Higher Learning Commission

Each year, HLC celebrates peer reviewers and the important work that they do at a luncheon during the Peer Review Updates and Training program at the HLC Annual Conference.  

Award winners are chosen for 14 different categories in which a member of the Peer Corps has gone above and beyond in an aspect of the peer review process. Two awards highlight reviewers that have made especially significant contributions to HLC and the Peer Corps: 

The Outstanding Service Award, which exemplifies a reviewer who has displayed extraordinary service to HLC, was presented to team chair Kevin Cole. Cole was described as a role model dedicated to mentoring reviewers and has facilitated team chair training multiple times. 

Cal Easterling and Carol Perry were awarded Essential Leaders, which is for a reviewer that has contributed significantly to the development of a program, training initiative, new initiative, or process function. Easterling served as the panel lead for the first Pell-eligible prison education program change panel, and Perry, a new panel lead, has completed excellent change panel reports. 

Other awards and winners include: 

Best Written Report: Jan Murphy and Barbara Andereck 

Eagle Eye: Kristi Archuleta 

Jack of All Trades: Jill Carlson 

Lifesaver: David Calhoon and Monica Miklo 

Magnificent Manager: Brian Ernsting and Janna Oakes 

Mighty Mentor: Carie Braun, Devarajan (Dev) Venugopalan and Janet Fontenot 

Road Warrior: Terese Burch and Rebecca Stankowski 

Rookie of the Year:  Ramona Hall and Tom Rellinger

Short Notice Hero: Steven Triezenberg 

Virtual Virtuoso:  Tamara Dawson 

Word Wizard: David Lowry 

HLC also congratulated peer reviewers for service milestones. Those recognized include:   

35 Years: Roberta Teahen 

30 Years: Trudy Bers, Gar Kellom, Karen Kirkendall, Benjamin Young 

25 Years: Patricia Brewer, Dale Brougher, J. Richard Ellis, Joye Norris, Judeen Schulte, Randall Stiles, Michael Williford 

HLC thanks all peer reviewers for their service and ongoing commitment to HLC.  

Interested in applying to become a peer reviewer? The application will open in fall 2024. Stay tuned to the Leaflet for more information and learn more about who we’re looking for.