Fitchburg State’s Presidential Ambassadors were front and center, decked out in green blazers, during the Presidential Ambassadors Showcase celebration on Sept. 25 at the Hammond Hall Main Lounge.
“This program began last year, when I was still new to campus and eager to listen and learn directly from our students,” Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge said. “Out of that desire, the Presidential Ambassadors were launched. And in their very first year, they accomplished more than I could have imagined. They carried Fitchburg State into conversations with members of Congress, local officials, business leaders, alumni, and prospective students. They represented us with poise, conviction, and heart. Their success last year laid a foundation that we now build upon together.”
The 2025-26 slate of ambassadors was announced as part of the State of the University celebration on Sept. 3.
The Presidential Ambassadors embody the momentum and mission of Fitchburg State. They take the lessons learned in the classroom and bring them to life through service, leadership, and innovation. Their work reminds everyone that education is not only about personal achievement, but also about building stronger communities and opening doors for those who will follow.
“What makes this program truly extraordinary, though, are the students themselves,” Hodge said. “They bring a remarkable diversity of backgrounds and experiences. Some are first-generation college students, some are athletes, some are artists, some are researchers, and some are advocates.Together, they reflect the full promise of this university. It is their diversity of thought, their creativity, and their willingness to lead that make this program not only inspiring, but transformative.”
In the year ahead, Hodge said, the students will elevate their voices even further.
“Ambassadors will not only represent the university in formal settings, they will also help us think about how Fitchburg State can grow and thrive,” Hodge said. “Their voices will be at the table in conversations with faculty, staff, community partners, and future Falcons. Because when our students speak, they remind us of our mission, our values, and the future we are building.”
The theme of this year’s program is, “Academics Change Lives.”
“It honors the power of our university and why intellectual pursuits, learning at all stages of our life and opening the mind, is what truly transforms lives,” said Dr. Christine Dee, Professor of History and Special Assistant to the President, who will supervise the ambassadors this year.
This year’s Presidential Ambassadors are: Veronica Barton, Kole Broderick, Alexis DeSimone, Priscilla Fordjour, Geybrell Liriano, Sophia Moore, Sydney-Amelia Nortelus, Peter J. Norton, Alexis Sandmann, Reshawn Stewart, Aidan Thompson, Matthew Gill and Julia Arena.
Arena and Gill are returning Presidential Ambassadors.
As a first-generation college student, even 2,500 miles away from my home, I want all of you to know that your own dream may not look like how everyone else’s does, but keep following your passion.
Associate Professor Katharine Covino, of the English Studies Department, and Gill have joined forces on a Presidential Ambassador/Fellow Research Partnership, focusing on belonging, community building and community engagement. The project explores best practices in the First Year Experience.
They discussed their project at length during the Showcase event.
"The research around belonging is clear,” Covino said. “We know that students who feel like they belong will enjoy positive outcomes related to their academic performance, social interactions, and mental and physical health. I feel really privileged to be able to work with Matt (and the research partners at UConn) on a project that is actively investigating the power of authentically embedding best practices designed to enhance belonging, community, and connection within and across our two institutions."
Gill said that having the opportunity to work in tandem with a college professor has truly enlightened the experience of participating in the Presidential Ambassador program.
“The ability to be mentored and guided through the process of a research project has directed me in a focus on the goals of this project: identifying the needs of importance in a sense of belonging and community engagement at Fitchburg State University,” he said.
Arena showcased her successful “Give and Go” program. The program collects used dorm room items, ranging from microwaves to washed bedding, in good condition from current or graduating students who no longer need them. The events are hosted for collection at the end of the semester and for distribution at the beginning of the following semester.
The objectives are simple: to reduce waste, support incoming and low-income students, and fostering belonging and a sense of home while at school.
“It was so rewarding to see how willing students were to donate items rather than throw them away, and how excited freshman students were to receive items they would have otherwise had to buy,” said Arena, a senior exercise science major with a clinical exercise physiology concentration. “I’m currently working on partnering with the Falcon Bazaar to expand collection to include clothing, hygiene products and more.”
Texas native Stewart, a communications media major who works in the housing office, couldn’t be happier after transferring to Fitchburg State nearly a year and a half ago. He says the Presidential Ambassador program is a great opportunity for him to continue to grow as a leader of students.
“As a first-generation college student, even 2,500 miles away from my home, I want all of you to know that your own dream may not look like how everyone else’s does, but keep following your passion,” said Stewart, a running back on the football team. “No matter how young or old you are, your passion will take you to spaces and places you never thought you would be a part of. For anyone else who feels lost or uncertain, I am proof that you can continue to chase that passion. I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to do this in this space as a Presidential Ambassador.”
Broderick, a senior in the criminal justice program, says he’s grateful to President Hodge for creating this program as a way for the students to give back to the community by “improving our university as a whole.”
That’s the mission.
“Whether we’re shining a light on the excellent academic opportunities, working with administration or encouraging student participation and engagement in their own education, our real goal is to improve this institution,” he said.
Liriano, a psychological science major who is active on campus in groups like the Improv Club and the Musical Theatre Club, is so happy that he applied and was accepted as one of this year’s Presidential Ambassadors.
“I felt as though that was an opportunity to continue to make that difference,” Liriano said, “to help as many people as possible have a great time at Fitchburg State and represent not only the university’s mission of a commitment to serve as a community resource, as well as aiming to be diverse and inclusive, but also to be a voice for my fellow students.”
Barton, majoring in communications media with concentrations in film/video and game design, is experienced in forming student support organizations and is a leader in and outside of the classroom.
“The ambassadors program creates a unique opportunity for us to provide direct input from a student's perspective on important university policies and plans for campus improvement,” Barton said. “Our initiatives allow us to spearhead programs which utilize our skillsets and knowledge in a manner that improves our leadership and Fitchburg State as a whole.”