Interested in becoming an Ambassador?
Student Ambassadors are current students with a passion for sharing the UMR story. Every year the Office of Admissions looks for students who are personable, outgoing and excited about UMR.
Applications available each semester. All inquiries can be sent to Assistant Director of Admissions for Campus Visits and Events, Lindsey Meyers at [email protected].
UMR Ambassadors
Abby
- Pronouns: they/she
- Hometown: Blaine, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2027
- Career Interest: Medical lab scientist
- Why did you choose UMR: I love the close-knit community and small class sizes.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Taco Bell near the Kemps Building
- Favorite place on campus: Second floor of 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: Meeting my best friends during the Raptor Tournament in orientation week.
Andrea
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Lakeville, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2025
- Career Interest: Medical Degree or MD/PhD
- Why did you choose UMR: UMR seemed like the best fit because the BSHS was a good program in which I could explore many career paths involving health care while keeping an open mind to future opportunities. I attended Health Scholars Day and was able to get the Mayo Clinic Invest in Success and HealthCORE scholarships which are now a big piece of my UMR journey.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Pho Chau
- Favorite place on campus: 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: Going to Long Beach, California to present my research project along with other UMR students at a research conference.
- I loved being able to travel with my peers and getting to meet fellow researchers!
Ashley
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Waite Park, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2026
- Career Interest: Neonatologist
- Why did you choose UMR: Smaller classes helped me build close connections with professors. I was also accepted into the Early Assurance Pharmacy Program.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: ThaiPop, SongTea or Newts
- Favorite place on campus: 318 Commons—I love the wall plants and big windows for study breaks.
- Favorite UMR memory: Attending the Best Buddies Leadership Conference as club president—I built leadership skills and met incredible people.
Audrey
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Maple Lake, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2025
- Career Interest: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose to attend UMR because of the overall feeling of anticipation I got when I walked onto campus. I had not gotten that excitement from the other places I had visited telling me that this was the school for me. But that is not why I am still here at UMR. That feeling did eventually wear off throughout the first year when the classes got hard and the roommate disputes were difficult. I continue to choose to attend UMR because the professors are fantastic about what they do and the drive of the students around me is like no other. We all work together to push towards our goals. The first-hand medical experience you can get from Mayo being so close to campus is not comparable to anywhere else. UMR will be the school that will help me get to my end goal of being a physician.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Sorellina’s by Victoria’s
- Favorite place on campus: Intercultural Center
- Favorite UMR memory: Arts and Health Bracelet making event. It was really fun with a bunch of friends making something to remember the year by.
Brody
- Pronouns: he/him
- Hometown: Mountain Lake, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2026
- Career Interest: Psychiatry
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose to go to the UMR for two main reasons: it's relatively close to home, and it's surrounded by Mayo Clinic. But now that I've had one year of experience at UMR, I'd say I've also been able to benefit from the small class sizes and being able to share a common goal with my classmates. I love all of these factors because I can still go home to see family for important events, have easy access to events led by Mayo (like career fairs or trainings on how to apply), one-on-one time with professors and getting to be on a first name basis and I'm surrounded by others who also have a passion for health care!
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Hot Chip Burger Bar
- Favorite place on campus: Group Fitness Studio at the SLC
- Favorite UMR memory: My favorite UMR memory is when an LLC hosted a Charcuterie Board Night and my friends and I got to be on the top level of the SLC, looking out over the skyline and eating meat, cheese and fruits while pretending to be fancy.
Daelyn
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Maple Grove, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2026
- Career Interest: Pediatric surgery with a specialty in either neurology or cardiology
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose UMR because of the close proximity to the Mayo Clinic and the plentiful opportunities to engage with the community and Mayo through the school. I also enjoy the smaller class sizes and ability to seek one-on-one help.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Nupa Mediterranean Cuisine
- Favorite place on campus: The 2nd Floor of 318 Commons because of the study spaces and greenery
- Favorite UMR memory: My favorite UMR memory would be getting into a regenerative lung lab with Mayo thanks to the eMERGing mentor program through the school. I was able to grow my knowledge in the field of pulmonary medicine, and I gained a better understanding of the new innovations in technology available and its impacts on regenerative research. The lab was a fun environment to be in, and it grew my interest in medical sciences relating to our pulmonary and cardiac systems.
Dyzhana
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Mound, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2028
- Career Interest: Anesthesiologist
- Why did you choose UMR: Everything is close and connected. Staff and students genuinely want you to succeed.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: The Taco Shop
- Favorite place on campus: Study space at 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: Late-night walks with friends through the city helped us bond and take a break from studying.
Hailee
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Bertha, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2027
- Career Interest: Travel cardiothoracic surgeon
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose UMR for the small class sizes and the teacher-to-student ratio. Professors take time to learn your name and ask about your weekend.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Olive Garden or Nautical Bowl
- Favorite place on campus: Fitness studio in the SLC basement or study rooms in TDS
- Favorite UMR memory: Studying abroad in Germany for two weeks—The food and culture were incredible, and I met so many amazing people.
Jordan
- Pronouns: she/they
- Hometown: Centerville, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2026
- Career Interest: Surgical First Assistant
- Why did you choose UMR: I love that we have a smaller school with a lot of opportunities for connections with professors and fellow students.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Crave or Qdoba
- Favorite place on campus: My favorite place on campus is Peace Plaza because I love seeing all of the different people in Rochester enjoying the communal spaces and it just has a relaxing atmosphere.
- Favorite UMR memory: My favorite UMR memory was going to Whitewater State Park during my freshman year orientation week.
Kate
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Tokyo, Japan & Philippines
- Graduation Year: Spring 2027
- Career Interest: MD-PhD
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose UMR because of its focus on health care, small class sizes and caring faculty. I always feel supported with the endeavors I pursue, which makes UMR special.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Bebap
- Favorite place on campus: The 2nd Floor of 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: My favorite UMR memory is when we hosted the first RapTunes event during Valentine's season last year because it was a fulfilling moment for me, and we received a lot of support from fellow students.
Leif
- Pronouns: he/him
- Hometown: Luverne, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2027
- Career Interest: Geriatric Psychiatry or Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose UMR because the small class sizes were very familiar to me coming from a rural community. You won't get the level of community building that we see here at larger schools.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Hollandberry Pannekoeken
- Favorite place on campus: The 2nd Floor of 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: My favorite memory at UMR is winning the People's Choice Award my first time presenting at the Spring Research and Education Symposium.
Maddie
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Roseville, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2026
- Career Interest: Physician Assistant in Women’s Health
- Why did you choose UMR: I really enjoyed the small class sizes with the strong community feel. The drive and focus surrounding Health Sciences was also a big factor in choosing UMR.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Twigs Tavern and Grille
- Favorite place on campus: My favorite place on campus is the first floor of Two Discovery Square near the newly renovated Cafe Steam!
- Favorite UMR memory: My favorite UMR memory was the 2024 UMR Olympics hosted by the UMR Running Raptors - I loved getting to see all of the different student groups compete against each other as well as faculty members in different events!
Mary Lou
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Slayton, MN
- Graduation Year: May 2027
- Career Interest: Pediatrician or pediatric anesthesiologist
- Why did you choose UMR: Small class sizes and personal relationships with professors helped me grow academically and professionally.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Red Cow
- Favorite place on campus: Second floor of 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: Professor Michelle called me by the wrong name in O-Chem to snap me out of daydreaming. It sparked a mentorship that helped me thrive.
Natalia
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Cottage Grove, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2025
- Career Interest: Physician
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose UMR because of its small class sizes, which make it much easier to learn. I also liked the proximity to Mayo because it allows me to be more involved in health care.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Mango Thai
- Favorite place on campus: The 2nd Floor of 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: I liked the Latino Dance Night because even though we didn't have a lot of experience in dancing, everyone had a lot of fun!
Olivia
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Anoka, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2028
- Career Interest: Sonographer
- Why did you choose UMR: The opportunities, small class sizes and Mayo Clinic proximity drew me in.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Smoak BBQ or Bruegger’s Bagels
- Favorite place on campus: 318 Commons Terrace
- Favorite UMR memory: After Valentine’s Day, my friends and I shared a heart-shaped chicken nugget box before getting ready for Ebony Night. It was a perfect break from routine.
Parys
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Osceola, WI
- Graduation Year: Spring 2027
- Career Interest: Nurse practitioner
- Why did you choose UMR: No matter where I am, I feel a connection and a sense of belonging.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Wildwood
- Favorite place on campus: Intercultural Center
- Favorite UMR memory: Raptor Reconnect—It’s a great way to reconnect with peers and kick off the school year.
Shruthi
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Chaska, MN
- Graduation Year: Spring 2026
- Career Interest: Physician assistant
- Why did you choose UMR: I chose UMR for its small class sizes and the unique experience of being close to the top hospital in the nation.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Pho Tai
- Favorite place on campus: Study space at 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: Ebony Night—It was so fun to dress up and watch student performances with friends.
Tatum
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Owatonna, MN
- Graduation Year: Fall 2027
- Career Interest: Public health medical laboratory scientist
- Why did you choose UMR: I’ve always been passionate about health sciences and UMR offers diverse career opportunities.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: HuHot
- Favorite place on campus: Study pods in 318 Commons—The windows keep me focused and productive.
- Favorite UMR memory: Playing pool in the Nest with my roommate always fills the space with laughter.
Vaida
- Pronouns: she/her
- Hometown: Whitehall, WI
- Graduation Year: Spring 2026
- Career Interest: Physician associate, specializing in reconstructive hand surgery
- Why did you choose UMR: UMR’s connection to Mayo Clinic offers unmatched mentorship and clinical experience. The early assurance PA program gives me a direct path to my career.
- Favorite place to eat in Rochester: Tilda’s or Terza
- Favorite place on campus: Second floor of 318 Commons
- Favorite UMR memory: During Gen Chem 2 lab, my partner called our ballpark trial a ‘baseball trial.’ It captured the fun energy we brought to learning.