As the sponsor for the 2024-2025 Outstanding First Year Student Advocate Awards, we at Penguin Random House Education are proud to foster a universal passion for reading and to honor an extraordinary group of educators for their commitment to student learning. On February 18th, at the 2025 First-Year Experience® Conference in New Orleans, LA, we honored our nine award winners alongside Kate Lehman, Director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition:
Tonya Doane
Tonya Doane is the Director of Student Success at Bennett College.
Her nominator wrote, “Ms. Doane is one who works diligently in ensuring that her first-year students receive the proper orientation, care, and tools for their success in and out of the classroom. Ms. Doane is a seasoned higher education professional who takes her job seriously. Observant, aware, accessible, and responsive are just a few adjectives that describe her dedication to her students and the college. Her love and passion to see students succeed is beyond average.” Another letter states, “Ms. Doane is there for students from the time of transcript submission through their first-year and beyond. We often joke that we should buy her a cape with a ‘SS’ in the middle which would stand for ‘Saving Students’ because that is what she does.”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Marketing Manager, Penguin Random House Education, Tonya Doane, and Kate Lehman, Director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
Lorrie Frederick
Lorrie Frederick is the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and First-Year Experience, Community College of Baltimore County.
Her nominator wrote, “In her time at the Community College of Baltimore County, Lorrie has bolstered the support for our first-year students by creating an FYE Mentor program, a summer bridge program, a retention program, and a second-year symposium to facilitate a first-year student’s transition to their second year. Lorrie is a relentless advocate for our first-year students. She never tires of brainstorming on how to better the FYE work at our college.”
Lorrie Frederick
Hal W. Fulmer
With over 40 years of higher education teaching and service, Hal W. Fulmer hails from Troy University.
His nominator wrote, “Dr. Fulmer has operated the John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success at Troy University for over 15 years and has worked tirelessly to initiate and implement programs that assist students in navigating the transition to college. I have personally witnessed Dr. Fulmer’s ‘over and above’ work on behalf of individual students and can speak directly to his attitude of genuine care and concern.” Another letter of support states, “A true servant leader with a passion for student services best describes Dr. Fulmer. His guiding motto of ‘engaged students are successful students’ reflects his energy, motivation, and spirit in leading the university’s John W. Schmidt Student Success Center. Further, Dr. Fulmer’s guiding leadership facilitated the creation of a first-year success center for new students attending Troy.”
Hal W. Fulmer
Martine Howard
Martine Howard is a Professor of French at Camden County College.
One of their letters of support states, “It’s not just that Martine cares about students or goes out of her way to assist them, it’s that Martine truly understands our students, their needs, and the importance of their first-year experience to their overall success.” Another letter of support states, “Dr. Howard’s devotion to the success of the first-year student was further evident when she organized a taskforce to develop a First-Year Experience Course. Her tireless leadership and faith in her mission made it possible for a pilot program in the fall of 2025.” Finally, a colleague wrote, “The adage, if you want a job done right, give it to a busy person’ must be amended in the case of Professor Howard to ‘If you want a job done perfectly, give it to Martine!’”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Martine Howard, and Kate Lehman
Robert Jacks
Robert Jacks is the Director of Academic Advising at Virginia Tech.
His nominator wrote, “Rob Jacks has played an instrumental role in the development of the first-year experience program at Virginia Tech. Being at a predominately STEM-focused university, rigor can easily be prioritized over a holistic student transition. Rob has been a continuous advocate for the first-year experience to those who did not think that it was necessary. He has consistently educated the campus community on what it means to provide full support to first-year students and the benefits that are produced from it. Rob is an outstanding advocate for first-year students because he does not allow challenges and obstacles to become limiting factors as to why students cannot receive the support they need.” Another colleague states, “With Rob’s deep understanding of students’ developmental stages, his knowledge of the inner workings of the university, and his commitment to removing barriers for students, he is able to find solutions to seemingly impossible problems with agility and creativity.”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Robert Jacks, and Kate Lehman
Kasey Karen
Our next advocate is Kasey Karen, an Associate Professor of Biology at Georgia College and State University.
Her nominator wrote, “Dr Karen’s unwavering commitment to student success, innovative pedagogy, and dedication to inclusive practices have made a significant impact on our first-year students. Her efforts not only enrich the students’ academic experience but also foster a supportive and engaging learning environment where students can grow as professionals. Her invaluable support for first-year students has had a profound impact on recruitment and retention efforts within the department, and her strategies for first-year success have set the standard for others within our institution.” Another colleague shared, “Dr. Karen spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive calendar of events, the Freshman Engagement Series, to provide a critical sense of belonging and connection for first year students majoring in Biology. Further, Dr. Karen’s in-class engagement was so intentional and impactful that I encouraged other first year seminar instructors to consider implementing some of her practices.”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Kasey Karen, and Kate Lehman
Leo Lachut
Our next Advocate is Leo Lachut, the Assistant Director of First Year Programs and Director of Academic Support at the University of Connecticut.
His nominator wrote, “Leo is the embodiment of our ‘Students First’ mentality through his active support and advocacy for our first-year students in their transition, persistence, development, and overall success.” Another nominator wrote, “I have sent him countless students to mentor and advise. He and his staff provide holistic, empathic, individualized support for these students. The students have reported that Leo’s interactions have been instrumental in their success.” While another colleague wrote, “It became evident that his interest in the factors underpinning student learning and success is at the core of his scholarship and practice. He is driven to broaden his understanding of issues related to student retention and the experience of first-generation students. I believe Leo constantly pursues new knowledge to enhance his practice with students and colleagues.”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Leo Lachut, and Kate Lehman
Lance Vanderberg
Lance Vanderberg is the Assistant Director Academic Enrichment Center and Coordinator of Academic Success at Taylor University.
His nominator wrote, “I have been able to observe Dr. Vanderberg’s remarkable ability to prioritize and meet the needs of our first-year students in innovative and caring ways. In his roles as a professor, advisor, and coordinator of academic success, Dr. Vanderberg profoundly shapes the culture of Taylor’s Academic Enrichment Center, as well as our university more broadly. I can attest that Taylor’s thriving retention rate can be directly associated with the work Dr. Vanderberg has done in developing our Academic Enrichment Center and Transition to College Program. These have proven invaluable for our efforts to support at-risk students and to ensure that all our students are equipped to thrive in their first year such that they desire to return to Taylor with strength and conviction.”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Lance Vanderberg, and Kate Lehman
Adam Wasilko
Adam Wasilko is the Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Duquesne University.
His nominator writes, “There is no one at Duquesne University who has had the wide-reaching impact that Adam Wasilko has had on student engagement and success generally, and more specifically on the transition and success of first year students. Adam’s passion and dedication to serving and supporting students from a holistic perspective, and engaging with campus partners to facilitate a seamless campus experience is unmatched. He is equally connected to and respected by students, student life colleagues, academic partners, alumni, Spiritan priests (the founding order of the campus), and others.” Another letter of support states, “Dr. Wasilko has consistently implemented innovative programs and initiatives aimed at guiding first-year students and fostering cross-functional collaboration with them in mind. He has led research on first-year student retention, been a dedicated mentor to our student affairs staff, and sets a high bar for the support efforts we provide to students as they transition into college.”
From left to right: Spenser Stevens, Adam Wasilko, and Kate Lehman
Special thanks to the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition for hosting the 2025 First-Year Experience® Conference and providing a space for these exceptional advocates to gather with us.
