Meet the Campuswide Honors Ambassadors

Campuswide Honors Student Ambassadors are a diverse group of current honors students from many different majors who serve as liaisons between Campuswide Honors and prospective students and their families. They provide a personal perspective on the honors experience in Campuswide Honors and student life at UCI. Honors Ambassadors are here to share their insights and answer your questions! To contact an Honors Ambassador, please email honorsprospective@uci.edu!

Go back to the Campuswide Honors Prospective Students page


Aya
Major: Neurobiology
Hometown: San Ramona, CA

Hello! My name is Aya (she/her) and I am so excited to serve as an Ambassador for the Campuswide Honors Collegium this year! At UCI, I’ve had the privilege of calling Irvine my second home. When I’m not in class or studying with my friends, I like to spend my time at UCI Medical Center conducting research in two labs studying peritoneal carcinomatosis and pancreatic cancer. I also enjoy working with incoming Honors students to help them transition to college life as a Peer Mentor. As a Chair of the Collaborations Committee on the CHC Student Council, I love getting to know the amazing people that form our community by putting on events and helping to foster the formation of relationships between students and guest speakers. In my free time I love traveling and spending time with my friends and family. I can’t wait to meet you at one of the honors events!


Ellie
Major: International Studies and Business Administration double major
Hometown: Irvine, CA

Hi everyone! My name is Ellie! Being a member of the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) has been a very rewarding experience for me as I have had the privilege of serving as Academic Chair in the Campuswide Honors Student Council (CHSC), an Honors peer mentor, and even Campuswide Honors Representative for two years in the Associated Student Body at UCI (ASUCI). These opportunities all provided me with the chance to be a part of incredible communities, make lifetime friends, and really make the most of my time at UCI. Outside of CHC, I am doing research on international human rights and economies, will be completing an audit internship in Los Angeles, and am planning to study abroad in Japan! In my spare time, I like to curate playlists on Spotify, explore new restaurants, and read books. Looking forward to connecting with everyone in the CHCommunity and please feel free to reach out with any questions!


Erica
Major: Psychology with a Management minor
Hometown: San Carlos, CA
Transferred from College of San Mateo Community College (Honors to Honors Program)

Hi everyone! My name is Erica (she/her/hers)! I am a third year transfer, first year UCI student! I have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of both my community college’s honors program and now UCI’s Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC). Although the transition from a community college to a four year university was quite terrifying, the CHC has eased my concerns and welcomed me into an academically supporting environment while introducing me to like-minded and driven peers. Through the CHC, I have joined the Community Service Committee for the Campuswide Honors Student Council (CHSC) and have contributed to creating events that serve our community. Outside of the CHC, I have found a job as a behavioral therapist that focuses on children with autism, through the Psychology Student Association (PSA) here on campus. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and trying new restaurants, playing basketball, working out, and being with my dog. I’m so excited to take on this new role as an Ambassador and to support incoming students, especially my fellow transfers! I look forward to meeting you all!


Gabriel
Major: Computer Science and Engineering with a Statistics minor
Hometown: Pico Rivera, CA

Hello! I am Gabriel (he/him). Being a member of the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) has been one of my favorite parts of my undergraduate experience here at UCI. In addition to taking the required Honors classes, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to live in Honors Housing at Mesa Court, become a representative for the Collaboration Committee for Campuswide Honors Student Council (CHSC), an Honors Peer Mentor, and now an Honors Ambassador. Through these opportunities, I have met some amazing people, while either studying for classes, or while planning events for CHSC. Outside of CHC, I am also involved with ​the UCI chapters of MAES: Latinos in Science and Engineering, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE. In my spare time, I like to participate in Intramural Sports at the gym, especially soccer and basketball, playing video games, doing creative writing, and coding personal projects. I am looking forward to continuing my involvement in Campuswide Honors and meeting new and wonderful people in the CHCommunity!


Jacob
Major: Human Biology
Hometown: Chico, CA

Hi! My name is Jacob (he/him). Being a part of the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) has been an incredible experience as I had the fantastic opportunity to live in Honors Housing in the Middle Earth Towers, serve as an Honors Peer Mentor, and now work as a Campuswide Honors Ambassador. In taking spectacular honors classes and attending super fun honors events, I’ve discovered the amazing CHCommunity of like-minded, driven people with whom I’ve serendipitously become good friends. Outside of the CHC, I am currently involved with electrophysiology and biophysics research on voltage-gated proton channels in a lab on campus, and I serve on the executive boards for Global Medical Brigades, Human Biology Club, Morning Sign Out, and Nu Rho Psi at UCI. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring the local wonders of Southern California, gaming with friends, building LEGOs, and playing the piano. I can’t wait to get to know everybody better in the CHCommunity and I eagerly look forward to an awesome year working with the Campuswide Honors Collegium!


Jena
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Carson, CA

Hello! My name is Jena (she/her/hers). Within the Campuswide Honors Collegium(CHC), I serve several different roles. As a Collaboration Chair on the Campuswide Honors Student Council (CHSC), I help plan events that allow honors students to connect with UCI affiliates in an interactive and engaging way. I also work with incoming honors students on their transition into the honors program and college life as an Honors Peer Mentor. Additionally, I am one of the Resident Advisors in the honors hall in Middle Earth, where I help foster a supportive community for both incoming and continuing honors students. I’m grateful to honors for providing me with a community that I can both rely on and be involved in. Outside of honors, I am the marketing chair of the Women in Information and Computer Sciences organization at UCI, where I help promote events geared towards encouraging women in the field of technology. In my free time, I enjoy making baked goods in my kitchen, taking care of my house plants, and finding new places to eat. I’d be more than happy to share my experiences within the CHC and UCI, so if you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I look forward to meeting you all!


Paloma
Major: Sociology with an Education Minor
Hometown: La Verne, CA

Hi! My name is Paloma, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I have cherished being a member of the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) since starting at UCI. It welcomed me with open arms and is a wonderful, passionate community that pushes me to succeed academically and engage socially. I am also humbled to have learned that my mother and I are the first CHC “legacy” family (she attended in the 1990s and was also a part of CHC). Within CHC, I serve as an Honors Ambassador, member of the Campuswide Honors Student Council (CHSC), and live in Honors Housing, all of which have been fulfilling experiences. Outside of CHC, I am a Core member and the Musical Co-Director of Liwanag, UCI’s Filipino Catholic Community (all cultural backgrounds are welcome!). I am also the choir director for the University Catholic Community student masses. A peek into my life shows my treasured family (I am the oldest of 7 children), my passions for music, reading, playing games, and being in nature. I am eager to continue my engagement in the CHC and deepen my learning and growth with the support of the CHC community!


Samy
Major: Human Biology with a Health Informatics minor
Hometown: Cerritos, CA

Hello everybody! My name is Samy (he/him). Being a member of the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) has been one of the most gratifying aspects of my time at UCI, as I have had the privilege of serving as Campuswide Honors Student Council (CHSC) Vice President, Event Coordinator for NAR (the Honors creative works journal), and as one of the CHC Peer Academic Advisors. Throughout my involvement with CHC, I have had an amazing time setting up fun and insightful events with CHSC, competing at trivia with other students in the CHC’s Battle of the Brains against the faculty/alumni. I also have enjoyed countless incredible experiences with my peers who have helped make the Honors environment so wonderful. Outside of CHC, I am currently involved in pharmacology research with native plants, and have participated in the Patient Experience Internship at UCI Health and the UCI PHIT (Public Health Informatics & Technology) summer internship with the nonprofit AdvanceOC. In my spare time, I have fun playing basketball, watching sports highlights, and gaming with friends. I’m extremely excited to continue my involvement with Honors and I can’t wait to further connect with everyone in the CHCommunity and beyond!


Vidushi
Major: Biological Sciences with a Medical Humanities minor
Hometown: Corona, CA

Hello everyone! My name is Vidushi (she/her/hers)! I have been in the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) since I first entered UCI and it has been an incredibly rewarding opportunity. The CHC has given me the ability to grow as a person and as a student while simultaneously making meaningful connections with the community. As part of the CHC, I am also a CHC Peer Mentor, which gives me the privilege to welcome incoming CHC students and guide them through the transition to UCI. I am an engaged member of the Biological Sciences Student Council and the Global Medical Training organization. Another truly fulfilling part of my life is my work as a Behavior Interventionist with children with autism, as well as my role as an undergraduate researcher in the department of Neurobiology and Behavior. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, baking, cooking, listening to music, hanging out with my dog, and traveling! I am very excited to continue my journey as an active member of the CHC community and cannot wait to keep expanding my horizons!