What is an International Student Ambassador?
An International Student Ambassador is a current international student who volunteers to support, mentor and connect with newly admitted international students. These ambassadors serve as cultural bridges, offering peer-to-peer guidance, and helping create a more inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for our global student community. The main role is to assist with international student engagement, orientation, and integration into campus life.
The mission of the International Student Ambassador Program is to strengthen a sense of belonging, foster intercultural understanding, and advocate for the international student voice across campus. Ambassadors represent distinct regions from around the world, as well as the broader international student body. They draw upon their personal experience, culture-specific knowledge, and leadership training to help students successfully transition to life in Merced and at UC Merced.
The program is organized by International Students and Scholars (ISS) in the Office of International Affairs (OIA), the Graduate Division and the Graduate Student Association (GSA).
What Do Ambassadors Do?
Ambassadors assist incoming students with everything from the logistics of arrival to navigating the academic and social aspects of graduate life at UC Merced. In doing so, they help new international students feel supported, seen, and empowered. Ambassadors will also draw upon their culture-specific knowledge as well as their own international student experiences to help incoming international students with a successful transition to living in Merced and campus life at UC Merced. Ambassadors are also delegates and advocates working alongside their international peers, as well as faculty and staff, to ensure that the international student voice is considered in efforts to improve the student experience.
International Student Ambassadors act as a bridge between the university and international student communities, helping to foster inclusion and understanding.
Key responsibilities:
- Serve as a peer mentor for 1 to 2 new incoming international students by reaching out with a warm welcome and maintaining regular communication.
- Provide pre-arrival support, including guidance on travel to Merced and how to complete required check-in steps with OIA.
- Welcome students during orientation events, including Graduate Research Orientation Week (GROW) and the New International Student Orientation.
- Guide on Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) trainings and the need to arrive by August 15th to do the Hiring Intake process.
- Help students navigate campus life, including information on how to take CatTraks – CatCards can be requested online https://catcard.ucmerced.edu/.
- Answer questions about adjusting to life in the U.S., understanding the higher education system, and finding community.
- Acquaint new students with essential resources, including health and wellness services, academic support, and housing tips.
- Create inclusive, cross-cultural opportunities through casual meetups, events, and cultural exchanges to help foster belonging and friendship.
- Share personal experiences to help new students adjust academically, culturally, and socially.
- Advocate for the international student voice, working in partnership with staff and faculty to improve services and support systems.
- Represent the international community, by serving as approachable leaders and knowledgeable resources for these new students.
Interested in Becoming an Ambassador?
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Fall 2025 Graduate Student Ambassador! As of now, the volunteer sheet is closed. Please look out for Spring 2026 volunteer positions!
Have questions or want to learn more? Email us at iss@ucmerced.edu or contact Kassity Veloz directly at kveloz@ucmerced.edu — we’re happy to chat!
Join us in creating a welcoming, inclusive, and globally connected campus.
