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 – President
Email Serah
Major: Finance
Specialty: Internship, Traveling on a Budget, and nature sights around Ireland - Anika Kapil – Director of Culture
Email Anika
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Traveling to different places all around Ireland and organizing travel plans - Mitchell Shaw
Email Mitchell
Major: Business Administration, Specializing in Computer Science
Specialty: Meeting Locals, Internship Information, Local University Involvement - Jack Dabbs
Email Jack
Major: Finance
Specialty: Making the most of your internship - Patricia Aguila
Email Patricia
Major: Marketing, Minor: Economics
Specialty: Scholarships, restaurants/food, thrifting, budgeting, making the most out of your internship!
- Saryu Madelyn Udumala – Vice President
Email Saryu
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Hidden gems and food - Madison Knapp – Director of Events
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 - Ayush Chanda
Email Ayush
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Meeting & interacting with locals, trying new restaurants, and exploring the vast amount of markets around London. - Kate Miklas
Email Kate
Major: Business Administration, General Studies – Specialization in Entrepreneurship
Specialty: Theatre, travelling beyond London, shopping, and public transport. - Mihika Kasi
Email Mihika
Major: Business Management, Minor: Communication Studies, Women’s Studies
Specialty: Meeting locals, finding smaller stores and charity shops
- Sofia Triana
Email Sofia
Major: Business Administration
Specialty: Weekend travel, restaurants/food, nightlife, and balancing schoolwork - Olivia Huey
Email Olivia
Major: Marketing
Specialty: Local Attractions (Things to Do) and Traveling on a Budget - Dany Mansour
Email Dany
Major: Finance
Specialty: Scholarships, meeting locals, traveling on a budget - Chase Hartman
Email Chase
Major: Business Administration, Minor: Spanish
Specialty: Weekend trips budgeting/planning, best food spots, local attractions - Christina Porter
Email Christina
Major: Business Administration – Specialization in Spanish, Minor: Economics
Specialty: Travel tips, scholarships, budgeting, learning Spanish - Matthew Worly
Email Matthew
Major: Business Administration/Spanish
Specialty: Travel Planning, Housing, Public Transit, Languages - Sophia Flack
Email Sophia
Major: Business Administration on a Pre-Law Track
Specialty: Food, meeting locals, activities, budgeting
- Madison Coble
Email Madison
Majors: Business Administration
Specialty: food, traveling on a budget, thrift spots, summer events - Katie O’Sullivan
Email Katie
Major: Finance
Specialty: Discovering unique attractions, traveling on a budget, finding good food!
- Isabella Eaton – Director of Marketing
Email Isabella
Major: Management Major; Minor: Public Relations
Specialty: Travel recommendations, local spots, and offering advice if you’re considering going abroad - Melea Griffin
Email Melea
Major: Business Management Minor: Real Estate
Specialty: Traveling on the weekends, what to pack, and building confidence to study abroad - Victoria Somppi
Email Victoria
Major: Marketing, Minor: Mass Communications
Specialty: Traveling on a budget, food, discovering new places in and outside of Rome, and how to make the most out of your study abroad experience
- Arman Ali
Email Arman
Major: Information Systems
Specialty: Immersing in local culture, new experiences, nightlife, internship development - Kai Bie
Email Kai
Major: Business Management
Specialty: Internship, new experiences, and navigation
- Stanley Gatzek
Email Stanley
Major: Finance
Specialty: Traveling on a budget
- Selina Massmann
Email Selina
Major: Marketing
Specialty: navigating German culture, food, places to travel to in Germany - 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 - Caroline Yu
Email Caroline
Major: Accounting
Specialty: Traveling on a budget, cafes, how to maximize your experience!
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.