Waldron College Selects Student Ambassadors

Five students will serve as ambassadors for the Waldron College of Health and Human Services in the 2012–13 academic year.

Ambassadors are chosen for their leadership skills and the recognition of their chairs and directors. Those selected this year are seniors Emily Williams, Kendahl Kean and Jenene Lewis; Master of Occupational Therapy student Catherine Hancock; and Doctor of Physical Therapy student Thomas Mitchell.

Initiated four years ago, the ambassador program offers outstanding students an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills while learning more about health and human services. Ambassadors are involved in Waldron College events, meet with experts and dignitaries in the health-care field, maintain close communication with chairs and directors, and build on their knowledge of how to interact as an interdisciplinary team member in various health professions.

"When recruiting students to our programs, it is important for them to get the 'student perspective as opposed to just the faculty perspective on life at RU," said Ken Cox, dean of the Waldron College. "The ambassadors provide that experience. The leadership team in the college also provides mentoring and leadership opportunities for the ambassadors."

Williams, a native of Bland County, is majoring in communication sciences and disorders. She said of her appointment, "I hope to be able to give visitors useful information about the program so they may know all of the wonderful things it does, has accomplished and will continue to accomplish."

Kean, a nursing major from Chester, said, "I hope to represent the School of Nursing for all that it is to us. Our community of students, faculty and staff is tight-knit, more like family than anything. We are all in this together. We are intensely devoted to our patients, no matter the situation or population."

Lewis, of Radford, is a social work major. She returned to college after working full-time in the banking industry. Lewis said she wants to be involved with student recruitment and "share an awareness that continuing your education, even a lot later in life, is a very positive and rewarding endeavor."

Hancock '10 of Collinsville said she chose RU for her graduate work because of the wonderful experiences she had while earning her bachelor's degree. "I love that class sizes are small and that professors genuinely want their students to thrive and succeed, not only within their prospective professions but also in leadership roles."

A second-time Waldron ambassador, Mitchell, of Radford, said he chose RU because it "provided the best opportunity and had the most impressive facilities and faculty in the area." He hopes to speak with students about the field of physical therapy and the opportunities they can find at the university.