Michelle Clarke Payne

Michelle Clarke Payne is Chief Strategy Officer at United Way of Southeast Louisiana. Michelle 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.

From 2006–2016, Michelle was a management supervisor at Peter Mayer Advertising where she specialized in account development, client relationships, strategic planning, collaborative thinking, and producing award-winning creative. She worked with leading tourism destinations, national tourist attractions, international hotels, casinos, racetracks, and top healthcare agencies among many others.

Michelle's passion also lies in giving back to the city she loves. She sits on the board of directors for the New Orleans Ad Club, Junior League of New Orleans, Loyola Alumni, American Advertising Federation District 7, and the Women United Global Leadership Council. In addition, she was a member of the 2020 New Orleans Regional Leadership (NORLI) class. From 2016–2022, she served as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University New Orleans teaching the nationally ranked Ad Team. Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University New Orleans and her Master of Public Administration from the University of New Orleans. She now calls New Orleans home where she and her husband are raising their two children.