The Ron Coley Scholarship is available to an individual from a nonmember institution to offset the cost of attendance at the NCCI Annual Conference.
The award advances the professional development of attendees and provides networking opportunities with colleagues in higher education.
How does the Ron Coley Scholarship benefit recipients?
- Provides funding to attend the in-person NCCI Annual Conference by covering the cost of the standard registration fee, two nights at the conference hotel, and up to $600 in travel expenses.
- Identifies individuals throughout higher education who would benefit from the networking, professional development, and insights gained through attendance at the conference.
- Gives the option to present a poster session or other engagement opportunity at the conference.
- Facilitates an introduction to NCCI that may result in membership from the individual’s institution.
2026 Scholarship Recipient: Kandy Liu, California State University, San Bernardino
Kandy Liu serves as the Executive Director of Audit & Advisory Services at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), where she leads institutional efforts focused on audit, compliance, risk management, and organizational effectiveness. With a background in public administration and a passion for systems thinking, she is committed to advancing innovative, people centered solutions that strengthen higher education operations and service delivery.
In addition to overseeing audit and advisory functions, Kandy founded and leads the university’s Process Improvement & Lean Operations Team (PILOT), a campuswide initiative designed to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement through Lean Six Sigma principles, cross divisional collaboration, and employee development.
Under her leadership, PILOT has engaged hundreds of faculty and staff in process improvement training and operational excellence initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening internal controls, and improving the student and employee experience. Her work focuses on transforming higher education operations from reactive compliance models to proactive, innovation driven environments that empower employees to identify opportunities for improvement and lead meaningful change.
As the 2026 Ron Coley Scholarship recipient, Kandy will attend the NCCI Annual Conference to further strengthen her expertise in higher education audit, compliance, and continuous improvement practices, while collaborating and exchanging ideas with practitioners across the country who are helping shape the future of higher education.
The recipient of the Ron Coley Scholarship is an individual who:
- Has played a key role in advancing change and innovation in higher education in academic and/or administrative areas.
- Has not previously attended an NCCI Annual Conference.
- Is currently employed in a higher education institution that is not a member of NCCI.
An email will be sent to confirm the submission was received. A committee, composed of NCCI volunteers, will review materials to make a selection. One recipient will be chosen and notified in May. One scholarship for the standard registration fee will be awarded to the recipient, who will be recognized at the Annual Conference and in subsequent publications.