International Student Ambassadors
Support for international study
International Programs Student Ambassadors are undergraduates who have studied abroad and now wish to inform, encourage and inspire their peers to have their own memorable experience abroad.
The International Programs Student Ambassadors volunteer to assist the International Programs staff to educate and facilitate students to study abroad. You should contact the ambassadors if you have questions or to seek advice about study abroad.
Interested in international study?
The International Programs Student Ambassadors can help you:
- Research study abroad options
- Present study abroad information and share their experiences.
- Conduct information sessions.
- Attend international education fairs, pre-departure orientations and other events.
- Understand study abroad opportunities in Introduction to Business classes or presentations.
Meet the ambassadors
- Serah Williams – Leadership Team
Email Serah
Major: Finance
Specialty: Internship, Traveling on a Budget, and nature sights around Ireland - Mitchell Shaw
Email Mitchell
Major: Business Administration, Specializing in Computer Science
Specialty: Meeting Locals, Internship Information, Local University Involvement
Anika Kapil
Email Anika
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Traveling to different places all around Ireland and organizing travel plans
- Mallika Baweja
Email Mallika
Major: Finance Minor: Wealth Management
Specialty: Discovering new places to explore, eat, and meet new people! - Ceinwyn Maes | Leadership Team
Email Ceinwyn
Major: Finance
Specialty: Food, public transport, traveling on a budget - Nadia Matouka
Email Nadia
Major: Marketing
Specialty: Travel recommendations/tips, meeting locals, cuisine, how to make the most of your time abroad - Sam Reeder
Email Sam
Major: Finance
Specialty: Classes while abroad, internship in London, housing abroad, traveling on a budget, crisis management (lost passport, cancelled trains/plains, etc.) - Saryu Madelyn Udumala
Email Saryu
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Hidden gems and food - Madison Knapp
Email Madison
Major: Marketing (Minor: Mass Communications)
Specialty: Exploring new cities, traveling on a budget, transportation and navigation - Brooke Zaremskas
Email Brooke
Major: Business Administration
Specialty: Traveling within and outside the UK, meeting locals, and discovering new places around London! - Zeena Karkaria
Email Zeena
Major: Business Administration
Specialty: Local restaurants, fun & unique activities, maximizing your time abroad, travel tips
- Jacob Schiff | Leadership Team
Email Jacob
Major: Business Administration – General Studies
Specialty: Giving advice on why you should go abroad, how to make the most of your time there - Olivia Huey
Email Olivia
Major: Marketing
Specialty: Local Attractions (Things to Do) and Traveling on a Budget - Isabella Ramos
Email Isabella
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Finding an apartment, traveling on a budget, food, taking language courses - Kyle Snowden | Leadership Team
Email Kyle
Major: Business Administration
Specialty: Scholarships, food, knowledge of the city - Dany Mansour
Email Dany
Major: Finance
Specialty: Scholarships, meeting locals, traveling on a budget - Dahlia Katz
Email Dahlia
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Restaurants, travel itineraries/tips, nightlife, public transportation, how to make the most of your time abroad - Lucía Segovia
Email Lucía
Major: Business Administration – Specialization in International Studies
Specialty: Spanish heritage, cultural etiquette, food/local cuisine, transportation tips, traveling within Spain, local attractions - Sofia Triana
Email Sofia
Major: Business Administration
Specialty: Weekend travel, restaurants/food, nightlife, and balancing schoolwork
- Sarah Chan
Email Sarah
Major: Marketing
Specialty: Traveling solo, meeting locals, immersing yourself in the language and culture - Linda Desrosier
Email Linda
Majors: Information Systems
Specialty: Scholarships, solo travel, meeting locals, and cultural immersion - Madison Coble
Email Madison
Majors: Business Administration
Specialty: food, traveling on a budget, thrift spots, summer events
- Zachary Venezia | Leadership Team
Email Zachary
Major: Marketing Minor: Mass Communications
Specialty: Food, Planning trips around Italy, and maximizing your time abroad - Mati Diehl
Email Mati
Major: Business administration; Minor: Healthcare admin
Specialty: Cheap weekend traveling, maximizing your time abroad, gelato - Dhruvi Patel
Email Dhruvi
Major: Statistics
Specialty: Discovering hidden gems (free of tourists) and traveling on a budget! - Isabella Eaton
Email Isabella
Major: Management Major; Minor: Public Relations
Specialty: Travel recommendations, local spots, and offering advice if you’re considering going abroad
- Makenzie Ho
Email Makenzie
Major: Finance
Specialty: Good food/restaurants, cafes, cheap activities, traveling beyond Seoul - Ash Porbanderwala
Email Ash
Major: Political Science Minor: Environmental Science
Specialty: Food, Fashion, Meeting Locals, Service - Arman Ali
Email Arman
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Immersing in local culture, new experiences, nightlife, internship development - Mary Thompson
Email Mary
Major: Finance
Specialty: Food, traveling, fun activities, optimizing internship outcomes
- Zayna Latife
Email Zayna
Major: Finance
Specialty: Solo Travel - Selina Massmann
Email Selina
Major: Marketing
Specialty: navigating German culture, food, places to travel to in Germany - Kasi Borgerink
Email Kasi
Major: Business Administration
Specialty: Scholarships, budget travel, class scheduling, and meeting new people! - Abby Needleman
Email Abby
Major: Business Administration (Pre-law concentration)
Specialty: Travel in Australia/New Zealand, finding housing, feeling like a local, nature spots, solo travel
Become an ambassador
As an International Programs Student Ambassador, you’ll join a group of former study abroad participants who assist the Heavener International Programs staff in the promotion of the school’s study abroad and exchange programs.
- Obtain basic training in study abroad advising and the components of Heavener International Program and Warrington Exchange Programs.
- Enhance leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
- Utilize global knowledge and cross-cultural communication acquired from your own study abroad experience.
- Engage with students and staff across campus.
- Gain a unique experience to add to your resume and talk about in interviews.
- Reflect on and recognize your new identity gained from study abroad while sharing this with a group of like-minded peers.
- The opportunity to enhance individual skills in interpersonal communication, public relations, advertising, public speaking, writing and more.
You must have completed a Heavener International Program or Warrington Exchange Program by the beginning of the fall semester in which you apply.
You must be a current undergraduate student. You do not need to be a business major or minor.
You must be able to be an ambassador for at least one full academic year (i.e., you must not graduate at the end of the fall semester in which you apply).
The application for the program opens during the summer and is due at the beginning of the fall semester. Occasionally, a spring recruitment cycle may be opened. The application consists of short-answer questions, as well as a resume upload.
After the initial review of applications, finalists are invited to an interview. Applicants will be sent an exact timeline of the process upon submission.
Frequently asked questions
No, however we do encourage you to consider the UF International Center Study Abroad Peer Advisors.
The main role of the ambassadors is to promote Heavener International Programs and Warrington Exchange Programs. To do this effectively, you must have studied abroad on one of those programs.
The program involves much more than just sharing your best travel stories. Our group is both outward and inward facing, you should expect to gain personal and professional development through your involvement with the program. It is our desire for ambassadors to continue developing intercultural awareness and personal growth which began during their time abroad. This requires members to go below the surface of their experiences to identify undiscovered lessons learned and meaningful connections to future goals.
As an ambassador you would have the chance to represent Heavener International Programs at events such as the UF Study Abroad Fair and Business Bash. Each semester, ambassadors volunteer to deliver study abroad presentations to Warrington Welcome classes and various student groups. You would also be instrumental in the pre-departure and Survival sessions for outgoing students. Ambassadors also meet at least twice a month for meetings/training, organize special events and have a semester retreat!
There are three main responsibilities:
- To ensure that you make yourself available as a resource for peers seeking your advice and help.
- To assist the Heavener International Programs office by volunteering for various events, such as presentations, tabling opportunities, information sessions, etc. The most impactful IPSAs are well-known by every Heavener study abroad advisor simply because they are an engaged and present.
- To serve in an committee, dedicated to keeping the group running and working on projects that are of use to the group and the Heavener International Programs office.
There are participation requirements each semester to ensure every member is contributing to the overall team, as well as developing as an individual.
Yes! All ambassadors are required to be part of a committee. One or two experienced ambassadors are appointed as committee chair(s) for each committee. These committee chairs work directly with the advisor and are responsible for ensuring the committee is completing its tasks and that all members are contributing.
Each semester, ambassadors are expected to attend and participate in bi-monthly meetings/trainings, the semester retreat, and volunteer for events. Events include tabling opportunities, classroom presentations and special outreach socials and information sessions. Some events will be required, though the majority are based on a sign-up system. Current and past members praise the flexibility of the program.
Depending on your time and ambition, you can meet prospective students for one-on-one discussions in which you will have the opportunity to give a unique glimpse into the excitement and scholastic benefits of participating in study abroad. However, this is mostly self-initiated and will depend very much on conversations you chose to have away from organized program events. If you are available to your peers, they will value your perspective. These relationships can be very meaningful and ambassadors have become informal mentors to their peers in this way.
Yes, it is. At this time, the program is limited in size to no more than 50 members at one time, and we typically prefer a smaller group size than that. Most ambassadors maintain their membership for one or two academic years. The application process is thorough, consisting of an online form with short-answer questions and a resume upload section. Those that make it past the initial screening will be invited for an interview. Ultimately, around 15 new ambassadors tend to be selected, though the exact number can vary.
The ideal candidate is able to genuinely and enthusiastically share the impact study abroad has had upon their personal, academic, and professional development. We understand each individual has areas in which they can grow, and we look forward to helping students do this, so don’t be discouraged from applying. Standout applicants will also be able to articulate how their study abroad experience was unique (i.e., to differentiate them from others who completed the same program).
Essential must-haves include:
- Willingness and ability to follow through with commitments and volunteer time.
- Enjoyment when working with and learning from others.
- Accountability within teams and timely in communication.
Lastly, it is important for us to consider the overall composition of the group relative to program representation. The London and Madrid programs are consistently the most well attended, as such, we receive a lot of applications from students on these programs. This means students from the London and Madrid programs have a larger pool of applicants in their group as compared to Paris or Exchange Programs, for example.
Contact us
The International Programs Student Ambassadors program advisor is available to answer your questions about the program.