Quincy Spencer, assistant vice chancellor for Student Engagement in Student Affairs, has been named a 2024 Circle of Excellence Ambassador for the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA).
NODA was chartered in 1976 as National Orientation Directors Association and is the professional association for those who work in orientation, transition, and retention fields. The international association is comprised of administrators, students, faculty, and related organizations.
Each year, association members can nominate a colleague to serve as a Circle of Excellence nominee. This recognition honors and engages individuals who have served as professionals and scholars in the fields of orientation, transition, and retention and who have dedicated years of service to NODA.
Spencer has been a member of NODA for more than 20 years. He has served the association in various volunteer roles from Fundraising Committee Chair to Annual Conference Host, and Board of Directors to NODA President. Currently, he is serving as faculty for the Orientation Professionals Institute (OPI).
Spencer said he first got involved with NODA as an undergraduate student serving on a regional conference committee and since then have served in many leadership and volunteer roles
“The connections and friendships that I’ve made are immeasurable. Serving as president of the association and a board member gave me the opportunity to work with colleagues across the nation to make impacts on our campuses in the areas of orientation, transition, and retention (OTR),” Spencer said. “I currently serve as a faculty member for the Orientation Professionals Institute for new professionals in the field. This allows me to use my past experiences and insight in the field to assist newer professionals as they navigate their campuses and careers in higher education.”
Alison Leach Hughes is the director of New Student Orientation at the University of South Carolina. She got her start in higher education working at the University of Arkansas where she first met Spencer when she joined the U of A New Student & Family Programs office in 2010
“My time at Arkansas was heavily influenced by a wonderful supervisor, turned lifelong friend, Quincy Spencer,” Hughes said. “He was a great supervisor—caring, motivating, and supportive. He helped me learn and grow personally and professionally. He provided such a strong vision for our office and ensured that the environment and resources were there for us to thrive.”
Spencer has many years of leadership in undergraduate first-year experience programs institutionally and nationally as well as extensive experience in student development and engagement. At the U of A he was associate director of the First Year Experience from 2006 to 2010. Then he was director of New Student & Family Programs from 2010 to 2024. Today as assistant vice chancellor for Student Engagement he oversees Outreach and Parent & Family Programs, Student Involvement & Leadership, the Center for Community Engagement, the Multicultural Center, College Access Initiative, Student Media, and Transition Programs & Initiatives, all part of the Division of Student Affairs.
Spencer holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in student personnel services/higher education administration, both from Northwestern State University. Spencer also holds a Doctor of Education in higher education from the U of A.
“His reach has been exceedingly impactful. As I attend NODA each year, I watch OPI group after OPI group, former graduate assistants turned professionals, and past and present leadership seek him out to connect and catch up,” Huges said. “His influence is hard to conceptualize or describe and his legacy is far-reaching.”
Ambassadors serve for one year working with NODA fundraising efforts to support the NODA Excellence Fund. Spencer’s co-ambassador is Shawn Smee from Murray State University.
“This is an incredible honor and one worth celebrating! To recognize Quincy’s service and to give back to an Association he cares so deeply for, I would like to ask that you consider making a donation to the NODA Excellence Fund in his honor,” Hughes said. “This fund helps provide scholarships and opportunities for professionals and graduate students to receive high-quality training and experiences through NODA.”
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized as someone that has made an impact on the association,” Spencer said. “The work that NODA does impacts students across the country and being a part of that has been great. I’m committed to doing as much as I can for the association and look forward to many more years of involvement.”