana University, with a minor in learning sciences. Lance
greatly enjoys working with students and looks forward to continuing his work in the
Academic Enrichment Center at Taylor. He is married to his wife, Amy, and the couple
has two children.
Adam Wasilko
Duquesne University
Adam T. Wasilko is the Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Life
at Duquesne University. He is a key figure in students’ out of the classroom experience.
Dr. Wasilko also oversees the Center for Student Involvement, which includes: Food
Pantry, Commuter Affairs, Disability Services, Freshman Development, Greek Life, Orientation,
Parent Relations, Programs, Leadership, Assessment, Student Organizations, Union Operations,
Summer Leadership Academy, Student Government, and Orientation program.He serves on
the University’s executive retention committee, Conduct Board, Core committee, President’s
Diversity Advisory Board, Support Council, and First-Generation Students committee,
among others. He serves as an assistant editor of the International Journal of Information
and Communication Technology Education. Dr. Wasilko also teaches a General Chemistry
Laboratory class and the occasional cycling class on campus. Dr. Wasilko is passionate
about the University mission. You can often find him presenting on the mission at
orientations or campus programs. He runs a co-curricular trip to Tanzania to support
and visit the Spiritan missions in East Africa.