Virginia Tech's Office of Undergraduate Research announces 2016-17 ambassadors

Virginia Tech’s Office of Undergraduate Research selected a new set of student ambassadors for the 2016-17 academic year. The students represent a diverse set of majors across the university as well as unique research experiences.

“We launched the ambassador program a couple of years ago, allowing students to connect with their peers and learn about undergraduate research and ways our office can help them achieve their academic and professional goals,” said Keri Swaby, coordinator of the Office of Undergraduate Research. “This year, we have almost twice as many ambassadors, so we look to be even more involved on campus.”

The ambassadors include:

• Nala Chehade, of Annandale, Virginia, a senior majoring in international studies and history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
• Dallece Curley, of Chesapeake, Virginia, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience in the College of Science.
• Alexandra Flevarakis, of Fairfax, Virginia, a senior majoring in sustainable biomaterials in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.
• Emily Garverick, a senior majoring in applied economic management in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Julia Gerow, a junior majoring in animal and poultry sciences and agribusiness in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Chentelle Guest, a junior majoring in psychology in the College of Science.
• Eryney Marrogi, of McLean, Virginia, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry in the College of Science and philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
• Ryan Mowrey, of Blacksburg, Virginia, a junior majoring in biological sciences in the College of Science and water: resources, policy, and management in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.
• Katherine Olson, a senior majoring in environmental science and biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Sara Peterson, of Santa Barbara, California, a senior majoring in biological systems engineering in the College of Engineering.
• J’Nai Phillips, of Stafford, Virginia, a junior majoring in food science and technology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Amina Rahimi, a senior double majoring in biochemistry and microbiology in the College of Science.
• Kyle Titus-Glover, of Columbia, Maryland, a senior majoring in engineering science and mechanics in the College of Engineering.
• Colby Weit, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering.

Four of the ambassadors served in the role during the 2015-16 year and will return this year: Flevarakis, Guest, Rahimi, and Weit. The 14 students earned their role through a competitive application, recommendation, and interview process.

The ambassadors’ responsibilities include hosting weekly office hours and offering presentations on undergraduate research to classes and student groups. By providing this peer relationship, students have the opportunity to come to the ambassadors to ask general questions about getting involved in research on or off campus, how to share research results broadly, and how to get the most out of these experiences.

The ambassadors will host office hours every day while classes are in session. Times will be advertised on the Office of Undergraduate Research website.