Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

UD junior education major Anna Wilson remembers her college visits, the ones that stood out and the ones that faded. At UD she recalls a friendly, high-energy guide who shared plenty of information about the University and her personal experience. During a different college visit, she experienced a guide who was bored and uninterested. It made a difference. 

"The person you interact with on campus can sometimes make or break your decision," Wilson said. 

Now she is applying what she learned from those experiences while working as a dean's ambassador for the School of Education and Health Sciences. 

"I think, outside of talking about what I do and why I love UD, it's important to bring a positive attitude and be excited about what you do, because you're the face of the School," she said.  

Thanks to the generosity of One Day, One Dayton donors to the School's Dean's Fund for Excellence, the School successfully recruited eight undergraduate students and four graduate students to be ambassadors. Unlike the tour guides in the University's admission office who provide a wealth of general University information and some specifics about majors, the dean's ambassadors are trained to provide tailored tours. They speak to the happenings in Fitz Hall, share the experience of being a student in the School, and provide information on student clubs and classes. 

At a dean's advisory committee meeting in December, Wilson spoke to alumni and community stakeholders about her background, the opportunities she connected with and what she is learning. She also answered questions about education and teaching from curious high school students and their families on fall preview days, directly assisting with recruitment for the School and the region's struggling teacher pipeline. 

"I talked to students [during the fall preview days] who were on the fence about being education majors, and I know at least one of them was committed to applying after our conversation," Wilson said. "The conversations have been really rewarding for me, too. They remind me why I'm passionate about what I do, and why I do what I do — getting to talk about my experiences and what it's been like at the University, my field experiences, the jobs I've worked, the clubs I've joined, living on campus, and what it's like having a roommate.  

"I really do love my life here. It's great to share with people and show them what's possible for them, too." 

Madeline Dodenhoff, a senior health and wellness major, also is working as a dean's ambassador. During tours, she answers questions about her internships with Dayton Children's Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit; participating in sorority life with Pi Beta Phi; working as a teaching assistant; and sitting on the dean's awards and events committee. 

"When you go on a tour, you can get answers from advisers and the people you get paired with, but the students in the program really have the full experience," Dodenhoff said. "You can ask more specific questions — how did you do with that class, this major, maintain your grades, that kind of thing. I think that's very helpful." 

While the ambassadors will be working at events with a variety of audiences, Ali Carr-Chellman, School of Education and Health Sciences dean, believes the impact can be greatest for prospective students who are on the fence about applying to or choosing the University of Dayton. 

"Our prospective students are most interested in learning what it will be like to be a Flyer. Our ambassadors create the kind of personal connection and messages to prospective students, as well as current students, to help us with not only recruitment but also retention," Carr-Chellman said. "The dean's ambassadors can talk about all of it, including their unique experiences with the human anatomy lab, the 600 hours of classroom experience for education majors, and amazing clinical opportunities. They can also speak to residence life, clubs, service and faith life. 

"They paint the whole picture and help others see how valuable and unique a UD education and experience really is."