Cameron Cabral, a master’s degree student in Modern and Classical Languages and Literature who earned a bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech.Stephanie Ann Bontell, a master’s degree student in Natural Resources and Sustainability Studies who earned her bachelor’s degree at Southeastern University, Florida.student in Engineering Education who earned her master’s degree at Virginia Tech and her bachelor’s degree at Kocaeli University, Turkey. “Many are already doing phenomenal work with people in their programs, improving inclusion and diversity efforts for other students, developing new ways for students to find or be mentors, and spreading the word about opportunities and activities at the Graduate School,” said Clinedinst. Additionally, both part-time and full-time students were eligible to become ambassadors. The current ambassadors are a diverse crew, including students from the greater Washington, D.C., metro area, Roanoke, and Blacksburg campuses, and those taking virtual programs. “The ambassadors share ideas and experiences with each other, and with other students with whom they interact.” “The Graduate Ambassadors program framework provided an opportunity for us to work in partnership with the students as an additional resource to others,” Clinedinst said. Clinedinst said the program is rooted in the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and all ambassadors are dedicated to service and Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community. They also can answer questions and assist graduate students and applicants interested in their programs or in interdisciplinary research. They also mentor new graduate students in their departments or colleges, and promote the graduate student community. ![]() She noted that ambassadors are able to assist with Graduate School sponsored events, such as the recent HBCU/MSI Research Summit and the Hispanic/LatinX luncheon. “After being in a completely virtual environment during the past academic year, we found a lot of our students wanted connections with other students and wanted to know more about events and services the Graduate School provides,” said Clinedinst. The program had been on hiatus, but interest from students and a desire to rebuild connections and community after a year of experiencing graduate education virtually led Shernita Lee, director of the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion (ORDI), and Shania Clinedinst, diversity and inclusion support specialist and coordinator, to reinstitute it. Twenty-three graduate students from programs across Virginia Tech’s colleges and campuses make up the latest cohort of Graduate School student ambassadors.
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