Recipients

The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition presents the Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Impact Award to individuals whose sustained leadership, scholarship, and/or advocacy have significantly shaped how institutions and systems support transfer students at the state, regional, or national level. Each year we recognize an exceptional individual with the Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Impact Award and celebrate them at the Annual Conference on the Transfer Student Experience.

2026-27 Award Recipient:

Dr. Heather R. Bishop

Florida State University

Heather Bishop Headshot

Meet Dr. Bishop

Dr. Heather R. Bishop currently serves as Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies at Florida State University. Her portfolio includes Transfer Student Success, Articulation, Academic Mapping, and assisting with the implementation of state and institutional policies related to student transition and progression. She is also the liaison between FSU and the 28 Florida College System institutions. Previously, she was Director of K-20 Articulation for the Florida Department of Education, overseeing the Statewide Course Numbering System and guiding and implementing state policy related to student transitions across all levels of education. She then served as Higher Education Policy Chief for the Florida House of Representatives, a role in which she crafted an analyzed state legislation related to college student transition and success. These experiences informed her work with transfer students and fueled her passion for removing barriers to help students smoothly transition between institutions and from one education level to the next.

Educational Background

B.A. Psychology (Florida State University)
M.S. Sport/Educational Psychology (Florida State University)
Ph.D. Higher Education (Florida State University)

National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition