Student Club Spotlight: What is the Student Ambassador Program?

Stephanie Jares, the coordinator of advising for the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, has created a Student Ambassador Program in which students have been given many different opportunities and events to volunteer as an effort to aid individuals considering transferring into this specific department — as well as help newly admitted students within this department. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology Student Ambassadors is a team of 19 undergraduate student volunteers who work with students in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology with student activities, student recruitment, departmental communications, student involvement as well as student mentorship. The Student Ambassadors also lead a new Student Connections Mentorship Program in our Department that has been created since NC State undergraduate students are currently in classes remotely due to COVID-19.

Each Student Ambassador is mentoring a group of students from our department where they have been able to form connections and reach out to students to help with any questions they may have. Overall, these Student Ambassadors started with our Department in February of 2020, and have been a part of the very first team of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Student Ambassadors.

My overall experience within this Ambassador Program has been filled with many great opportunities, as well as new connections. I have personally loved some of the different connection events and experiences I have had throughout this program. This Ambassador Program has presented me with a myriad of opportunities to answer questions, reach out to students within this department, contact individuals considering changing their major to one of the three under this department, as well as help new students with their transition to college altogether.

This department truly feels more like a “home” that heavily cares for the individuals within it, as well as is willing to help students under this department in any way possible. The advisors within this Program have made those within this department feel cared about, which is of high value and something I have not taken for granted. The other Ambassadors serve as great individuals who all have the same desired goal of helping those within this department, which is something I have found to be amazing. I am truly thankful for this Program, as well as the opportunities to connect with others within this department altogether. Overall, my experience within this Ambassador Program has been one that I am grateful for and I am truly excited to see what else this program can accomplish in the near future. 

This Ambassador Program serves as a helpful aid that provides students both considering CODA into this department, as well as new students within one of these three majors the opportunity to connect with students currently in this department with any questions they may have. This program has given the Student Ambassadors the opportunity to meet so many new people within this department, as well as make so many different relationships with other Ambassadors, faculty advisors, and other students within this department altogether.

 Lindsey Fath, a junior Student Ambassador studying criminology, states that “working within the ambassador team really makes me feel like I am part of a community — like a home away from my home.” Lindsey also states that she “enjoys working for the Ambassador Program because it allows her to connect with current and incoming students to be someone they can reach out to who is on their level.” Overall, these statements made by Lindsey Fath regarding the Student Ambassador Program truly highlight the importance and overall impact this program has made for not only the students within this department, but also for the Student Ambassadors as well.

This post was written by Deirdre Byrnes, a junior studying criminology and psychology and a Department of Sociology and Anthropology student ambassador.