Employee of the Month - March 2026
Loren Edwards, Assistant Director, Academic Support
Bickerstaff Academic Center for Student-Athlete Services
Awarded Monday, March 16 at Friendship Walk. Loren was joined by President Andrew Jones, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies Kerry Johnson, Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran, numerous campus colleagues from Academic Affairs and Athletics, and her sister.
Loren is an essential part of the student-athlete experience at the Beach. Since joining the Bickerstaff Academic Center for Student-Athlete Services (BAC) in 2019 as Assistant Director of Academic Support Programs, she has been committed to supporting student-athletes in every phase of their journey. For Loren, working in athletics, is truly “a dream come true.”
Loren oversees tutoring and academic mentoring services in the BAC, co-leads the department’s first-year success courses, and works closely with both student-athletes and peer staff as they balance the demands of academics and athletics.
Each day, Loren brings care, consistency, and follow-through that extend far beyond her job description. As Tiffany Edlin, Senior Associate Athletic Director, shared, “It’s hard to fully capture the impact she makes on our campus…Loren supports all 325 of our student-athletes, and she still finds a way to make every one of them feel seen.”
She holds them accountable while remaining one of their strongest encouragers — “uplifting me even when I’m struggling,” as one student noted. Students consistently describe her as a trusted and approachable presence — a “safe person” whose door is always open. One student shared, “Any time I go in with a problem, I don’t think there’s ever been a time I’ve walked out without it being solved.” Another added, “The support system from Loren is amazing. She makes everything easier.”
At the heart of Loren’s work is connection. As one student perfectly summarized, “She does a great job connecting with athletes and making them feel welcome.” Through her warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to student success, Loren truly embodies the spirit of The Beach and makes the campus community stronger every day.
Caitlin Broadwell, Athletics Case Manager, described Loren as someone who “shows up each day with a positive attitude and a genuine commitment to making others feel supported and valued… She advocates for fairness, equity, and recognition, often using her voice to ensure others feel heard and appreciated.”
Loren’s dedication does not end at 5 p.m. After long days, she can often be found in the stands cheering on student-athletes — “not because she has to, but because she wants the students to know she’s there for them.”
With more than 20 years in academic advising and student success, Loren has dedicated her career to building programs that strengthen retention, elevate achievement, and empower students to compete, and succeed, at the highest level.
A proud LBSU alumna, Loren earned her degree in Kinesiology – Exercise Science before completing a master’s in Academic Advising at Kansas State. Raised in San Diego by a schoolteacher and a high school baseball coach, education and sport have always been intertwined in her life. Loren is proud to serve alongside an incredible BAC team, and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her in the stands cheering on the Beach or her beloved San Diego teams.