Social Media Ambassadors (SMAs) assist the I-House Communications team with social media, blogging, video production, fundraising, and special initiatives. Now more than ever, we strive to keep the I-House experience alive in the hearts and minds of alumni around the world. During the temporary closure of I-House, there are new volunteer opportunities available for alumni to serve as Global Community Ambassadors on our new alumni engagement platform, I-House Berkeley Connect.
Become a Global Community Ambassador
Whether you're a journalism student, a blogger, photographer, artist, or just love sharing on social media, this could be a great opportunity to build your portfolio. Qualified candidates will receive an exclusive Social Media Ambassador T-shirt, swag, an Amazon gift card, and communications experience that can be valuable in any career.
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2019 - 2020 Social Media Ambassador
Chan'Cellore Makanjuola is an award-winning filmmaker from Plano, Texas. She studied film at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX, where she got her degree in Mass Communication. She is currently a first-year graduate student at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, with her concentration in documentary filmmaking. She enjoys video editing, watching documentaries (and making them), and is always looking for a great story. Her favorite thing about living at I-House was experiencing a wide range of cultures and backgrounds from the people she met, particularly in the Dining Commons.
Read her blog posts:
- Alumni Spotlight: Kathryn Anthony (IH 1976-79)
- A Semester Like No Other: An I-House Berkeley Spring 2020 Recap
- I-House Residents Fighting COVID-19, One Care Package at a Time
- Big Thanks for Big Give!
- Support I-House Berkeley for Big Give!
- Celebrating Black History Month at I-House through Food
- I-House, a Gateway to Love: Mexico Meets Bangladesh
- Winter Holiday Traditions from I-House Residents
Listen to her interview on the podcast series, Under the Dome.
For this episode, we checked in with Chan'Cellore Makanjuola, a first-year master’s student at the Graduate School of Journalism and the I-House Social Media Ambassador. Chan’Cellore joins us to share the story behind her name and to celebrate her Nigerian roots — especially her penchant for Nollywood!
Watch videos produced by Chan'Cellore:
Support I-House for Big Give
Winter Holiday Traditions from I-House Residents
Read the blog post, "Winter Holiday Traditions from I-House Residents."
"I-House Gratitude" Video
"The I-House Experience" Video
Executive Director Hans Giesecke and Laurie Ferris present Loyalty Traster-Lee and Juanan Perez with the SMA awards for Spring 2019
Laurie Ferris, Communications Strategist
As the Communications Strategist for International House at UC Berkeley, I share stories online and in our I-House Times Newsletter. I created the Social Media Ambassador Program so that residents can share the I-House experience with the UC Berkeley community and beyond. I enjoy working with these talented residents who have unique perspectives on life at I-House.
Questions? Contact me at lferris@berkeley.edu.
Loyalty Traster-Lee and Juanan Perez
Loyalty Traster-Lee and Juanan Perez were the Spring 2019 Social Media Ambassadors. Loyalty wrote nine blog posts and Juanan wrote five blog posts. Together, they produced the wildly popular "I-House Connection" video with the collaboration of sixty residents.
Testimonials about the experience:
"Hello! My name is Loyalty and I'm from California. While I was a resident at International House, I had the wonderful opportunity to be a Social Media Ambassador, along with Juanan, during the Spring 2019 semester. Being a part of I-House's communication endeavors, via digital outlets such as Instagram and blog posts, allowed me to engage with so many amazing humans I would otherwise have not met. In particular, I loved filming, editing, and directing the music video, "The I-House Connection" with Juanan, to bring awareness to I-House for Big Give 2019. Throughout the semester, I was supported and encouraged by Laurie, and this commitment hit the perfect balance of having enough responsibility to feel impactful, without being stress-inducing. I'll always have fond memories of my time at I-House, and my time as a Social Media Ambassador."
"Hello everyone! My name is Juanan, and I am from Spain. I was a resident at I-House during the 2018-2019 academic year. I can say that it was one of the best places that I have ever lived. As a student in International Relations, it helped me broaden my mind about the beauty of the diversity of cultures all across the world. Being a Social Media Ambassador during the second semester was a great way for me to get experience writing in English. With the help of Loyalty, we were able to show future residents how I-House life is from inside and give advice about life in Berkeley. It was an experience I will never forget!"
Francesca Ternullo
Hi! My name is Francesca and I am from Italy. I was a UCEAP student at UC Berkeley. While I was a resident at International House, I also had the amazing opportunity to be the Social Media Ambassador for the Fall 2018 semester. It was my first experience in the communication field but I was fascinated by social media and in how to engage large groups of people, such as I-House residents and community members. I had the chance not only to learn from the communication officers how to effectively conduct a “giveaway” campaign and social media posts but also to live as a protagonist all the I-House main events. I was sharing my POV in the main I-House channels and sometimes I was reposted also from UCEAP channels. During the semester, I have always been assisted and trained by Laurie, and it was inspiring to learn from an expert. Laurie was a great mentor: she understood the most suitable task for me and she also allowed me to fully express my creativity. I will always have a great memory of my stay at I-House thanks to this experience (also because I see my Ambassador t-shirt every day in my wardrobe!) I am happy to have been a Social Media Ambassador because not only it was a lot of fun but I have an additional experience to put in my resume since “communication” skills are in demand.
Previous SMAs
Spring 2018
Claire Liow
Fall 2017
Claire Liow and Laila Zouaki
2016 - 2017
Morgan Randall