Orange Retires After More Than 34 Years At MDC

During a nearly four-decade-long career at Miami Dade College, Nanette Orange was always compassionate.

Whether it was serving as a counselor, financial aid adviser, contracts administrator or a paralegal—she put others first.

“She’s a kind, patient individual and has this personality that’s very endearing to people,” said Javier Ley-Soto, the College’s general counsel, who worked with Orange for nearly nine years in the Office of Legal Affairs. “She’s so genuine that you feel listened to, respected.”

Eighteen years after joining the Legal Affairs team at the downtown campus, Orange retired on March 31 after more than 34 years at MDC.

“I think that one of the biggest things I’m going to miss about the College [is]… knowing that you’re contributing somehow to someone becoming a productive citizen of the community,” Orange said.

The 61-year-old, who graduated from Hialeah Senior High School in 1981 and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami, started her career at MDC in 1990 as a part-time counselor for a grant-funded college readiness program.  

Orange worked with high school students who were in danger of dropping out, helping them get back on track and prepare for college.

By 1991, she was promoted to a financial aid adviser at North Campus, but eventually transferred to Wolfson Campus. In FA, she assisted students with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form and scholarship applications. Her mission was always to help. 

Despite her stellar work in student services, Orange was always curious about the legal field.

That passion sparked during her junior year of high school when she was part of a weekly court observer program that allowed her to visit courtrooms to learn about the legal system.

In 1998, Orange returned to the classroom to pursue a degree in paralegal studies at MDC.

Two years later, she became the contracts administrator at Kendall Campus for the facilities management department, managing architectural and maintenance contracts, insurances, licenses and bonds.

By 2007, Orange joined Legal Affairs as a paralegal. She worked on matters such as labor issues, real estate, contracts, public record requests and trademarking.

But her reach went beyond the legal matters she was charged with. Orange formed life-long friendships with her co-workers.  

“When I told her that my son had started picking up a football…[on the next] occasion she got me a little University of Miami football because that’s where I went to law school and it became one of my sons favorite footballs, ” said Chris Saunders, an assistant general counsel at the College.

Outside of MDC, Orange is known for her prowess for the written word. In 2006, she published Soul Whisperings: Poems for Victorious Living, which is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Nobles. Seven years later, she released Innermost Journey: Poems for Lifetime, which is currently out of stock.

Orange’s interest in writing has been evident from a young age. When she was 5, her mom often found her armed with a pen and a pad, writing or reading poems.

In retirement, Orange plans to expand her creative writing, promote her two books and travel to New York, Europe and Africa.

“She’s a prime example of what Miami Dade College is,”  Ley-Soto said. “A community for all.”

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