Michelle Clarke Payne

Chief Strategy Officer

Michelle Clarke Payne oversees the marketing and resource development department, working with the team to build awareness of United Way, including its mission, vision, and impact. She works across the organization to help formulate, facilitate, and communicate UWSELA's strategic initiatives and future goals. In addition, she creates, plans, and executes key communications strategies to grow and cultivate donor relationships across a seven-parish region.

Michelle is also an adjunct faculty member at Tulane University, teaching the national student advertising competition class. She sits on the board of directors for the New Orleans Ad Club, Loyola Alumni, American Advertising Federation District 7, and the Women United Global Leadership Council. In addition, she was a member of the 2020 NORLI class and recently served as the Communications Council director and the Nominating Council director for the Junior League of New Orleans. Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University New Orleans and her Master of Public Administration from the University of New Orleans.