Undergraduate Academic Affairs

April 13, 2015

Graduating senior Nadine Mortell recognized with regional leadership award

Undergraduate Academic Affairs

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University of Washington senior Nadine Mortell was recently recognized with a Regional Undergraduate Student Leader award at the NODA Region I Conference. She got involved with NODA through First Year Programs, part of Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA), and has found it “a fantastic place to learn about all the amazing things other institutions are doing.”

Portrait of Nadine Mortell

Nadine Mortell, 2015 NODA Regional Student Leader award recipient.

NODA is an association providing education, leadership and professional development in the fields of orientation, transition and retention in higher education. Its Regional Student Leadership Award recognizes students for their energy, enthusiasm and outstanding abilities, which are the backbone of dynamic orientation programs.

While at UW, Mortell discovered her passion for supporting fellow students and sought out leadership positions in student affairs, beginning in her sophomore year as an orientation leader with First Year Programs. After demonstrating her capabilities that summer, she was selected to continue as an orientation leader coordinator and since then has helped manage over 20 freshman orientations, 18 transfer orientations and 20 parent orientations.

She then took a leadership role in Commuter Commons where she advised over 200 commuter students and was promoted the following year to assistant manager, where she currently manages seven student staff. In addition, she has served as a First-year Interest Group (FIG) leader for three years and volunteered with the Dream Project   for almost four years.

Despite her busy schedule, Mortell makes time for her friends, walking her golden retriever Lily, cooking, and cultivating her sense of humor; she’s the president of the UW Bill Murray Fan Club.

Given her enthusiasm, experience and personality, it is clear why this communication and sociology major has identified student affairs as a future career interest. Her parting advice to UW students? “Get involved! The UW has so many different opportunities and options!”

Back to the spring 2015 UAA e-newsletter >