Alumni Ambassador Program

Alumni Ambassadors play an important role, but you won’t be going it alone! You and the other Ambassadors will receive a helpful toolkit filled with resources as well as support and guidance from the AIFS Alumni Team, the AIFS representative for your campus, and former Alumni Ambassadors. Although you may be the only Ambassador at your university, you will have a wide network of Ambassadors around the country to collaborate, brainstorm, and strategize with throughout the year.

• Attend the online AIFS Alumni Ambassador training in August (AIFS will provide access to the training platform)
• Complete a checklist of designated activities during the year, which includes creating one video and one blog post about your time abroad, submitting two online reviews and providing feedback to AIFS about your experience
• Become familiar with all AIFS programs (not just the one you studied on)
• Connect with your campus study abroad office to determine how you can be most helpful to them
• Work with the Alumni Team and your AIFS campus representative to develop a plan of action for the school year
• Assist interested students and AIFS applicants on your campus
• Report your activities to the Alumni Team on a monthly basis
• Participate in professional development training on topics including: how to market your international experience, job interviewing techniques, and learning how to go abroad again

• Be a part of globalizing your campus
• Relive and process your time abroad by sharing with other students and writing about your study abroad experience
• Opportunity to share your experience in multiple formats (we welcome and encourage blogs, photos, videos, social media activities, and much more. Be creative!)
• Learn how to market your study abroad experience in your professional life
• Individual résumé and LinkedIn profile review
• Opportunity to create an e-portfolio for use in your job search
• Letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the program
• Direct support from the AIFS Alumni Team and AIFS staff around the U.S.
• Receive a $500 travel voucher upon successful completion of the program
• Exceptional performance will be recognized with an opportunity to attend NAFSA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.
• Alumni Ambassadors from the American Institute for Foreign Study are guaranteed a $10,000 scholarship for a Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) master’s program. MIIS recognizes AIFS Ambassadors commitment to service, language, and cross-cultural communication as a valuable part of our campus community and global alumni network. American Institute for Foreign Study Alumni Ambassadors are guaranteed a $10,000 scholarship toward a master’s degree at the Middlebury Institute.

Applicants will need to answer the following questions in the online application:

• What is one highlight of your study abroad experience that you want to share with students?
• AIFS is committed to making sure all students know that study abroad is available to them. As such, we ask Ambassadors to connect intentionally with communities that are currently underrepresented in study abroad on their campus (Ex: students of color, students with disabilities, STEM majors, etc.) and serve as a resource. Please list one community you would connect with as an Ambassador and an idea for outreach.
• What skills do you want to develop through your participation in the Ambassador program?
• If you studied abroad during Spring 2020, how was your experience abroad impacted by COVID-19? How would you describe this experience to prospective students?

Once you have submitted your online application, please submit your resume, a cover letter indicating why you want to serve as an Alumni Ambassador and a favorite photo from your time abroad. These materials need to be sent by the application deadline to alumni@aifs.com. We will confirm receipt of your materials by email, and those with whom we want to speak more will be invited to interview with the Alumni Team. Interviews are 15 minutes in length and will be done via Zoom or Skype. All applicants will be notified of their status in the program through email by mid-July. Anyone to whom we are unable to offer an Ambassador position will be invited to join our Alumni Advocate program.

Fast-paced! We have roughly two days to cover a lot of information and allow participants time to connect with each other. We provide an Alumni Ambassador Handbook prior to training that all participants are expected to read.

We spend the training allowing Ambassadors time to learn how to articulate their experiences and craft an elevator pitch which they can use on their campuses and in the job search. We have modules that allow participants to get comfortable with presenting at information tables, in classrooms, and with student organizations.

Due to COVID-19, we have paused the program for the 20-21 academic year. We will re-launch the program in April 2022 for the 22-23 school year.

Our top five goals with training are to:

• Connect with AIFS staff and alumni to share your experience abroad
• Teach you how to promote studying abroad on your home campus and online
• Teach you how to present your promotional pitch about studying abroad
• Teach you the ins and outs of the Ambassador program
• Lay the groundwork for a year of personal and professional development

• All undergraduate students enrolled full-time at a US college or university
• Must be available for the duration of the academic year (August – early May)
• Must be in good financial standing with AIFS
• Participants must attend the online training

The Alumni Ambassador program is paused for the 21-22 school year. We will reopen applications for the program in April 2022. In the meantime, we encourage you to join the Alumni Advocate program or join our Ask Alumni program. If you have any questions, please email the Alumni Team at alumni@aifs.com.