A Day in the Life of a Student Ambassador

When prospective students visit New York Tech, one of the first faces they might see is that of a student ambassador. These students, working with the Office of Admissions, are in a unique position to portray and showcase all the university has to offer.

In April, Alexa Medina Rojas, a student ambassador on the New York City campus, assisted in hosting a group of high school students from Fordham University’s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), an academic enrichment program “designed to prepare underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged junior high and high school students for college and careers in STEM fields.” Fordham STEP and Medina Rojas, who led the tour, provided the visitors with a look at potential fields of study, what it’s like to be a New York Tech student, and a tour of campus.

Medina Rojas, a sophomore studying architecture, has been an ambassador for the New York City campus since discovering the role on the student job board Handshake in the spring of her freshman year. While the main part of her role is guiding visitors around campus and showing where they might be spending the most time according to their future degree program, she also helps her peers meet with representatives from offices including, Admissions, Bursar and Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and more.

“Being a student ambassador has helped me overcome my fear of speaking in front of large crowds. I’m now able to speak and address people in a more formal manner,” says Medina Rojas. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of different people. I even met an architect who offered to look at my portfolio.”

With her experience giving tours of her Brooklyn middle school and high school, Medina Rojas knew this role at New York Tech would be a good fit for her. Describing a typical day, she says most Admissions desk visitors are in search of a tour, if not to meet with someone from a specific department. She’ll hand out a New York Tech-branded bag with information about transfer credits, degree program information, faculty contacts and more, and then take her guest for a look around campus and an opportunity to meet with Financial Aid or Admissions staff.

“It’s amazing to see how our ambassadors grow throughout their years of participation in the program—they develop effective communication skills and professionalism, establish confidence in public speaking, and learn to work as part of a team,” says Assistant Director of Admissions Alexandra LaMagna, who worked with Medina Rojas in hosting the Fordham STEP guests. “These student ambassadors play a huge role in shaping the future of New York Tech. Their enthusiasm for our institution is what inspires the next generation of ‘doers, makers, and innovators.’”

When she’s not giving a tour of campus, Medina Rojas can be found studying toward earning her architecture degree. Growing up with a passion for drawing and building, she always knew the profession would define her future. After graduating in 2026, she hopes to obtain her architecture license and secure a position at an architecture firm where she can develop her skills in landscape design.

“Being an ambassador can give you a lot of connections,” Medina Rojas advises students looking to join the program. “When you’re on the job, you will be in contact with a lot of faculty members, so take advantage of these connections.”

Apply to be a student ambassador.