2025 Honorees: Melanie Payne

Melanie has been working in orientation, transition, and retention since November of 1996 – and I joined NODA right away. She has NODA leadership experience with Regional and Annual conference planning committees, Board of Directors, Editor of the Orientation Planning Manual (as well as a Chapter author). Her greatest NODA accomplishments were

serving as the Coordinator of the NODA Internship connecting our future professionals with new and growth inducing experiences. Melanie was the chair of the Strategize Planning Committee back in 2002 leading to the creation of an Association Office and staff, and the honor of serving a term as NODA President will forever be a significant life event for her.

Please help Melanie with her fundraising goal of $4,000 by NODAC 2025.

Circle of Excellence is a recognition program established by the NODA Excellence Fund in 2018. The program has been modified since its development to recognize individuals who have served as professionals & scholars in the fields of Orientation, Transition, and Retention and have dedicated years of service to the Association.

Each year, Association members will have the opportunity to nominate a colleague to serve as our Circle of Excellence nominee. Nominees will be selected by the NODA Fundraising Committee. The Circle of Excellence nominees will be announced at the NODA Annual Conference & will serve as ambassadors for the Circle of Excellence fundraising efforts for the Association for one year. Individuals will set their own fundraising amount with an attainable goal to strive to raise as much money as possible. The amount raised and individual will be recognized at the Annual Conference to close out their term.

2024-25 Circle of Excellence