This year, SOE welcomes 10 Student Ambassadors – undergraduate students who support the vision and spirit of SOE by collaborating with faculty and staff to provide engaging, informative, and personalized experiences for the ESHD (Education, Society, and Human Development major) community. Throughout the year, SOE Ambassadors participate in a variety of virtual and in-person outreach and recruitment events, and facilitate a wide range of student engagement workshops and opportunities for learning and mentorship. They serve as role models, lending their unique insight and voice to the undergraduate experience and by helping shape a vibrant learning community.
Meet the 2021-2022 SOE Ambassadors!!
Current and prospective students can feel free to email our ambassadors if you'd like to connect or have any questions about life at UCR!
Lindy Chen (she/her/hers)
4th Year Community Leadership, Policy, & Social Justice
lchen226@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
Some types of things I can help students with as a student ambassador include class advice, declaring a double major, getting involved on campus, and navigating university as a first-generation college student. Feel free to also ask me about anything else and I’ll try my best to help!
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
Some of my past and current involvement on campus include Riverside Surging Dragons, Associate students of UCR (ASUCR) External, Camp Kesem, and University of California Advocacy Network. I also have experience in working as a Highlander Orientation Leader and HUB Programs Associate.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I wanted to be an ambassador because I want to provide support and a safe space for SOE students. Although my past three years at UCR have been immensely challenging and mentally exhausting at times, I found SOE to always be my safe space and it helped me move forward. I hope that I can give back to my fellow peers and SOE as an ambassador by working on programs and providing assistance.
Yulissa Navarro (she/her/hers)
3rd Year Community Leadership, Policy, & Social Justice
ynava017@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
I can help students with questions about SOE, the education major/concentrations, and classes! I can also provide support and encouragement to students and help them get connected to resources and navigate campus.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
I am a member of Latino Union and Raza Assembly, both campus organizations. I am also involved in ASUCR, under the External Affairs office.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I wanted to become an ambassador because my experience with SOE has been very positive and rewarding these past two years, and I want help other students experience that as well! I want to help students feel welcomed to SOE and have opportunities/ events that help them grow and build community with other students, staff, and faculty!
Alondra Nieto (she/her/hers)
4th Year Community Leadership, Policy, & Social Justice
aniet005@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
As a student ambassador I can help other students by providing information regarding campus resources and be there for them as a mentor, or simply someone they can talk to.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
I participated in UCR's National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), a student-run residential organization. Back home I am still involved with an outdoor education outreach program for underserved communities called Generation Green and College Access Plan (CAP) that helps underserved students get into college as well as be a support system for them.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I want to be an ambassador to get more involved in UCR's SOE community and help other students who have, or are struggling, as I experienced as a first-generation immigrant student.
Tami Rota (she/her/hers)
2nd Year Learning & behavior studies
Trota002@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
I’ve had a lot of experience with registration and forming plans for registration. If you need any one-on-one help, feel free to contact me!
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
I’ve participated in Active Minds which is a mental health awareness club at The Well. It was very informative, and I enjoyed learning about different ways to take care of my mental health and help others take care of theirs.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I wanted to be an ambassador as a way to guide future students through the busyness of college. Even as a second year, students will always have questions, and I want to lend a helping hand as a way to give back to the community.
Xochiltl Salgado (she/her/ella)
Transferred 4th Year Learning & Behavioral Studies
xsalg001@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
The way I hope to help my fellow peers as being a resource to answer questions they may have regarding enrollment, imposter syndrome, transitions, and many more things.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
I have participated in workshops and conferences that UCR offers. One conference that I found extremely helpful was Mujeres Unidas Conference. I loved being among women, who like me, have gone through their own educational experiences.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
The main reason I wanted to be an ambassador was to represent the transfer student community and first-generation students. I want them to understand that they are not alone in this journey.
Kelly Sudol (she/her/hers)
4th Year Learning & Behavioral Studies
ksudo001@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
As a student ambassador I would love to help students with any questions, concerns, or worries they may have. Life is hard and college can be hard! We all need someone to help us along the way. I have been lucky to have some of those people and would like to return the favor.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
Along with joining the SOE Ambassador team I am also an active member of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and the American Sign Language (ASL) club (when time permits) here on campus. Having the ability to become a part of campus without being on campus this last year made my transition easier and made me feel more comfortable in UCR. I highly recommend finding one of the many clubs that speaks to you and joining. Outside of UCR I am highly involved in adult softball in the area, and in a traveling capacity when permitting.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I wanted to become an ambassador to provide for our new, old, and transfer students the wonderful experiences I had coming into UCR SOE. Every person in the SOE has experiences to share and I feel like helping facilitate these meetings/conversations is a big part of what we do. I hope to get to know many of those I may not have met yet and share what I can with you that I have learned along the way.
Ashley Taylor (she/they)
3rd Year Leadership, Policy, & Social Justice
atayl030@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
I work in residential life and have been an orientation leader so I can definitely answer any questions about housing, general questions about the various majors, and ways to get involved on campus. I am also very open about my academic journey, every high and low, so I think that students who may feel like they're going through academic hardship in college might benefit from talking to someone who has been in their shoes.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
Highlander Orientation, Residential Life, Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR) Chief of Staff (20-21), Let's Take Action, and SRC Building Steward Staff.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
At first, I wanted to be an ambassador because I wanted to find more ways to be involved with my major but the more that I've been an ambassador and a mentoring figure for students on campus, the more that I have found my passion in helping others in higher ed.
Hong An Trang (she/her/hers)
3rd Year Learning & Behavioral Studies
htran159@ucr.edu
What are some activities you have participated in?
Through the ambassador program, I have helped with Highlander Orientation and events catered towards our SOE community. I have participated in the Academic Resource Center’s Assistance, Encouragement, and Coaching (ACE) program. I was a mentee my first year and will be serving as a peer mentor this year. Organizations I am involved with are Signing Highlanders and First-Generation Student Association. I am a member of both as well as this year’s FGSA secretary. I have also participated in SOE's Community Engaged Learning through the Storytime and Subject Matter Tutoring internships.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
When I came to UCR, I enjoyed being on campus but didn't feel any particular connection to the school. One day, I attended an event hosted by the SOE ambassadors and came out of it feeling reinvigorated. The ambassadors helped me feel at home while on campus. I felt like I was part of a smaller, close-knit community even within the large population of UCR. I want to help other students feel the same and show that SOE is a large family. We truly all want to support and see your success!
Describe student experience (traditional/non-traditional/virtual)
I followed a traditional pathway and came to UCR right after I graduated high school. I am a first-generation student, and I had to learn how to navigate college on my own. Even learning how to use campus resources was new to me. Before the pandemic hit, I was able to experience life on campus for a bit as a commuter. I was also a student during the transition into remote learning. This new year will bring together students with different types of experiences. I hope that my knowledge of both in-person and virtual life at UCR can help my peers.
Brenda Valdez-Gutierrez (she/her/hers)
4th Year Community Leadership, Policy, & Social Justice
Bvald009@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
I can amplify student voices and serve as a resource to them. College is a new experience for everyone so if I can help as a network, mentor, or even with registration tips I'd be more than happy to do so.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
In previous years I have been a member of Hermanos Unidos, Residence Hall Association, the Butterfly Project, and Student Tours with CSP. Currently, I serve as the Student Lead for one of our amazing CEL opportunities, College Readiness Counseling. Outside of UCR, I have conducted research for the California Community Foundation & Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I saw it as an opportunity to grow as an individual and a professional. I also wanted to surround myself with peers and mentors who share the drive and passion to positively impact their communities through education.
Stephanie Zeng (she/her/hers)
4th Year Community Leadership, Policy, & Social Justice
szeng009@ucr.edu
How can you help students as a student ambassador?
I believe I can provide guidance on helping students balance their academic, work, and personal life. I hope to help students become the best versions of themselves while pursuing their degree by providing my own personal knowledge and experiences. I am especially interested in guiding students on self-care, academic success, and campus involvement.
What are some of the activities you have participated in?
I tutored with AmeriCorps UECC during my second year. I also became involved with ASUCR by being a senate intern and eventually becoming SOE senator during my third year. I am an R'Course instructor where I teach a one-unit course to undergraduates. Other campus involvements I'm in include being a lead peer health educator at The Well and VP Member Education for Delta Gamma.
Why did you want to be an ambassador?
I wanted to become an ambassador for SOE because of how prideful I am to be a SOE student! I want to exude this energy to incoming SOE students or any SOE students who need help. I also hope to use my past experiences within SOE to help enrich the lives of my peers by being a resource for them.
To learn more about the SOE Student Ambassador program, visit our website.
Let us help you with your search