The SPIA ambassadorship program is an excellent opportunity to not only give back to the school but create powerful connections with donors, alumni, and prospective students. Ambassadors can serve for up to two years at the pleasure of the Dean to promote and strengthen SPIA’s reputation. They are required to staff several events of their choice per semester. A list of examples of what these events could look like are attending alumni summits, giving tours to new students, or handing out programs for special lectures. These events embed you even further into SPIA and allow you to meet incredible individuals that have made it what it is today.
To convince you to apply when the time comes, I will be sharing some of the most fulfilling moments I have experienced as a SPIA ambassador. One of my personal favorite events I have had the pleasure of attending was the Bulldog 100 Luncheon. 5 SPIA graduates were nominated to be Bulldog 100 honorees, and SPIA ambassadors were given the chance to hear about their experiences and ask questions during a panel discussion. After the luncheon, I was even able to approach one of the panelists, the current director of Historic Athens, and ask about his time in the UGA MPA. Another event that brought me a lot of joy was meeting a prospective student. He contacted SPIA regarding getting to talk to one of its students to find out more about the school. That’s when we ambassadors came in and scheduled a virtual meeting. It is super exciting seeing a student be so eager about potentially joining the student body. He also had a lot of questions, and it was a pleasure answering them. Last but certainly not least was when I got to meet a lecturer candidate. Lecturer candidates that are getting interviewed for a position meet students to get an accurate assessment of the student body and campus life. I remember having a very interesting conversation with the candidate I spoke to about her thesis and Georgia.
Getting to promote SPIA is incredibly fulfilling and introduces you to a variety of people that share the same passion for the school. That’s why you should apply when the time comes and become an ambassador for the most incredible institution!
Flora Mendoza
B.S. Political Science, B.A. International Affairs, B.A. French
Certificate in Data Analytics in Public Policy
Morehead Honors College | Class of 2028
