College of Education Student Ambassadors Provide Peer Support and Student Perspective on Education Programs

The College of Education Student Ambassador Internship program is designed to offer undergraduate education students a unique opportunity to promote the programs of the College to their fellow students, as well as provide peer support during new student orientations and mentor peers through workshops and other events. At student recruitment events, ambassadors play an important role in sharing about the College’s programs to potential education majors, giving their peers the student perspective on the College of Education.

“Successful ambassadors illustrate strong leadership skills, which they utilize by participating actively in the College,” said Jessica Chew, who co-directs, along with Academic Advisor Glenn Kasten-Sportes, the program and is an academic advisor in the College’s Office of Student Services.

This year, the program consists of seven undergraduate juniors who are in teacher preparation programs.

Marie Sinnicki, an education major in her junior year, decided to become an ambassador as she thought it would be an excellent opportunity to become a mentor for younger students who are also interested in education.

“When I first started college, I found peers that were about the same age as me to be the best sources for how to survive college,” Sinnicki said. “I believe that learning about the College will also help me in my own development as a student and as a future educator.”

She is looking forward to improving her networking skills through the program and helping to disseminate information about the College’s strengths.

“I am looking forward to sharing with everyone how much the College of Education is like a family,” Sinnicki said, citing the close-knit nature of the College.

Junior Samantha DeLullo, also a student ambassador, will be contributing to a biannual student e-newsletter that helps inform students of research opportunities and designing bulletin boards in the Benjamin Building.

“I decided to be a COE student ambassador because I wanted to become more involved in my college and to get to know other education majors, as well as the staff within the college,” said DeLullo.