Cherie Pierce Lynch, Assistant Professor of Experiential Learning, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Faculty Champion Award from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA).
The Faculty Champion Award recognizes educators who go above and beyond to push the field forward through innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to student success. CEIA is a leading voice in work-integrated learning, advancing best practices in internships, co-ops, and other hands-on experiences through a global network of educators, employers, and researchers.
At Endicott, Lynch teaches within the School of Social Sciences, Communication, & Humanities, where she leads a multi-year internship curriculum that is central to the College’s Experiential Edge. Her work focuses on building high-impact, equity-informed curriculum design that connects assessment and technology, ensuring students gain meaningful, real-world experience that prepares them for career success.
“Endicott has always given me the freedom to think differently about how students learn through experience, to ask harder questions and stay genuinely curious about what’s possible. That kind of institutional trust makes this recognition especially meaningful,” said Lynch.
She added: “I’m proud to represent the field alongside the exceptional colleagues in CEIA who support professional development through inquiry in this niche field and a shared commitment to student success and to my Endicott colleagues, whose collaboration and partnership over the years have made so much of this work possible.”
With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, Lynch also serves as Vice President for Research & Surveys with CEIA, where her work helps shape national standards and strengthens the connection between research and practice across the field.
Her scholarly work and research explore competency-based assessment, the integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and early career readiness. She has presented nationally and internationally on experiential learning and continues to contribute to professional development through CEIA Academy programs.
Lynch will receive the award at the CEIA Conference, held April 12–14, 2026, in Alexandria, Va.