Starting next semester, the existing student ambassador program will be replaced by the new President’s Ambassador Program. With an emphasis on diversity, this new program will go above and beyond on-campus tours as it seeks to achieve its main goal of representing the university in a positive way and enhancing and expanding the university’s marketing efforts.
The President’s Ambassador Program will operate at a higher level than the existing student ambassador program. This new program is managed out of the marketing department, but it will collaborate closely with the admissions department, alumni relations, development, and the President’s Office. Diversity is a large factor in the selection process of the President’s Ambassadors as those on the committee to create this new program believe that using a racially diverse group of students to represent the institution is the best way to do so.
President Jane Wood. Wit file photo by Aubrey Bartel.
Claire Clay, marketing and alumni relations manager, has played a large role in both the creation and application process of the new program. She is excited for the implementation of this new program and believes that it will be equally beneficial to the university and to the students selected to serve as the President’s Ambassadors. She also hopes that creating this collaborative program will help condense a variety of needs across campus into one organization.
“The main role President’s Ambassadors will have is to interact with prospective students, which is essentially a marketing function,” said Clay. “Ambassadors sharing their own Bluffton experiences while on tour with visiting families is an extremely important part of the visit experience. We want the President’s Ambassadors to be excellent story tellers and advocates of Bluffton University.”
Even though serving as tour guides will be the main jobs of the President’s Ambassadors, Clay said that they will also fulfill other roles such as sitting in on student panels at admissions events, greeting special guests of the president and other cabinet members and engaging with alumni and donors at special events on and off campus. The President’s Ambassadors will also be called upon to appear in print and digital materials for the university and on other marketing tactics such as the university’s social media accounts. Even though there are more responsibilities, there are more benefits and opportunities given to the new President’s Ambassadors than those offered to student ambassadors in the current program.
“President’s Ambassadors will do more than just host guests and give campus tours to prospective students,” said Clay. “All members of the program will be trained to be extraordinary networkers and will receive consistent leadership and professional development training. Where available, President’s Ambassadors will have opportunity to connect with local leaders and be trained on important topics such as etiquette, conversational skills, networking and interview skills, tour training, how to write thank you notes, cover letters, resumes, etc., and be partnered with a faculty/staff mentor. In addition, each President’s Ambassador will have an opportunity to connect with President Wood and Wayne McGaugh, President Wood’s husband, twice per semester.”
The application process for the 2021-22 President’s Ambassadors is in the interview stages. The selection committee is anticipating selecting 25-30 students to serve as the President’s Ambassadors in the coming semester.
The selection committee is made up of Claire Clay; Robin Bowlus, vice president of advancement and enrollment management; Karen Bontrager, director of the president’s office; Samantha Shrider, campus visit coordinator; Jessi Samuel, annual fund manager; and Steve Yarnell, head volleyball coach and assistant professor of health, fitness, and sport science.
Haley Byrnes, sophomore exercise science major with a psychology major, is one of the 29 students who applied to be one of the President’s
Haley Byrnes, sophomore exercise science major and psychology minor.
Ambassadors. Byrnes was motivated to apply because she feels that the program is a good opportunity to get involved in representing the university, create meaningful relationships and learn new things.
“I think being able to serve on panels and talk with the President and other important people at the university is a good way to incorporate student’s perspectives,” said Byrnes.
