NISTS | National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students
ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Award
Named for the organization's founder, who has played a significant role in advancing the national transfer conversation, the Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Award was the most prestigious award offered by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students. Transfer Champions have demonstrated exceptional advocacy and leadership on behalf of transfer students at the state or national level. Throughout their careers, they have significantly improved transfer student access, persistence, and success in areas such as policy, research, or advocacy. Transfer Champions are nominated and selected by NISTS.
Previous Winners: ​
Estela Mara Bensimon (2021)
Debra Bragg (2019)
Charlene Stinard (2017)
E. Elaine Moore (2016)
Thomas J. Grites, Rebecca McKay, Robert T. Teranishi (2015)
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Transfer Champion-Catalyst Award
The Catalyst Award recognized 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.
Previous Winners: ​
Darla M. Cooper, Rita Snyder Furr, Jessie Ryan (2023)
Nicholas DeFalco, Shelley Lemons (2022)
Ellen Goldberg, Lynn Tincher-Ladner, Xueli Wang (2021)
Amanda Quintero, Janie Valdes, Heather Adams, Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon (2020)
Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, John Fink, Paulina Palomino, Russell Baker (2019)
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Transfer Champion-Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award recognized 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 they are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Generally, these individuals have served in transfer-related roles for three to five years.
Previous Winners: ​
Jamie Blanch, Nan Young Perez Uribe, Heather Domonoske, Campbell Keele (2024)
Mayra Arroyo, Jaclyn Duerr, Jacqui Rogers-Frere, Emily Tichenor (2023)
Le Quanda Cole, Megan Drangstveit, Michael DuPont, Jeffrey R. Mayo, Keith Shaw (2022)
Shannon Hayes Buenaflor, Renee Esparza, Randi Petrauskas Harris, Danyelle Tauryce Ireland (2021)
Jennifer Brown, Sara Price, Alexandrea Deerr (2020)
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National Transfer Student Ambassadors
The Transfer Student Ambassador Program invited up to four outstanding transfer students to influence the national transfer conversation by sharing their voices at the NISTS annual conference and facilitating a transfer-related program at their home institutions. Nominees submitted a letter of recommendation, resume, and both a written and video narrative describing their transfer journey, how their personal interests matched the TSA opportunity, and commentary about why it’s important to advocate for transfer student needs. Winners were 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.
Previous Winners: ​
Ashton Husband, Crystal Ramos, Emily Hernandez Alzamora, Sam Haines (2024)
Atziri C. Regalado Juarez, Jolynna Dang, Juan "Oso" Bran-Gudiel, Emily Armlin (2023)
Jan Paolo Canteras, Herman Luis Chavez, Noelle Dana, Katherine Ibsen (2022)
Dipti Karnani, Michael Morgan, Keirra Scott, Emily Sturm (2021)
Kaylee Cheng, Jahine Grady, Tanya Nasrollahi, Macia Outlaw (2020)
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NISTS Research Grant Award
The NISTS Research Grant supported transfer-related original research, creative work, and scholarly inquiry by funding high-quality projects that examined the complexities of the transfer student experience. Areas of inquiry included improving student experiences across the transfer lifecycle, exploring diverse student perspectives, and assessing transfer-related programs and services to identify promising practices. The grant sought projects that advanced understanding of the issues and obstacles transfer students faced and that informed stronger institutional policies, practices, and programs. Research teams could consist of one to four individuals, including graduate students and post-docs, and practitioner-scholars with first-hand experience were especially encouraged to submit proposals.
Previous Winners:​
Ivan Valdovinos (PI), San Diego Miramar College
Transfer as Collective Action: Understanding How Latina/o/x Students and Their Families Make Transfer Decisions​
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Dustin Grote (PI), Weber State University, and David Reeping (Co-PI), University of Cincinnati (2022 Winner)
Developing a Theory of Curricular Complexity for Transfer Students: Establishing Content and Construct Validity
Shannon Hayes Buenaflor (PI) and Alberto Cabrera (Co-PI), University of Maryland (2022 Winner)
Transfer Efficacy and Goal Orientation Among Potential Transfer Students: An Exploratory Study
Jason Mastrogiovanni (PI), Texas A&M University (2020 Winner)
Collaboration in Transfer Student Work: A Cultural Historical Activity Theory Study at Four-Year Institutions
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Catherine Hartman (PI) & Jeffrey Mayo (Co-PI), University of Texas at Austin (2018 Winner)
Examining Vertical and Horizontal Transfer Student Experiences and Identity Development at Four-Year Institutions in Texas
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Barbara K. Townsend Dissertation Award
The transfer field thrives when intentional, rigorous inquiry is conducted and applied to practice. NISTS celebrated emerging scholars who exemplified this philosophy through the Barbara K. Townsend Dissertation Award. Recognized as a top higher education scholar, Barbara K. Townsend studied and wrote prolifically about transfer, forcing the academy to recognize an often overlooked student population. Her work elevated the role of community colleges and emphasized the importance of shared responsibility across two- and four-year sectors for transfer student success. She influenced state policy and institutional practice and her mentorship inspired colleagues and students alike. Dr. Townsend’s research and insights continue to serve as the foundation for contemporary transfer scholarship, and NISTS was honored to bestow this award to those continuing her legacy.
Previous Winners:​
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Courtney S. Green, University of North Carolina, Charlotte (2023)
Persistence of Engineering Transfer Students: Identifying Student-Influenced and Institution-Influenced Academic Success
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Dustin M. Grote, Virginia Tech (2021)
Enhancing the Community College Transfer Pathway: Exploring Aspects of Transfer Receptivity at 4-Year Institutions in Engineering
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Laura W. Yavitz, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2019)
Vertical Transfer and Baccalaureate Completion for Adult Community College Students: Milestones and Momentum Points that Matter
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Dalinda Martinez, Michigan State University (2016)
Transitioning: The Transfer Student Experience
Loni Bordoloi Pazich, New York University (2015)
Influencing Transfer and Baccalaureate Attainment for Community College Students: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Texas
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