A&M-Commerce Orientation Leaders Receive Awards at Regional Conference in Dallas

OTeam at NODA

The Office of First-Year & Transition Programs at Texas A&M University-Commerce was fortunate to send over 34 orientation leaders to the National Orientation Director's Association (NODA) regional conference in Dallas on March 2, 2017. The mission of the National Orientation Director's Association is to provide educational leadership and professional development in the fields of college student orientation, transition and retention.

The following orientation leaders were among award recipients from the conference:

  • Monique Burkley and Seth Harred, for completing the Returning Orientation Leader Institute Program
  • Lorena Otero and Khie Johnson, for Best Overall Case Study Presentation within their divisions
  • Shelby Patterson and K’Antheny Jones, for Best Overall Returner Case Study
  • Yaa-Kiah Akinsipe, for Best Overall First-Time Case Study & Best Overall Case Study Presentation within her division

Having served on NODA’s planning committee as the Chairman for Marketing & Publications, Christopher Hensley, coordinator for the Office of First-Year & Transition Programs said, “NODA has helped me become the professional I am today. I was lucky enough to attend NODA for three years as an undergraduate which led me to pursue a career in higher education. I am proud to have served on the regional conference committee for the past five years, and I enjoy giving back to the association that helps develop our current student leaders.”

The Executive Orientation Leader, Albeni Alston said, “As a freshman orientation leader, hearing people talk about NODA was like going to Mecca. Everyone has to go once, and once you go, it changes your life forever. For the past three years I have networked, gained useful information to bring back to my campus, and created lasting bonds and friendships with my Commerce Lions. Everyone at NODA shares one common goal, to leave the best impact on our incoming students. NODA has not only been an instrumental tool in my growth as an Orientation Leader but has also been a factor in my decision to pursue higher education.”

Student orientation is an important and mandatory step in becoming a part of the A&M-Commerce family, so the orientation leaders at the university customize this process to meet the needs of various types of students on campus.