Five BIPOC Equity Ambassadors have been hired to help connect with prospective undergraduate students about their lived experiences at Queen’s. 

The Undergraduate Admissions team has hired the first five Equity Ambassadors: Tamjid Bari, ArtSci ’21; Tatiana Yunadi, ArtSci ArtSci ’21; Kidus Leul, ArtSci ’23; Fahida Hossain, ArtSci ’21; and Astrid Louise Nandoh, ArtSci ’23. The choices were announced on Feb. 10.

The initiative was announced last November after Principal Patrick Deane’s Declaration of Commitment to Address Systemic Racism, which was released in response to student calls for action. It’s one of the strategies intended to eliminate barriers for BIPOC applicants in undergraduate admissions and recruitment processes.

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“Equity Ambassadors were established in an effort to help applicants from equity-deserving backgrounds by creating opportunities for open dialogue with other students from underrepresented and underserved groups who have already navigated enrolling and studying at Queen’s,” Chris Coupland, executive director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment, wrote in a statement to The Journal.

The group of peer advisors are all upper-year students who are members of the BIPOC community. They were hired to support applicants from equity-seeking groups through the admissions process and their transition to life at Queen’s. The group represents both domestic and international students, and a range of programs in the Faculty of Arts and Science. 

“Each [ambassador] is expected to be welcoming, knowledgeable and share their lived experiences,” Coupland wrote. “The goal of the Equity Ambassador program is to provide additional support to prospective students and their families by sharing knowledge about Queen’s and their student experience.”

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The ambassadors were hired through an open competitive process. They have each demonstrated leadership in the realm of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII) in their time at Queen’s. Many have been involved in EDII-advancing clubs and community organizations.

They will work about five to seven hours a week during the school year, plus extra time 
during peak recruitment periods. These are paid part-time positions.

According to Coupland, the Undergraduate Admissions team is in the process of hiring more ambassadors. He did not specify from which equity-seeking groups these students will be selected.

“The University is committed to student success. Good communication skills and interest in supporting equity-deserving and underserved students is a quality we look for in hiring our Ambassadors,” Coupland said.