Story and photo by Laura de Leon
The University’s Jaguar Ambassadors will attend a Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council meeting 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at Texas A&M-College Station.
This will be the first CSAC meeting that A&M-San Antonio Jaguar Ambassadors will attend. According to the A&M System website, the council was established in 1982 to provide an avenue for all student leaders to address student issues common to all campuses within the system.
Christina Martinez, office manager for student life and wellness and Jaguar Ambassadors co-adviser, said the recently appointed ambassadors, English senior Steven Zavala and social science senior Eva Mullen, will attend the meeting.
Martinez confirmed this weekend’s agenda will include discussions on campus activities, contacts made with elected officials and the upcoming Board of Regents meeting and presentation Nov. 1-2 at A&M-Kingsville.
Ambassadors also will attend a dinner hosted by Chancellor John Sharp and his wife, participate in the Midnight Yell, the traditional Aggie pep rally, and attend Saturday’s football game against South Carolina State Bulldogs.
Zavala and Mullen are the newest interim members of the Chancellor Student Advisory Council.
“They were nominated by the president,” Dorothy J. Mundine, executive assistant to the president, said.
Mullen said although they are involved in other organizations and perform similar duties, Jaguar Ambassadors are separate from other organizations. The Jaguar Ambassador program is not affiliated with CSAC.
The CSAC positions held by Zavala and Mullen may turn into a permanent position but Mullen said they will remain in place until after Student Government Association elections. Voting for SGA begins Sept. 24. Read more
Then, Mullen said SGA will determine if the CSAC position will reopen and a nomination process will take place.
“Our priority is Jaguar Ambassadors,” Mullen said, adding that while the school is developing, she and Zavala are taking on other responsibilities to fill the positions.
“When we are doing work for (CSAC), it is completely separate from the ambassadors,” Mullen said.
Meet the ambassadors
Zavala transferred to A&M-San Antonio from Texas State University in fall 2011. He said his experience with the student life at Texas State and the pride there motivated him to be a part of developing traditions at A&M-San Antonio.
During spring 2012 he served as the vice president for the Literature Club here and was involved in multiple organizations on campus.
“I saw that there was a need for a student to step up,” Zavala said.
Mullen transferred from San Antonio College in spring 2012. Her involvement at SAC included membership of Student Leadership Institute and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She was the first distinguished graduate for the Public Administration Club. Mullen said after her first semester at A&M-San Antonio, she was determined to be more involved in student life.
Taking on new responsibilities
The ambassadors were interviewed and selected by co-adviser Jolene Des Roches, director of student life and wellness, and began employment Aug. 29 as paid student workers. Their term of service is one academic year and plans for future elections and possibilities of more seats under them are still not official.
Serving as an outlet to the student body, the ambassadors will communicate information to administration, guide students to advisers and answer questions about University matters.
Des Roches said they will serve as the public outreach representatives of A&M-San Antonio.
The ambassadors will host and attend University events, contact donors and have a direct interaction with all University organizations and activities.
“Not only do we offer our services to the student body, but we are also used for the University itself,” Zavala said.
They will also attend training on ethics and communications to allow them to be prepared and answer questions in the field appropriately.
“It’s definitely skills you can carry on to future jobs,” Zavala said in regards to future training.
Zavala and Mullen said they hope to start a tradition that carries on and benefits the student body for years to come.
“We hope to get more students on board,” Mullen said.
