Graduate student ambassadors aspire to model Ut Prosim in their service to the university

Twenty-three graduate students from programs across Virginia Tech’s colleges and campuses make up the latest cohort of Graduate School student ambassadors. 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.

“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.

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. They also mentor new graduate students in their departments or colleges, and promote the graduate student community.

They also can answer questions and assist graduate students and applicants interested in their programs or in interdisciplinary research. 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. 

“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. “The ambassadors share ideas and experiences with each other, and with other students with whom they interact.”

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. Additionally, both part-time and full-time students were eligible to become ambassadors. 

“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.

The 2021-22 student ambassadors are:

• Isil Anakok, a Ph.D. student in Engineering Education who earned her master’s degree at Virginia Tech and her bachelor’s degree at Kocaeli University, Turkey.
• Stephanie Ann Bontell, a master’s degree student in Natural Resources and Sustainability Studies who earned her bachelor’s degree at Southeastern University, Florida.
• Cameron Cabral, a master’s degree student in Modern and Classical Languages and Literature who earned a bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech.
• Ryane Cronk, who is earning a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science and a master’s degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences through an accelerated degree program.
• Evelyn Owie, a master's degree student in Business Administration who earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Benin, in Nigeria.
• Jennifer H. Hammel, a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at the VT Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences who earned a bachelor’s degree at Temple University.
• Kishore Hariharasubramony, a master's degree student in Computer Science, who earned a bachelor's degree at SRM Institute of Technology, Chennai, India.
• Jasmine Johnson, a Ph.D. student in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health who earned a bachelor’s degree at West Virginia University.
• Swati Lodha, a master's degree student in Computer Science who earned a bachelor’s degree from the LNM Institute of Information Technology, India.
• Suraj Mane, a master's degree student in Computer Science who earned a bachelor’s degree from Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, Sinhgad Kondhwa, India.
• Jeffrey Marano, a Ph.D. student in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health who earned a bachelor’s degree at Boston University College of Engineering.
• Nicole Nunoo, a Ph.D. student in Agricultural Leadership, Community, and Education who earned a master’s degree at Tuskegee University and a bachelor’s degree at the University of Ghana.
• Tosin Ogunmayowa, a Ph.D. student in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences who earned a master’s degree from Tennessee State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Benin.
• Nesma Osama Abdelrahman Osman, a Ph.D. student in Agricultural Leadership, Community, and Education who earned a master’s degree from Mississippi State University and a bachelor’s degree from Cairo University, Egypt.
• Amanda Peren, a master’s degree student in English Education who earned a bachelor’s degree at Long Island University.
• Casey Skyler Cameron Polk, a master’s degree student in Higher Education and Student Affairs who earned two bachelor’s degrees at Virginia Tech.
• Nisha Mariyal Radhakrishnan, a master's degree student in Computer Science who earned a bachelor’s degree from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India.
• Somyaa Rastogi, a master's degree student in Computer Science who earned a bachelor’s degree at the Patel Institute of Technology, Mumbai University, India.
• Sahana Basapathi Srinivas, a master's degree student in Computer Science who earned a bachelor’s degree from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, India.
• Surendrabikram Thapa, a master's degree student in Computer Science who earned a bachelor’s degree who earned a bachelor’s degree at the Dehli Technological University, India.
• Obinna Ugwu, a Ph.D. student in Industrial and Systems Engineering who earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
• Alexis L. Wivell, a master’s degree student in Animal and Poultry Sciences who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming.
• Cecelia Wood, a Ph.D. student in Geosciences who earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.