Student Ambassadors

The Student Ambassador Program consists of exemplary students who represent the School of Media and Communication (SMC) and meet with prospective students throughout the academic year. As SMC student leaders, they are well positioned to talk with prospective students about our program and student life at BGSU.

Dr. Bailey Dick is the Faculty Advisor of the Student Ambassador Program. If you have any questions, please contact her at bdick@bgsu.edu.

Ellie Evans

Major(s): Journalism 
Minor(s): Political Science 
Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I love writing and talking to people. Being a journalist gives me a lot of cool opportunities to learn about things I'd otherwise never know about! Plus, I want to make a difference. 
Campus Involvement: Falcon Media, Live & Loud
Internships and/or professional experience: BG Falcon Media Social Media Intern
What I love most about SMC is: The people! Everyone is different but also fits together so well. It's so interesting how many different aspects there are to media and communications and to hear everyone's unique specializations.
Favorite SMC class: I'm taking JOUR 3200: Intermediate Writing and Reporting right now and I am really learning a lot. I feel like it is making me a much better reporter! 

Chas McNeil

Major(s): Journalism
Minor(s): Marketing
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio
Campus Involvement: Falcon Media Sports Network, The Swoop, Zig Zone
Internships and/or professional experience: Falcon Media Sports Network Internship & Volleyball & Baseball beat writer,
What I love most about SMC is: Telling Stories
Favorite SMC class: JOUR 4000 because it is my internship.

Samantha Perry

Major(s): Media Production
Minor(s): Marketing
Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I have always enjoyed the idea of creating content and media. It's a great way for me to express myself and make an impact in a creative way!
Campus Involvement: I am on the production crew of The Swoop Sportscast, and Live & Loud! I also help out with the DEPO podcast, and I am the Vice President of the Korean Culture Club!
Internships and/or professional experience: I work at the PBS station and I'm an intern for Jasmine Crighton (a teacher in the SMC).
What I love most about SMC is: The CRAZY amount of hands-on experience you can get, and the skills you can learn just by working on projects with other people.
Favorite SMC class: My favorite SMC class I've taken is MDIA 3641: Television Newscast Directing!

Emma Rowland

Major(s): Communication
Minor(s): Business Management
Hometown: Napoleon, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I love meeting and connecting with new people.
Campus Involvement: Greek Life. I am in Alpha Xi Delta!
Internships and/or professional experience: I am the secretary for the Office of the Provost.
What I love most about SMC is: I love the support of the program and that I am continuing to meet and work with amazing people each year!
Favorite SMC class: I am currently loving my COMM 2900: Careers in Communication class!

Laura Sandlin

Major(s): Journalism
Minor(s): History
Hometown: Maumee, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I love sharing stories and felt SMC would be able to provide me with the opportunities I've had been looking for
Campus Involvement: Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
Internships and/or professional experience: WTOL11, Toledo City Paper, The BG News, BG24, Sentinel Tribune
What I love most about SMC is: The opportunities that I have and the friends that I have made!
Favorite SMC class: JOUR 4500: Journalism Law and Ethics because we discussed real world problems and how they would be addressed.

Faith Smith

Major(s): Public Relations
Minor(s): Marketing
Hometown: Urbana, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I love writing, talking, and community buildings. I love being able to be creative in my field and represent brands in a positive light.
Campus Involvement: Acouschicks A Cappella, Thompson Family Scholar
Internships and/or professional experience: Intern at Adams Street Publishing Co
What I love most about SMC is: The hands-on experience I get in the SMC. Each class prepares me with good experience for my career after I graduate.
Favorite SMC class: PR 3440: Public Relations Writing. The class is all about working with a nonprofit and being a PR professional for them, which has been so much fun!

Olivia Snyder

Major(s): Advertising
Minor(s): Business
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Why I chose my major: It's the perfect blend of creative and business work.
Campus Involvement: External Relations Director for the Media and Communication Student Association (MCSA). I'm also involved with the Falcon Letter Community (FLC).
Internships and/or professional experience: Internships with the BGSU Softball team and Kemba Live in Columbus
What I love most about SMC is: I love that the majors in the SMC are all a little bit intertwined. It's given me a baseline knowledge in many other subjects that will be applicable in the workforce.
Favorite SMC class: ADV 3800: Advertising Copywriting and Creative Strategy. I loved this class, the writing/grammar aspect of the class was really informative. I've since used the projects from this class as examples in interviews.

Mathew Tyson

Major(s): Media Production
Minor(s): Film
Hometown: Cygnet, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I love being creative and seeing my work come to fruition.
Campus Involvement: Falcon Media 
What I love most about SMC is: How hands on and personal it is.
Favorite SMC class: MDIA 1995: Fundamentals of Non-Linear Editing. I learned the basics of professional video editing, and that sparked a vast flame of creativity. 

Liv Vallandingham

Major(s): Journalism
Minor(s): Political Science, Popular Culture
Hometown: Russia, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I love writing and reporting!
Campus Involvement: BG Falcon Media, Campus Tour Guides, International Relations Organization
Internships and/or professional experience: Internship with the BG News, News Content Director for BG Falcon Media
What I love most about SMC is: Having the opportunity to write important stories and amplify voices!
Favorite SMC class: JOUR 2000: Intro to Journalism Writing. It was my first introduction to journalism and made me fall in love with it!

Lena Zielke

Major(s): Advertising
Minor(s): Media Production
Hometown: Canton, Michigan
Why I chose my major: I am most passionate about advertising and bringing ideas and concepts to life. It allows me to be connected with a diverse selection of employment opportunities.
Campus Involvement: Falcon Media and Up&Up
Internships and/or professional experience: Intern with Falcon Media Sports Network and Belle Tire Hockey Association. Co-social media manager for Detroit Is Not Dead.
What I love most about SMC is: The passion all of the professors have to see you succeed and always help you to do your best.
Favorite SMC class: MDIA 2610 because of the hands-on experience with high end technology.

Raymond Cotis

Major(s): Media Production
Hometown: North Royalton
Why I chose my major: Seeing the student involvement outside of class is truly incredible and amazing to be a part of.
Internships and/or professional experience: I am a Student Leader at WBGU-PBS, and the Executive Producer of The Swoop for BG Falcon Media
What I love most about SMC is: How broad yet helpful media production is. There is so many formats of media that is used around the world. It's so easy to find what you want to be a part of here at BGSU.
Favorite SMC class: My favorite class I have taken is MDIA 3641: Television Newscast Directing with Jasmine Crighton. That experience of creating a show from start to finish is very fun and played a crucial role in reviving The Swoop this year.

Kendyl Donges

Major: Communication
Minor: Non-profit administration
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
Why I chose my major: I have a love and passion for communicating and connecting with people!
What I'm involved in on campus: Chaarg, FLY program
What I love most about SMC: The variety of paths to take and different experiences I have gained.
Favorite SMC class: My favorite class is interpersonal communication because I think it is really interesting to understand why people communicate with others the way that they do!