More than 20 volunteers were recognized for exemplary work in assuring quality higher education through accreditation on March 21 during the Higher Learning 2026 annual conference. 

Awards were made in 10 categories, with winners identified based on nominations submitted by fellow peer reviewers and HLC staff members. 

“I can’t say enough about the commitment that peer reviewers make to help colleges and universities on their path of continuous improvement,” said HLC President Barbara Gellman-Danley.  

Peer review is a cornerstone of the accreditation process. HLC’s approximately 1,450 peer reviewers conduct hundreds of evaluations each year to determine whether colleges and universities meet HLC’s quality standards and requirements.  

“We rely on peer reviewers’ work and thank them for all they do every day,” Gellman-Danley said.  

Above, left to right: Outstanding Service award winners Lisa Perez-Miller and Susan Murphy, and Essential Leader award winner Ben Young

Those recognized for Outstanding Service are:   

• Lisa Perez-Miller, vice president emeritus of students and enrollment management, Pratt Community College, Pratt, Kansas  
• Rex Ramsier, retired physics professor, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio  
• Susan Murphy, retired vice president for academic affairs, Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque, New Mexico  

This year’s leadership prize, the Essential Leader award, went to:  

• Ben Young, vice president emeritus, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana  
• Cari Keller, vice president for academic affairs, Northeastern State University, Talequah, Oklahoma  

Additional awards went to:  

• “Magnificent managers” who lead peer review teams or panels:   
  • Fredric Blake Faulkner, assistant vice president for online learning and professional education, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio  
  • Gayle Kearns-Buie, professor emeritus, University of Central Oklahoma, Jenks, Oklahoma   
• “Rookies of the year” who served on their first reviews in the past year:  
  • Brian Maj, senior program administrator, DePaul University, Chicago  
  • Cathleen Hernandez, associate vice chancellor and chief of staff, Maricopa Community Colleges-Gateway Community College, Phoenix, Arizona  
  • Lan Dong, faculty member, University of Illinois Springfield  
• Outstanding mentors who provide guidance and support for their fellow reviewers:   
  • Antwoine Haywood, associate dean, student affairs, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois  
  • Andrew Scott, associate professor of finance, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse  
  • Caryn Chayden, retired associate provost and professor, DePaul University, Chicago  
• Outstanding collaborators who step up when it counts, often in “clutch” situations:   
  • John Mago, professor, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, East Bethel, Minnesota;   
  • Richard Redner, math professor, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma;   
• “Constant contributors” celebrated for consistency and effectiveness in doing reviews:   
  • Dale Brougher, professor emeritus, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio;   
  • David Jones, interim president, Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, Minnesota  
• A virtuoso in HLC’s virtual environments, where collaboration happens across screens rather than around tables:   
  • William Finley, adjunct instructor, Southeast New Mexico College, Carlsbad, New Mexico   
• A champion who exemplifies principled judgment, intellectual flexibility and professional integrity throughout the accreditation process:   
  • EunKyung “EK” Jeong, professor, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma  
• “Wordsmiths” who achieve exceptional clarity, precision and impact in their written reports:   
  • Marie Baehr, special assistant to the president at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa  
  • Michael Dorner, vice president of finance, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota   

HLC also honored peer reviewers with 10 to 50 years of service. The longest serving include:   

• 50 years: Susan Rydell, professor emerita, Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota  
• 40 years: Sandra Gautt, professor emerita, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas  
• 35 years: Lloyd Hammonds, vice chair, district governing board, Coconino County Community College, Flagstaff, Arizona  
• 30 years: Rose Kutlenios, retired adjunct faculty for nursing, West Liberty University, West Liberty, West Virginia  
• 25 years: Julie Furst-Bowe, provost, Georgian Court University, Lakewood, New Jersey    

Find more information about HLC’s Peer Corps.