NODA External Reviews provide institutions with expert consulting and evaluation of orientation, transition, and retention programs, delivering practical recommendations grounded in best practices and decades of research and field experience.
Why Institutions Request External Reviews
Orientation and transition programs play a critical role in shaping the student experience, yet many institutions have limited opportunities to step back and evaluate how these programs evolve over time.
An external review provides institutions with a structured, objective perspective on how their programs align with current and emerging best practices and institutional goals.
Institutions often request NODA External Reviews when they are:
- Preparing for leadership transitions within orientation or student success teams
- Seeking to strengthen retention initiatives and student engagement strategies
- Evaluating the effectiveness of orientation or transition programs
- Aligning programs more closely with institutional strategic priorities
- Looking for an informed perspective on emerging practices within OTR programs
NODA’s consultants are active higher education professionals who bring deep experience in orientation, transition, and retention work across a variety of institutional contexts.
How the Review works
NODA’s External Review process is designed to provide institutions with meaningful insight while respecting the work already being done by orientation, transition, and student success teams.
Each review is tailored to the institution’s goals, structure, and student population.ionals who bring deep experience in orientation, transition, and retention work across a variety of institutional contexts.
Step 1:
Initial Consult & Scope
Step 2:
Pre-Review Discovery
Step 3:
Stakeholder Conversations
Step 4:
Observation & Experience Review
Step 5:
Benchmarking & Recommendations
Step 6:
Final Report &
Stakeholder Debrief
What Institutions Receive
Institutions that participate in a NODA External Review receive more than a report. They receive a practical framework for strengthening their orientation, transition, and retention programs and initiatives.
NODA offers both virtual and on-site External Review options, allowing institutions to select the format that best fits their goals, timeline, and resources. Virtual reviews are conducted by one consultant, while on-site reviews are conducted by two consultants, allowing for expanded observation and broader engagement with campus stakeholders.
Deliverables typically include:
- A comprehensive evaluation of orientation, transition, and retention programs and initiatives
- Insights gathered from stakeholder conversations and program observations
- Benchmarking against industry standards for orientation, transition, and retention practices
- A written report outlining key findings, opportunities, and recommendations
- A final consultation session to review insights and discuss potential next steps
Both review formats are designed to provide institutions with actionable insight and a clear understanding of how their programs align with current practices in supporting student transition and success. If your institution is evaluating its orientation, transition, or retention initiatives, a NODA External Review can provide the insight needed to move forward with confidence. Connect with our team to discuss your institution’s goals and explore how an external review may support your work.
Email noda@umn.edu if you have any questions.
Fee Structure
| Review Type | Membership Type | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| On-Site | Institutions with Institutional Membership | $8,000 |
| On-Site | Institutions with an Individual Professional Membership | $10,000 |
| On-Site | Non-Member Institutions | $12,000 |
| Virtual | Institutions with Institutional Membership | $5,000 |
| Virtual | Institutions with an Individual Professional Membership | $6,000 |
| Virtual | Non-Member Institutions | $7,500 |
Consultant Travel
In addition, institutions will be responsible for reimbursement to NODA for consultant travel expenses and per diem. Estimates will be provided during the contracting process. Reimbursement rates are for actual costs or using federal reimbursement rates defined by the US General Services Administration.
Meet The Consultants
Beth has provided leadership and administration in higher education for almost 30 years and has consulted with many campuses on their orientation, transition, retention and overall student success efforts. Her most recent role, Associate Vice Provost for Retention and Transition Programs at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, she was responsible for leading the U’s retention strategy including many retention outreach efforts, co-leading the CRM governance and influencing its priorities and functions both locally and for system campuses, as well as co-leading international fee grant process to support international student success. She also oversaw and supported those who manage the processes for Orientation, Welcome Week, Transfer initiatives and other transition and first-year programs. Her legacy is around establishing strong relationships, creating a common campus culture for assessment and elevating the retention strategy. Over the years, Beth has taught various FYE courses. Beth is currently serving as the Administrative and Operations Director at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain in the Office of Academic and Clinical Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Administrative and Operations Director at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
(Office of Academic and Clinical Affairs)
University of Minnesota
Kathryn Kay Coquemont, Ph.D., began her career as a change management consultant for Accenture before transitioning into higher education. She currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Macalester College and as adjunct faculty in the Leadership in Student Affairs graduate program at the University of St. Thomas.
Dr. Coquemont previously served as the Director of New Student & Family Programs, Director of Orientation & Leadership Development, and Director of New Student Orientation across diverse institutions like Georgetown University, the University of Utah, and the University of Georgia. She has also served as an Associate Vice President for Student Success at Salt Lake Community College and has extensive experience with orientation, extended orientation, first-year and sophomore-year experience, parent and family programs, student success initiatives, academic advising, serving specialized populations, for-credit leadership courses, and leadership development.
Dr. Coquemont has previously served on the Board of Directors for both NASPA and NODA, and she has won numerous awards, including the NODA Presidential Recognition Award, the NASPA Doris Michiko Ching Shattering the Glass Ceiling Award, and the NASPA region IV-E Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Macalester College
Adjunct Faculty in Leadership in Student Affairs – Graduate Program
University of St. Thomas
Marcus R. Langford is a senior higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing student success, engagement, and belonging. He currently serves as Associate Vice Provost for the Center for Learner Diversity and Inclusion at Oregon Health & Science University. His previous roles across multiple institution types include Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Director of Engagement, Inclusion, and Multicultural Programs, Director of New Student Programs, and Coordinator of Student Orientation and Retention Programs.
Dr. Langford’s professional foundation is rooted in orientation, transition, and retention work. He has led and coordinated comprehensive new student programs at institutions including Rhodes College, Oregon State University, and the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. Across these roles, he has designed single and multi-day orientation experiences, designed and implemented welcome weeks, developed peer leader training programs, and taught first-year transition courses. Dr. Langford has a strong understanding of and experience with parent and family programs, leadership development, student success initiatives, academic intervention, and initiatives for special populations. Dr. Langford consistently articulates orientation and transition programming as a critical entry point for student success and belonging.
An active member of NODA since 2001, Dr. Langford has contributed to the field through association leadership including the Board of Directors, national conference presentations, and service as faculty for the Orientation Professionals Institute. His work reflects a deep commitment to strengthening orientation practice and supporting institutions in creating meaningful, student-centered transition experiences.
Associate Vice Provost for the Center for Learner Diversity and Inclusion
Oregon Health & Science University
Andrene has worked in orientation, transition, and retention for nearly 30 years, including serving as Director of New Student and Family Programs at San José State University (SJSU) in the California State University system. Prior to her time at SJSU, she was the director for new student and transition programs at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly).
Andrene has extensive experience with campus life programming, such as clubs and organizations, student government, student leadership development, in addition to OTR. She has been a lecturer for graduate students in higher education, teaching courses in leadership development and assessment and research. Andrene also worked with the family Carson Starkey, to establish Aware, Awake, Alive, a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to alcohol poisoning prevention. Today, the organization has broadened their influence and has built upon their successful peer to peer education and interventional model and has since established a new organization: WITH US – The Center for Bystander Intervention. She continues to be an active member and leader in NODA and has served the association in many leadership roles, including association president, as faculty for the Orientation Professionals Institute and as regional and annual conference host.
Andrene K. Kaiwi-Conner is a first-generation college graduate with a non-traditional academic path working full-time while earning her Bachelor of Science and master’s in education degrees, both from the CSU (Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo). She loves spending time with family and friends, connecting with her Hawaiian culture through dancing hula and traveling with her partner, Brian.
Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Dr. Shea Kidd Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Research from the University of Memphis where her scholarship focused on racial identity development in African American college students.
As vice president, Shea leads the Division of Campus Life at Wake Forest University where she works alongside a talented team of professionals to promote belonging, wellbeing, and student success. She has enjoyed a career in higher education at a number of institutions in the southeastern region.
Prior to Wake Forest, she served as associate vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at the University of Tennessee, where her leadership and connectivity to students was pivotal during COVID-19. Over the course of her career, she has served across a broad spectrum of functional areas and roles. This has included serving in faculty, facilitator, scholarly, and presenter roles, with expertise in orientation and retention, leadership education, belonging, and crisis management.
She serves as lead faculty for NODA’s Orientation Professionals Institute (OPI) and is a former member of NODA’s Board of Directors. She also serves on the boards of the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation and the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina. In addition, she previously served on NASPA’s AVP Steering Committee and as a co-facilitator for the LeaderShape Institute. Known as “Dr. Shea” to students, she leads with “hard work and heart work” and facilitates closer proximity through social media and her podcast, Kidd You Not. She is mom to Jack Wilson and Louie and married to Ryan Brown, who is also in higher education.
Vice President for Campus Life
Wake Forest University
Jamie Mantooth currently serves the University of Tennessee at Martin as the Executive Director of Strategic Leadership. In this role, he is responsible for creating and maintaining leadership initiatives from the Chancellor’s Office, such as the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Auburn University. Throughout his career, he has worked in a variety of Student Affairs and Student Success areas at the University of South Carolina, Auburn University, Murray State University, and now UT Martin – his alma mater. Specific areas of interest include: leadership programming and development, supervision and team building, retention, parent & family programs, professional development for graduate students and young professionals.
Jamie and his wife, Katie (also a higher education professional), have been married for 24 years and have three children. Porter, 23, is a Second Lieutenant in the USAF stationed in Valdosta, GA. Betsy, 21, is a Junior at UT Martin. Jack, 17, is a high school senior and will run Cross Country and Track & Field at TN Tech starting Fall 2026.
Executive Director, Strategic Leadership
University of Tennessee at Martin
Dr. Jaime Mendez is an experienced student affairs leader and higher education administrator with more than 24 years of progressive leadership at a large public, Hispanic Serving, R1 institution. He currently serves as Assistant Dean of Students at The University of Texas at El Paso, where his portfolio includes student support systems, coordinated care, behavioral intervention, Title IX processes, and divisional assessment and evaluation.
Dr. Mendez brings deep expertise in orientation, transition, retention, and student success initiatives, with a strong emphasis on evidence based improvement. He regularly analyzes institutional data, develops practical dashboards, and translates assessment findings into actionable recommendations that strengthen program effectiveness, staffing models, learning outcomes, and operational alignment across student affairs units.
Previously, Dr. Mendez directed the federally funded TRiO Student Support Services Program, administering over $1.2 million in grant funding while ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations. This role required rigorous outcomes reporting, longitudinal analysis, and continuous evaluation focused on persistence and degree completion for first generation and low income students. He has also led New Student Orientation and student success programs, providing experience with large scale transition initiatives and cross functional collaboration.
Dr. Mendez’ longstanding involvement with NODA includes service as President, General Board Member, Texas State Coordinator, and committee leader. His national and regional engagement has strengthened his perspective on best practices, institutional diversity, and the evolving needs of orientation and transition programs. He approaches leadership with cultural humility, collaborative engagement, and reflective practice, believing assessment and perspective are essential to aligning mission, practice, and impact at critical student transition points.
Assistant Dean of Students
University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Richard Mullendore currently teaches a first-year seminar at the of University of North Carolina Wilmington. He previously served as the vice president for student affairs at the University of Georgia, vice chancellor for student life at the University of Mississippi, and he worked at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the University of Charleston (WV), and Tusculum College (TN). Dr. Mullendore, a former president of NODA (Association for Orientation, Retention, and Transition in Higher Education), has provided over 125 conference presentations and keynote addresses nationally and internationally, and has served as a consultant to over 35 colleges and universities on student affairs administration, student learning, orientation, parent programs, retention, housing/residence life, and transfer students; and he is the author of approximately 50 publications. He has received several awards including the Pillar of the Profession (NASPA), the Bob Leach Award for Outstanding Service to Students (NASPA, Region III), the Outstanding Contributions to the Orientation Profession Award (NODA), the Outstanding Professional Contribution Award (North Carolina College Personnel Association), and the President’s Award (NODA).
Higher Education Expert and First-Year Seminar Leader
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Melanie Payne serves as the Director of the Office of Orientation & Enrollment Programs at Indiana University. A two-time graduate of Michigan State University, Melanie began her career in Residence Life at Ball State University and continued at IU before embracing orientation and transition planning.
Through her roles as Director of Orientation, Director of First Year Experience, and in her current position, Melanie has maintained a strong passion for students in transition. She has played a key role in creating new traditions, personalized student and family programs, and a culture of support at Indiana University, including launching the institution’s first-ever Welcome Week program and co-authoring the now fully established Indiana Promise.
Melanie’s involvement with NODA includes serving in member and chair roles with Conference Planning and other committees, contributing as an author and editor of the Orientation Planning Manual, and holding positions such as NODA Internship Coordinator, Board Member, Circle of Excellence fundraising ambassador, and serving in the three-year NODA President sequence.
Melanie has also served in past leadership roles with GLACUHO and ACPA. Prior to joining the NODA consultant team, she contributed as a reviewer of orientation programs for three universities of varying sizes and types.
Director of the Office of Orientation & Enrollment Programs
Indiana University
Rick Sparks currently serves as the Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and University Registrar at Virginia Tech. In this role he serves on the leadership team for the Division of Enrollment Management, has the responsibility of student data steward, chief transfer officer and chief FERPA officer. Sparks utilizes his expertise in technology including the SIS, degree audit, advisor support system, and scheduling and registration tool collaboratively in order to support student success. Previously he held the position of Interim Director of Student Centers and Activities and from 2003-2015 served as the Associate Dean of Students and Director of New Students Programs and remains committed to assisting new students transition to higher education institutions.
Rick is originally from Pembroke, VA and currently lives in Christiansburg with his wife and two kids.
Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and University Registrar
Virginia Tech
Jeanine Ward-Roof is the Vice President for Student Affairs at Ferris State University. Prior to this role, she served as Dean of Students at Florida State University and in a variety of roles including Director of Student Development Services at Clemson University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Ohio University, her Master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and her Ph.D. from Clemson University in Educational Leadership.
Jeanine has been involved in NODA since 1987 and has served as president, director of regions, member of the Board of Directors, annual and regional conferences host, editor of the Orientation Review, co-editor and chapter author for the 2003 Designing Successful Transitions: A Guide to Orientating Students to College and editor of the 2010 edition of the same publication, co-editor of Building Successful Foundations: Best Practices in Orientation, Transition and Retention, and a faculty member in OPI – NODA’s Orientation Professionals Institute. She is currently working with colleagues to update the 2019 NODA publication, Building Successful Foundations: Best Practices in Orientation, Transition and Retention. She has also received numerous awards including the NASPA Pillar of the Profession award and the NODA Circle of Excellence award. In all of her roles in higher education, she has been engaged with orientation, transition and retention activities, starting as an orientation student leader and spanning her current role that includes enrollment management in her portfolio.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Ferris State University
Not Interested in a Full Review?
NODA also offers customizable consultation options for institutions seeking targeted feedback or focused program evaluation.
Contact the NODA Office to explore additional options:
Noda@umn.edu
1.866.521.6632