The Office of New Student Orientation hosted the 2022 Southern Regional Orientation Workshop -- more commonly known as “SROW” – March 4-6 at the University of South Carolina.  The department welcomed 46 institutions from across the Southeast and Region VI of NODA – the Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention, for a weekend focused on professional development, education and community building.

While Region VI specifically dedicates their annual conference to the support and development of undergraduate students, NODA works to enhance and elevate orientation, transition and retention practices and provides professional development opportunities to practitioners and scholars, as well as undergraduate and graduate students.

“South Carolina's commitment to the 'Remarkable We' was on full display during the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop,” says NODA Region VI Coordinator, Jordan Holliday-Millard of member institution UNC Charlotte. “The campus was the perfect setting for a return to an in-person conference. I'm so proud of the work and leadership of our members at South Carolina.”

It was an exciting weekend for New Student Orientation as several members of their professional staff served on the conference committee and were awarded various accolades for their work in the field. Tyler Parker, second-year graduate assistant and student in the higher education and student affairs master’s program, was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in recognition of her effective work with student leadership at South Carolina.

Bethany Naser, former director of new student orientation, also was honored for her decades-long career. The Outstanding Graduate Student Award was renamed after Naser in recognition of her legacy and lasting impact on the Association and its members.

“Naming the Outstanding Graduate Student Award after Bethany is a small way to recognize the incredible impact she has had on the field of orientation, transition and retention,” Holliday-Millard says. “Throughout her career, she has played an integral role in the development of graduate students and new professionals.”

The conference closing ceremony celebrated the work of students and professionals from across the region and generated enthusiasm for the summer ahead welcoming new students and families to our campus.