Honors College Selects Executive Board for Student Ambassadors Program

The Honors College is pleased to announce the executive board for the college's Ambassadors service program. The board consists of seven officers, including honors students Abdullah Asif, Esther Beller, Ria Collins, Daniella Fernandez, Alekhya Kavi, Olivia MacDonald and Kennedy Williams, who will serve for the 2024-25 school year. 

The executive board will lead the Honors College Ambassadors service program, which has been active on campus for over 15 years. Ambassadors promote various opportunities available through the Honors College, from connecting with prospective students to volunteering at workshops for current students. Besides managing day-to-day program operations, the board will also facilitate volunteer opportunities for fellow student ambassadors that support the Honors College and external organizations. 

"This cohort of Honors College Ambassadors Executive Board members has infectious energy and a profound belief in the transformative power of an Honors College education," said Megan Hull, director of curricular planning and student engagement. "They are eager to continue to grow this program and facilitate more ways for our Arkansas Honors students to grow, give back and engage. I cannot wait to see all that they do this upcoming academic year!"

Officers of Executive Board

President — Esther Beller 
Esther Beller is a sophomore from Cave City majoring in accounting and business economics with a minor in nonprofit studies. On campus, she is involved with Leadership Walton, the Honors College Community Leaders Program, Future Women Business Leaders and the Passionate About Literacy program through the Volunteer Action Center (VAC). Off campus, Beller is working as a transportation tax intern at Abacus CPAs, LLC and looks forward to studying abroad in Ireland this summer. She is an incoming intern for the VAC and hopes to continue connecting students with impactful service experiences on and off campus through the VAC and the Honors Ambassador program. 

Vice President of Operations — Ria Collins 
Ria Collins is a junior John W. McAllister Honors College Fellow from Bentonville majoring in accounting with minors in data analytics and political science. Collins is an incoming financial analyst intern at Amazon in Seattle, Washington. She serves as the secretary of the Dean's Student Collaboration Team at the Sam M. Walton College of Business and has served as an Honors College Ambassador throughout her collegiate career. 

Vice President of Relations — Abdullah Asif 
Abdullah Asif is a junior Honors College Fellow from Bentonville majoring in biochemistry and Arabic and Middle Eastern studies, with a minor in medical humanities. In his free time, he loves learning new things, listening to podcasts, playing video games, experiencing nature and being active in his community. He is currently involved in and serves on the boards of Alpha Epsilon Delta (the premedical honor society), the Muslim Students Association and Students With Refugees. He enjoys being part of the Honors College for the plethora of opportunities it offers and the vibrant, high-achieving student community it fosters. 

Secretary — Alekhya Kavi 
Alekhya Kavi is a freshman Honors College Fellow from Conway majoring in biology on a premed track and minoring in computer science and medical humanities. She is an active member as part of the VAC, Arkansas Atrangi and the Full Circle Food Pantry. She plans on becoming more involved on campus through the many clubs the U of A has to offer. Kavi hopes to pursue a career in medicine and give students a chance to have the best experience on campus they can. 

Treasurer — Olivia MacDonald 
Olivia MacDonald is a junior from Bentonville majoring in communication sciences and disorders while double minoring in child services and human development and family studies. She plans to pursue a career in pediatric speech-language pathology. On campus, she holds a position on the executive board of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association as director of fundraising and has previously served as a peer mentor for the COEHP Honors program. Currently, she is engaged in research for her thesis focusing on augmentative and alternative communication devices. She aims to foster campus-wide involvement and connection among students while also educating them about the wide range of opportunities available at the U of A. 

Director of Outreach — Daniella Fernandez  
Daniella Fernandez is a student from Springdale majoring in psychology, criminology and sociology. As the founder of the Central American Student Alliance, the Inclusive Excellence Chair of the PETAL Lab and a committee member of the Associated Student Government's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, she is devoted to diversity initiatives, unity and visibility for marginalized groups on campus. She is currently conducting her honors thesis that explores the role of shame in the relationship between cannabidiol and problematic alcohol use. 

Director of Engagement — Kennedy Williams 
Kennedy Williams is a sophomore from Lonoke majoring in biology and minoring in medical humanities with a premedical concentration. Alongside her academic responsibilities, Kennedy serves as an officer of the Black Student Association and a member of the NAACP. She holds membership as a Path scholar and as an Alpha Lambda Delta member. Williams volunteers at the local Fayetteville Animal Shelter as well as Kid's LifeSource. In the upcoming year, she will serve as the secretary of BSA and a 360 mentor. As director of engagement, she aspires to reach diverse backgrounds and promote unity campus-wide.