Orientation Programming Award, Flowers

The NODA Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education honored Randy Flowers, Baker University’s director of student life, with the Outstanding New Orientation, Transition and Retention Professional Award during its Region IV conference Feb. 26-28 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“This award encompasses not only the work I do, but also the work Baker and its entire campus does to promote orientation, transition and retention,” Flowers said. “These three pillars of NODA are found throughout all efforts we as a university work towards daily.”

NODA Region IV includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said that this award comes as no surprise to anyone who works with Flowers.

“Randy is such an asset to the Student Affairs division and the campus. His job touches the lives of students in so many ways from orientation to campus activities to leadership to intramurals,” Bailey said. “He is a one-man shop and does amazing work. He is so deserving of this spotlight and achievement.”

Flowers is looking forward to expanding orientation programming over the next year.

“This next year we plan to increase international student outreach efforts and because of that, we plan to launch our first international student orientation program,” Flowers said. “We cannot, and will not, accept the status quo of today, but rather continue building to create a brighter future.”

Flowers has been the director of student life for three years and was previously recognized as the Central Region new professional of the year by the National Association of Campus Activities in 2014. Before being named director, he served a year as assistant director of student life and before that was a graduate assistant in Student Affairs at Baker for one year.

“From the minute I was hired, this university has strived to provide excellent orientation and transition services that grow each year. It takes an entire campus to do this, not just me,” Flowers said. “As a university, we must continue to unite and work as one campus to welcome every student to Baker and make this campus their new home. It’s an honor to be part of a family that cares so much about the development and future of each student and its employees.”