As the sponsor for the 2025-2026 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 17th, at the 2026 First-Year Experience® Conference in Seattle, WA, we honored our ten award winners alongside Kate Lehman, Director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition:
Marie “Angie” Castillo
Marie “Angie” Castillo currently serves as the Lead Academic Advisor at Cochise College’s Douglas Campus, where I’ve supported students for nearly nine years. I began my journey in higher education as Scholarship Navigator in the Financial Aid Department, which helped me understand how academic and financial guidance go hand in hand. In my current role, I focus on advising first-year, non-traditional and transfer students, helping them navigate their educational pathways with clarity and confidence.
As a first-generation college graduate and single mother, I know firsthand the challenges many students face. My personal experience as a college student helped support my advising philosophy. I am student-centered; I know how it feels to want to earn a college degree in hopes of creating a better life for myself and my children. My service strategy is relationship-driven and grounded in trust and consistency. I strive to create a space where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to reach their goals.
My commitment is to continue to support equitable access to all students while also focusing on student support success and retention and ensuring students feel they belong at Cochise College and can thrive.
Dusten Crichton
Dusten Crichton, Director of the Thompson Learning Community at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, leads initiatives that strengthen belonging, retention, and success for first-year students. His work is rooted in collaboration, partnering closely with colleagues, faculty, and staff whose creativity and commitment ensure that large-scale student success efforts become reality. His collaborative efforts have been central to building UNO’s First-Year Initiative, expanding peer mentoring, embedding new seminars across every college, and modernizing advising structures to better serve students. Together, they are designing a first-year experience that is more equitable, coordinated, and transformative, with a special focus on At-Promise students. Crichton’s leadership reflects both his personal dedication and the collective strength of the teams who share in this mission.
Gregory David
Gregory David, M.Ed. serves as the Assistant Director for Transition Programs in the Center for New Student & Family Programs at the University of Florida. His work centers on fostering belonging, supporting students in navigating imposter phenomenon, and creating welcoming environments where all voices are valued. Guided by the belief in “being the change,” Greg is committed to advocacy, empathy, and intentional listening in every interaction. He brings a wide range of experience across higher education, having also worked in Residential Life and Education, Student Leadership and Experience, Greek Life, and Career Services. Through each role, Greg has remained dedicated to helping students and families feel supported, connected, and empowered throughout their educational journey.
Theresa DeLos Santos
Theresa De Los Santos serves as Director of the Orange Coast College MESA Program, oversees the Science and Engineering Tutoring Center, and manages the STEM Accelerator.
A passionate advocate for first-generation and underrepresented STEM students, Theresa leads with compassion and vision, creating programs that combine academic counseling, tutoring, mentorship, and community-building. She believes in fostering spaces where students not only succeed academically but also feel a true sense of belonging from their very first semester. Beyond her professional role, Theresa is a proud mother of three, an avid reader, and a lifelong learner who finds joy in both personal and professional growth. She is continually inspired by the resilience, enthusiasm, and brilliance of the students she serves.
Anna Eichner
Anna Eichner, M.A., is the Director of Academic Services and Student Success at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her early roles as career and academic advisor brought her face-to-face with the needs of underserved first year college students. In her current position as a director at Cedar Crest, she has devoted her career to re-imagining college processes to make higher education accessible to all. Anna has led college-wide change in the advising and onboarding of new students, leading to a reduction in summer melt and increased enrollment. When not in a multitude of meetings, she can be found hyping up her incredible staff for being the ones who make everything possible.
Nicole Juersivich
Dr. Nicole Juersivich is the Associate Dean of Students for Academic Thriving at Nazareth University, where she leads academic advising, first-year experience programs, and student success initiatives. She directs the Academic and College Success (ACS) program and fosters a student-centered culture that integrates academic support, engagement, and retention strategies. Previously, she served as First-Year Experience Coordinator, Director of Academic Assessment, and Professor of Mathematics, bringing over two decades of experience as an educator, researcher, and administrator. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Virginia, her M.S. in Mathematics from Virginia Tech, and her B.S. in Mathematics from Salisbury University. She is passionate about helping students discover their strengths, build meaningful connections, persist through challenges, and grow into their fullest potential and authentic selves.
Bennie Moses-Mesubed
Bennie Moses-Mesubed is the Associate Vice President for Strategic Equity Initiatives and Title III BRIDGES Director at Eastern Oregon University. She supports institution-wide initiatives in advising redesign, first-year experience transformation, experiential learning, co-requisite math & writing equity-centered support to improve persistence. She also oversees the MCC, International & Native American programs, Study Abroad, and Benefits Navigator. At EOU, she initiated the establishment of the Multicultural Center, the Celebrate, Educate, & Appreciate Diversity conference, the Mountie Allies program, and Kickstart Orientation, now Summer Bridge, which was recognized as a model for student success by the National Humanities Alliance. Her scholarship extends with presentations at NADOHE, the 44th annual FYE Conference, and the Conference on Community Writing. She also co-authored legislation expanding in-state tuition for COFA, and special immigrant visa holders. She is a doctoral candidate at Oregon State University, where her research examines how cultural mismatch and systemic barriers impact persistence among COFA, first-generation, and rural students.
Sonia Muñoz-Duran
Sonia Muñoz-Duran is a higher education professional with over 15 years of experience in academic advising, program coordination, and student support services. At California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), she has played a key role in mentoring first-generation students and developing effective retention strategies, particularly through her leadership of the GenExcel Mentoring Program. Sonia’s expertise also includes academic recovery and career development, with a strong track record of creating and scaling student success initiatives. Her academic background in criminal justice, highlighted by a Master of Science degree from CSULB, shapes her holistic and equity-minded approach to student support. Throughout her career, Sonia has served as a lecturer, academic advisor, and coordinator for programs like Supplemental Instruction, impacting hundreds of students each year. She is a dedicated advocate for inclusive, student-centered learning environments and is actively involved in campus-wide initiatives and committees supporting first-generation students.
Chicquetta President Reed
Chicquetta President Reed serves as the Director of First and Second Year Experience at Claflin University, where she provides strategic leadership in student engagement, retention, and transition initiatives. In this role, she develops and oversees programs that guide students through the critical first year of college while also addressing the unique challenges of the sophomore year; supporting academic persistence, identity development, and career exploration. She also serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Business and advises the freshman class, sophomore class, and the university’s NAACP chapter.
Mrs. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Winston-Salem State University and an MBA from Charleston Southern University. She is also a published author, motivational speaker, and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. At the core of her work and success is her love for family, whose support and values continue to shape her leadership and passion for empowering students.
Sarah Todd
Sarah Todd serves as the Director of Career Development and the Director of First Year Advising at Eastern University. As a career educator and academic advisor, she guides students as they take next steps towards their future goals and career readiness. In addition to leading the Center for Career Development, she writes FYE curriculum, trains and supports FYE instructors and TAs, and through coaching and advising, advocates for students’ academic and career success. In her role as an adjunct, she teaches First Year Seminar (INST 150) as well as Young Adult Literature for the English department. Her engagement with first-years inside and outside the classroom inspired her solo article publication, “Becoming the Mentors We Needed: Formative First-Year Practices and Motivating Factors of Peer Mentorship in College” (2023). A lifelong Philadelphia-area resident, she loves spending time with her rescue dog, drinking Wawa iced coffee, and reading YA literature.
Special thanks to the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition for hosting the 2026 First-Year Experience® Conference and providing a space for these exceptional advocates to gather with us.
