Michelle Clarke Payne is Vice President, Marketing and Investor Relations at United Way of Southeast Louisiana. Michelle oversees the marketing department, working with the team to build awareness of United Way, including its mission, vision and impact. In addition, she creates, plans and executes key communications strategies to grow and cultivate donor relationships across a seven-parish region. She also oversees two affinity groups, Alexis de Tocqueville Society and Women United, which are made up of volunteer leaders engaged with the organization through volunteerism, advocacy or philanthropic support. 

Michelle’s passion also lies in giving back to the city she loves. She is an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University New Orleans where she teaches the advanced advertising campaigns class. She sits on the board of directors for the New Orleans Ad Club, Loyola Alumni and American Advertising Federation District 7. In addition, she was a member of the 2020 NORLI class and recently served as the Communications Council director for the Junior League of New Orleans. Originally from Lafayette, La., Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University New Orleans and her Master of Public Administration from University of New Orleans. She now calls New Orleans home where she and her husband are raising their two children.