November 7, 2025
For Immediate Release
National Award Winners Announced
In service to NODA’s mission of creating an inclusive community, which enhances and elevates orientation, transition, and retention practices in higher education, the association is pleased to announce the NODA Award winners for 2025. The annual awards process helps elevate and highlight the outstanding work of our members. These winners were selected from over 75 different applications and nominations. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees. Annual award winners were announced at the NODA Annual Conference in San Francisco on October 24, 2025.
NODA is an international association providing scholarship and professional development for the areas of orientation, transition, and retention.
NODA Presidential Recognition Award
The Presidential Recognition Award is given annually at the discretion of the Association Presidents to an individual or organization to honor outstanding commitment and support to the advancement of the mission of the Association.
Thomas André-Alves de Lima, the Assistant Director of Orientation at Northeastern University, receives 2025 NODA Presidential Recognition Award
Outstanding Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional Award
The Outstanding Professional Award recognizes outstanding contributions of a professional to the field of orientation, transition, and retention. Contributions should include development or enhancement of a model orientation, transition, or retention program that meets the varied needs of students; leadership within NODA; and/or other significant contributions to the field. Recipients must have five or more years of professional experience in higher education.
The 2025 Outstanding Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional is Katie Motycki, Director, Student Orientation and Transition Programs at Penn State.
Outstanding New Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional Award
The Outstanding New Professional Award recognizes outstanding contributions of a NODA professional to the field of orientation, transition, and retention. Contributions should include demonstrated commitment to and promise of becoming a leader in the field of orientation, transition, and retention, innovative contributions to the individual’s institution, active participation in NODA, and/or other significant contributions to the field. Recipients must have less than five years professional experience in higher education.
The 2025 Outstanding New Orientation, Transition, And Retention Professional is Olivia Elliot, Program Manager at Texas AM.
Outstanding Student Leadership Award
The Outstanding Student Leadership Award is designed to give special recognition to students for their creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and outstanding abilities, which are the backbone of any successful campus programs. This award will recognize one undergraduate student leader and one graduate student leader.
Undergraduate Student
The 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader is Raife Levy, WOW Board Chair at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Graduate Student
The 2025 Outstanding Graduate Student Leader is Stephanie Heffron, Graduate Assistant at Towson University.
Outstanding NODA Intern Award
The Outstanding NODA Intern Award recognizes one intern who demonstrated commitment to learning, professional development, and service through the successful completion of a NODA internship.
The 2025 Outstanding NODA Intern is Nico Tamoosh, Graduate Assistant for the Pride Center at The University of Georgia and was a NODA Orientation Intern at George Washington University.
Norman K. Russell Scholarship
The Norman K. Russell Scholarship is awarded to recognize and assist graduate or doctoral students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to orientation, retention and transition, who will contribute to the enhancement of the orientation field, and who is currently enrolled as a graduate student in orientation-related fields. Up to three $1,000 scholarships (one of which may be awarded to a doctoral student) will be announced at the annual conference. Scholarships are sent through each recipient’s financial aid office for distribution of funds.
The 2025 Norman K. Russel Scholarship is awarded to Sutton Stacey, Assistant Director of New Student Programs at University of Pittsburgh.
Outstanding Mentor
This award is designed to give special recognition to those professionals who provide outstanding mentorship and guidance to graduate students who aid in orientation and transition programs within our Association and on your campuses.
The 2025 Outstanding Mentor award is Gail DeShields, Assistant Director of New Student and Family Programs at Towson University.
Outstanding Research
This award is intended to recognize members who have conducted outstanding research that advances the field of orientation, transition, and retention in higher education.
The 2025 Outstanding Mentor award is Kayla Hubbard, Director, Admissions Engagement & New Student Orientation at The University of Memphis.
Innovative Program Award
The Innovative Program Award recognizes a program or unique approach to a challenging situation or a specific campus need. This award seeks to recognize innovative and effective approaches in three categories with awards for Innovation in Orientation, Innovation in Transition, and Innovation in Retention. It is the opportunity to highlight good administrative practices that meet the changing needs of an institution and its students. These innovative programs help generate new knowledge and best practices within the field of orientation, transition, and retention.
Orientation Program
The 2025 Innovation in Orientation Programs Award is presented to Carnegie Mellon University for their program “Orientation Quest”.
Transition Program
The 2025 Innovation in Transition Programs Award is presented to University of California, Berkeley for their program “Transfer Student Symposium”.
Retention Program
The 2025 Innovation in Retention Programs Award is presented to the Florida State University for their program “Noles Everywhere”.
To learn more about NODA membership and programs, visit www.nodaweb.org or reach out to noda@umn.edu.
—
For questions or comment, please contact Joyce Holl, NODA Executive Director, holl@umn.edu.