ADULT & HIGHER EDUCATION ALUMNI AWARDS
ABOUT THE AWARDS Program
AHE programs invite nominations for three alumni awards. Nominations are accepted between March 1 and April 1. Award recipients are honored at the Charles E. Carpenter Lecture.
Questions: [email protected]
2026 Award winners
Dissertation Award: Carlie McCarthy
Dr. Carlie McCarthy serves as Vice President of Student Services at Feather River College in Northern California, a role she has held for nearly a decade. Her professional experience spans a range of student-centered roles, including Director of Student Equity and Matriculation, Academic Advisor, College Recruiter, and Associate Faculty. At the state level, she has contributed to advancing the field through service on the Executive Board for Chief Student Services Officers and the Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence organized through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.
A three-time alumna of Oregon State University, Dr. McCarthy earned her bachelor’s degree in 2006 and master’s degree in 2012, and she also holds an associate degree from Linn-Benton Community College.
Dr. McCarthy’s doctoral research, “Meeting the Diverse and Evolving Needs of Students Through Campus Facilities and Student Spaces,” examines how institutional planning and budgeting processes can better align with the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Grounded in a local problem of practice, her work offers actionable insights to support more equitable, student-centered campus environments.
A first-generation college graduate from an economically disadvantaged background and rural community, Dr. McCarthy is passionate about improving access, belonging, and success for under-resourced and underrepresented students.
Emerging Leader Alumni Award: Jeff Sherman-Duncan
Jeff Sherman-Duncan, Ph.D., is the Associate Vice Provost for Partnerships in the Division of Extension and Engagement at Oregon State University and a proud graduate of OSU’s Adult and Higher Education program. His career reflects a commitment to expanding access to higher education and strengthening pathways for students who have been historically underserved, particularly those in rural communities.
In his current role, Dr. Sherman-Duncan leads partnership strategy across the state, working at the intersection of community colleges, K–12 systems, and university engagement. He supports and advances initiatives such as Open Campus and Juntos, which focus on increasing college access, persistence, and success for communities, students, and families across Oregon.
His doctoral research explored the experiences of rural Latina/o/x transfer students at a predominantly white institution, using the frameworks of transfer receptive culture and community cultural wealth. That work continues to shape his leadership approach, which emphasizes equity, relationship-building, and community-informed practice.
Dr. Sherman-Duncan remains deeply connected to the values of the AHE program and is committed to advancing inclusive and responsive systems of higher education that meet learners where they are and support them in reaching their goals.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Lisa L. Templeton
Lisa L. Templeton serves as the Vice Provost of Oregon State University’s Division of Educational Ventures, where she leads university-wide efforts to expand OSU’s national and global impact through innovative approaches to the delivery of education. Working in partnership with colleges across campus, the division offers in-demand academic programs and alternative credentials through online, on-site, and emerging learning technologies.
Under Lisa’s leadership since 2008, Oregon State Ecampus has become a national leader in online education. For 12 consecutive years, OSU has been ranked in the top 10 of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs—an achievement unmatched by any other institution. Ecampus now serves nearly 16,000 learners across more than 125 online degrees and programs.
A nationally recognized leader in online and continuing education, Lisa is the past President for the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). She was recently recognized as an Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Fellow for “outstanding work within digital learning, extraordinary contributions to the field, distinguished service to OLC, and extraordinary leadership.” Her scholarship includes chapters in several books, most recently The Chief Online Learning Officer’s Guidebook.
Lisa received her bachelor's degree from the Ohio State University, an Ed.M. in Adult Education from Oregon State University, and a certificate from the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Education from Penn State University.
AHE Dissertation Award:
This award recognizes an alumna/us who completed an exemplary dissertation in the past 12 months. Recipient’s original research reflects the mission and values of AHE programs including a commitment to equity and inclusion. Award criteria include: (1) methodological rigor; (2) originality and significant contribution to the field and/or professional practice; (3) findings contribute to understanding or mitigation of inequalities in higher education.
Call for Nominations:
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Nominees must have completed an Ed.D. or Ph.D. and graduated from the Adult and Higher Education (AHE) programs within the past 12 months.
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Nominators should submit the following information:
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Names and contact information of both nominating and nominated persons
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Statement of nomination (no more than 500 words) that evaluates the dissertation’s methodological rigor, originality and contributions of the research, and extent to which findings contribute to understanding or mitigation of inequalities in higher education
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AHE dissertation committee members are encouraged to submit nominations for this award.
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All nomination materials must be submitted online by April 1st each year.
AHE Emerging Leader Alumni Award:
This award recognizes a recent graduate who is an emerging leader and who has implemented
leadership practices focused toward making their institution/campus more inclusive and
equitable. Recipients demonstrate the potential for making broader contributions focused on
equity and inclusion moving forward in their career. Awardees reflect the values of AHE and
serve as a role model for students and alumni.
Call for Nominations:
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Nominees must have graduated from the Adult and Higher Education (AHE) programs within the last 7 years.
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Nominators should submit the following information:
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Names and contact information of both nominating and nominated persons
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Statement of nomination that is 500 words or less that describe specific effort the individual has made to their institution/campus to be more inclusive and equitable and how/why the emerging leader is expected to make broader contributions focused on equity and inclusion moving forward in their career.
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Nominee’s resume or CV
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AHE advisory board members, alumni, and current students are encouraged to submit nominations for this award.
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All nomination materials must be submitted online by April 1st each year.
AHE Distinguished Alumni Award
This award recognizes a prominent alumna/us of the Adult and Higher Education (AHE) or former Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) who has made distinct and transformative contributions to the field of higher education or related field at the organizational, regional or national level. The recipient of this award will have made a demonstrative impact to the field of higher education or a related field through leadership, research, policy, and/or service. Awardees reflect the values of AHE and serve as a role model for students and alumni.
Call for Nominations:
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Nominees must have graduated from the Adult and Higher Education (AHE) or former Community College Leadership Program (CCLP)
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Nominators should submit the following information:
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Names and contact information of both nominating and nominated persons
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Statement of nomination that is 500 words or less that details specific contributions the individual has made to higher education or a related field through leadership, research, policy, and/or service.
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Nominee’s resume or CV
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AHE advisory board members and alumni are encouraged to submit nominations for this award.
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All nomination materials must be submitted online by April 1st each year.