In the spring, the hallways of Kettering Labs are filled with the hustle and bustle of students going to class and prospective students and their families visiting the School of Engineering before they make their final college decision.
Each prospective student and family is paired with a current engineering student ambassador and for many families, this personal tour is the deciding factor to become a Flyer.
Behind that impression is a carefully built student ambassador program led by Shawnee Breitenstein, director of engineering engagement, who has spent years shaping a team that reflects the school in the most genuine way possible. For her, the foundation of the program is clear — honesty matters the most.
“The goal of the program is to represent the School of Engineering from the student perspective and to be authentic in how they feel about their experience,” Breitenstein said, “It’s important to me that they not sugarcoat things and that they tell the truth about their lived experience, their professors, classes and involvement.”
Those conversations often become the moments that stick with prospective students long after their visit ends. Hearing from a current engineering student who may only be 2 years older than the prospective student but has already completed a co-op, studied abroad or got involved with research can make the college decision feel tangible.
Breitenstein has seen firsthand how much influence student interactions carry. For many of the current ambassadors, their tour with a student ambassador was their driving factor to choose UD. Now, they get to give back and be that influence for others.
“Over the years as an ambassador, I’ve had many meaningful interactions with prospective students and their families,” said Emily Rodeffer, a senior student ambassador. “One that stands out was during freshman move-in, when a student recognized me from leading her Women in Engineering Camp at UD two summers before. It felt like a full-circle moment, seeing her return as a student and knowing I had played a small role in her decision.”
The ambassador role extends far beyond tours. These students represent the School of Engineering across a wide range of settings including supporting alumni events, assisting faculty, guiding visiting professionals and contributing to university marketing campaigns. Their input even helps shape how the school communicates with future students, ensuring that messaging stays relevant and authentic.
Breitenstein has had a front-row seat to the growth of hundreds of students. Since joining the university in 2014 and the School of Engineering in 2016, she has watched ambassadors develop not just academically, but personally. And long after graduation, many of those students return to say hello, still connected to the program that helped shape them.
“I think college is the most formative time of your life, and I get to watch these students for a good two to three years of their life, all of the different experiences that they have, the cool things that they do, and how they grow from those experiences,” Breitenstein said.
For Rodeffer, her experience as an ambassador has helped her build close relationships with faculty while building her public speaking, leadership and networking skills — all will be beneficial when she continues at UD for her master’s after graduation this spring.