The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students recognized Holly Herrera, the coordinator of transfer advising at Illinois, with the Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Rising Star Award. She will be honored Wednesday, Feb. 7, during the opening session of the 16th Annual Conference of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students at Loews Atlanta Hotel.
The sole recipient of this award category for 2018, Herrera was selected through a national competition focused on recognizing individuals who are making significant contributions early in their higher education careers.
In her role at Illinois, Herrera manages sixth pathway partnerships between the university and community colleges, including a partnership which serves Native Americans at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma. She is a leader and resource throughout the state and has consistently used data to inform practices and improve the transfer experience.
Herrera uses her own transfer experience to fuel her work. She is a driven and engaged practitioner who desires to make transfer seamless, strengthen articulated pathways to completion, increase access and ease student transition for transfer students. She is the recipient of the university’s Community College Leadership Award and Outstanding Academic Advisor and is currently serving as president of the Illinois Academic Advising Association.
As a doctoral student in higher education in the department of education, policy, organization and leadership, Herrera is conducting research on the experiences and trajectories of community college student transfers who participate in specialized/guided pathway transition programs.
For more information about the NISTS, visit www.nists.org.