All About Ambassador Jude!
Hey there, fellow Clark College Students! 👋 I’m Jude, your trusty returning Student Ambassador, and I am honored to be back for another amazing year of fostering connections and helping students! I may be biased, but this is the best job on campus – no wait, the best job ever! The Entry Services team and our team of Student Ambassadors are pure magic!
In addition to my role as an ambassador, I am currently pursuing an AA DTA degree, which is my special gift to myself after turning 50. I’m a firm believer in lifelong learning and I hope to be expanding my knowledge until the very end of my days. Clark College has been just the place for me to explore this new path and gain some personal growth. The experiences I have had with the professors, staff, students, activities, and the many, many resources confirm that I am in the right place. Some of my favorite subjects are Women’s Studies, Psychology, and Sociology. Don’t ask me to pick a favorite – they are all fascinating!
A little about me: I am a proud parent to my daughter Zoe, who just started her high school journey. Navigating the world of academia with my daughter has given me a unique perspective and a deeper appreciation for the student experience. I spend a lot of time in my car driving her driving her to and from school, and all of her many activities. She is a busy girl who works really hard, which makes me appreciate this time with her. She and my husband Kirk have been a tremendous support for me.
Apart from academics, some activities I enjoy are artsy-crafty projects (especially rock painting) and any activity that brings people together. My idea of fun is hanging out with friends at a local happy hour, taking a long road trip, jetting away to Vegas, beach weekends with girlfriends, and of course studying. Whether it is catching up with old friends, or meeting new people, I recharge my batteries by socializing. I am not completely extroverted, however. Nothing beats some good quality time at home all alone.
Another huge passion of mine is giving back to the community and volunteerism. This is a core value of mine. Volunteering has always been meaningful and fulfilling for me. I’m passionate about making a positive impact wherever I can. Whether it’s lending a hand within an organization or starting a pay-it-forward chain at a coffee shop drive-thru – giving is what I love most. Someday I’d like to end up working as a volunteer again doing impactful work that benefits the underserved in our community.
I hope to connect with as many of you as possible, share experiences, and help create an environment where every student can thrive. If you see me around campus giving a tour or working in the Welcome Center, please say hello! Let’s make this year an unforgettable one! 🚀✨
Meet Ambassador Kaden
Hi everyone! My name is Kaden Cole (he/they), and I am one of the Student Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 school year! I will be in my second year at Clark this year and I am hoping to graduate this Spring with my AA-DTA in Sociology. My goal after Clark is to go to WSU-V and get my BA in clinical psychology. I have been interested in psychology for a while now and I love working with people! My future career goal is to be a mental health counselor for children and adolescents.
Here are some facts about to get to know me better! I was born and raised here in the PNW and I absolutely love it here. Despite my awful pollen allergies in the Spring that won’t stop me from going outside and enjoying the sun! I also enjoy our rainy season, my favorite activity to do while it is raining is to get cozy with a book and a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate. When we do get a break from the rain I will be outside usually with my friends exploring downtown Portland or having picnics at the park. I also have two dogs currently and I love spending my time with them when I’m not up in my room playing video games or watching anime.
I am also quite the self-made artist, I do it purely for fun but I can already tell that my skills will be used around campus. I enjoy doing traditional drawing with pencil and paper, acrylic painting, and in the last few years I’ve been doing digital art on Procreate. Besides making art pieces in the mediums I’ve already mentioned I’m also relatively crafty. I recently renovated my room where I decorated, painted, and built a handful of the furniture I now use almost every day. If you ever need a hand I may be able to lend my assistance!
So far I am adoring being a student ambassador. It is so much fun and I love the people I get to work with as well as helping the students who come in to see us! If you see me around feel free to say hello!
I hope you all are doing well and I hope to see you around one day!
Student Ambassador Mary
Hello everyone! My name is Mary Harter, and I am one of the Student Ambassadors at Clark College. A little bit about me is that I am in my last year at Clark in our Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services program, and I am loving it! I have always been drawn toward psychology and sociology which makes this program a great fit for me. I also love to help others in any way that I can… which includes helping students like you! When I am not working on schoolwork, (which is A LOT!) I love to play video games, go hiking/camping, and check out new food places I have never been to before. Luckily despite being swamped with school over the summer, I got to go camping and experience new food places!
I am so grateful to be back for a second year as a Student Ambassador. I love being connected to the college and teaching about all the things that we have to offer. I think that my favorite parts of this job are the group visits and my team! Helping out on group visits can be so much fun and we get to teach young students in our community all about what we do at Clark College, and I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with.
Don’t be afraid to come and ask for help because everyone is so warm and welcoming, I am looking forward to another year and I hope to see you there!
Meet Ambassador Tiffany
Hello everyone!
My name is Tiffany (she/her) and I will be one of your Student Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 school year. I am in my second year at Clark as part of the Digital Media Arts program and will be graduating in Spring. While I am undecided about exactly which path to follow after graduation, I am interested in illustration, animation, and sound design.
I am also attending Clark as an adult learner. I have a degree in Business Administration from Western Washington University. While I very much enjoyed my time at Western and value my degree, I was just not able to find a place for myself in the business world. My friends and family have always said, “You’re so creative!” And I knew I always had a creative spark in me, so I decided to return to school and study art.
I have a variety of interests outside of school and am always finding something new to enjoy. I love to cook and bake, especially trying out new recipes, and I am currently learning how to crochet. I consider myself a “knowledge junkie” and love to watch documentaries and shows like Jeopardy. And when I’m bored, you will likely find me playing Wordle or doing crossword puzzles. I am also passionate about the environment and am always trying to make better choices to limit my carbon footprint.
I love living in Vancouver and am thrilled to be a part of, and learn more about, Clark College! If you see me around campus, don’t hesitate to ask for help or directions around campus. The Ambassadors are here to help. Go Penguins!
Meet Ambassador Ziyad
Heya! I’m Ziyad El Amrani. I’m in my last year as a Clark student majoring in Applied Science in Applied Management. Guided by a passion for Healthcare, Non-profit, and Sports, I’ve embarked on a quest to uncover the boundless possibilities this degree holds after I graduate this upcoming Spring!
Growing up in the vibrant landscapes of North Africa and briefly in the sun-drenched streets of Spain has been a whirlwind adventure of its own. From the bustling markets to the stunning coastlines, I’ve had a front-row seat to the magic of these incredible regions. This summer, I brought a taste of these experiences with me as I embarked on a trip to both Morocco and Spain, where I visited family and friends. I was excited to travel to areas I had not visited before. And let’s not forget that I had the opportunity to ride a camel to a remote traditional market to purchase some authentic handmade crafts and fabrics, which felt like a scene straight out of a blockbuster movie. Trust me, it was legendary!
Oh, and did I mention I’m a bit of a language enthusiast? I’m fluent in three different languages: Arabic, French, and English, thanks in part to my time in these diverse corners of the world. So, whether we’re conversing in the poetic flow of Arabic, the elegant nuances of French, or the universal language of English, we’re sure to find common ground!
Now, let’s talk ambassadorship! As a returning ambassador for the second year running, I’m even more stoked to continue being the bridge between our amazing community and Clark College. It’s not just about shaking hands and giving tours (although there’s plenty of that too). As an ambassador, I’ve had the chance to meet and work with an incredible team of other Ambassadors who are basically my besties now and an incredible Entry Services team that is always here to support us. As a Student Ambassador, I found a canvas to paint my vision of a connected and empowered community. Through this role, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary impact that a group of dedicated individuals can have. Whether it’s hosting events, group visits, welcoming days or just answering general questions and helping students with their very first steps to attend College and pursue their dreams. Being an ambassador has been a beacon of purpose.
When I’m not diving into textbooks or spreading ambassador cheer, you’ll find me playing video games, watching sports, or reading books. However, I would say that I spend a lot of time in the kitchen since I’ve got a knack for cooking all sorts of dishes. Specifically, Mediterranean and Moroccan food. On top of that, I am also a certified foodie who loves to try all sorts of foods and snacks.
I’m looking forward to the adventures that this academic year has in store and can’t wait to meet all of you out there in the Clark College community. If you ever want to chat or have some questions, feel free to reach out! Let’s connect and make the most of this journey all together.
Meet Ambassador Madi!
Hi everyone! My name is Madi Beck, and I’m a new Student Ambassador for the school year here at Clark College. I’m very excited to be here! I am currently pursuing my Direct Transfer Associates degree in English. I don’t have a specific plan or transfer school in mind, and I’ll probably end up taking another gap year after I get my DTA, but my end goal is a degree in Library/Information Science. Being a librarian has been my dream job since I was a kid! I want a career that combines my interests in literature and community service, and being a librarian would tick both those boxes.
As you can probably guess, one of my biggest hobbies is reading. I am obsessed with storytelling in any form though, whether that’s through podcasts, videos, movies, TV shows, or video games. Some of my favorite pieces of media out there include the video game Hollow Knight and the D&D based web series Critical Role. Fun fact; this September I got to meet Matthew Mercer, one of the creators from Critical Role! I will probably never get over that.
I also really enjoy learning about history through the lens of mythology. For me, that is a very personal way to learn about historical peoples. As well as being a big geek, I am also a very outdoorsy person! I love backpacking and bird-watching, and I have spent a LOT of summers in the back-country of Oregon, Washington, and Colorado building hiking trails with various volunteer organizations.
I was born in Oregon City, but spent much of my childhood and teen years traveling the United States with my parents, little sister, and dogs. My travel crazy parents have settled down for the next few years in Savannah, GA. I get to take advantage of the nice southern weather when I go to visit.
The pacific Northwest, and Vancouver/Portland specifically, have always held a special place in my heart no matter what. That is why I decided to continue my education at Clark college. I took several years off between high school and college to work, and was intimidated reentering the academic world. But my experience has been wonderful since the starting here, and if Clark offered a degree in Library Science I would gladly stay here for my entire educational career. As it is, I am so happy and excited to finish up my DTA as a Student Ambassador! I’m very excited to meet all our new and returning students this year, and I hope I’ll be able to make them feel as welcomed as I did as a new student!
Uploaded by Madi
The Diversity Center
Hello, wonderful people at Clark College!
I’m going to talk about the Diversity Center, one of my favorite places on campus. The diversity center has been my personal staple at Clark College since first starting here back in 2016. Back then, they had a completely different (yet still amazing) staff, and their office wasn’t as cool as it is now. I am a queer black person, and so it was hard to find for me to find people to connect with and that get a lot of the same struggles I faced, both as a college student and in my personal life. Since coming back to Clark College, I made sure that I reconnected with that resource and the staff. They host luncheons, events, and get togethers with students and staff. Some of the clubs/luncheons include: the Queer student club (a.k.a the Queer Agenda, a queer club we have here on campus), BSU Luncheon (The Black Student Union), Multicultural Student Luncheon, and Disabilities Student Luncheons. I highly recommend anyone that doesn’t know where to find people or is having a hard time connecting with their peers to check out one of these events.
The Diversity Center is an important resource for any student, no matter your gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, and/or sexual orientation. The best thing about their offices is that they are connected to almost every other office on campus, whether that’s disability support services, international programs, financial aid, etc. If you are having a problem on campus, or something is going wrong, or anything that can come up as a student, they are there to help you. The staff they currently have (Alyssa, Vanessa, Nicole, Dee, Rosalba, and Mike) are amazing and are always ready to help students. The staff work hard with community outreach such as, Noche De Familia, a Spanish-speaking event for families to come and learn more about college and the resources we have. They even go out of the city like an event I attended up in Renton, Washington with Nicole and Dee along with another student, so we can get connected with HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and different colleges in the Pacific Northwest.
If you’re looking for help in any aspect of your life, whether that’s work-life balance, work-student balance, life-student balance, the Diversity Center has Student Success Coaches there that can be able to help. I personally see Lana, who works with students who are pursuing arts or communication degrees. We talk about how I can be a better student, how to organize my life so I’m not as scattered brain all the time, and working on better habits to improve my accountability. I absolutely love working with these coaches, the others include Jill (who specializes in S.T.E.M.) and Katia (who specializes with Business and Management). Each of them is unique in how they approach problems that students are having with solutions that positively impact a student’s life.
I recommend the Diversity Center not just for the points that I outlined, but for the reason of “what’s the worst that can happen.” This is an office meant for students to come, connect, and grab help when they need it. Take advantage of every situation and resource we have here at Clark College, and if you have questions, start with the Diversity Center and they’ll help you from there.
Meet Ambassador Ziyad
Hello everyone!!
My Full name is Ziyad El Amrani, and I am one of the new Student Ambassadors for this academic year! This is my third year at Clark College. I graduated with my AA in Business administration DTA/MRP back in 2021, and I took a full year break working full time as a financial specialist in Vancouver WA. Now I am back to work on my Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management (BASAM), so I can advance in my professional career. I always wanted to work as a project manager for diverse professional areas that interest me. Most of my professional career interests are in: health care, entertainment technologies, gaming, and professional sports. It sounds like a broad area of random different things, but what can I say I am a little picky and I only like to work where I will be able to give the most and enjoy it at the same time.
A little bit about me, is that I am originally from North Africa specifically from Morocco, I lived most of my life there. I didn’t know how much I enjoyed the beaches there and the very nice sunny weather all year long until I started living in the Pacific Northwest, and had to deal with rainy, cold, snowy, overcast weather for most of the time. Another interesting fact about me is that I speak fluently three different languages: (Arabic, French, and English). My family now live mostly between Morocco and Spain, and I can’t wait to visit them again it always so fun to spend vacation there and just connect back with friends and family, and enjoy the nice weather on the beautiful beach.
I have been always excited being here in college at Clark from the first day ever. Since I came here to the United States, I learned to appreciate a lot the fact that I can attend a higher education institution that has good programs and help me build my professional career. It is not really the same back at home, it’s more complicated and limited to have access to education in general at all levels. So I always have been motivated to work hard and go to school not only for myself but for all the people back home that never had the opportunity to do so. I have been always determined and ready to give 100% in whatever I do (Unless I am donating blood, that really I can’t do haha).
Enough about me, I am very excited being an Ambassador this year here at Clark and I can’t wait to meet all of the student and provide them with the help they need to navigate Clark College!
Meet Matty Quinn (He/They)
Yo! My name is Matthew, but everyone just calls me Matty for short. I’m in my mid-twenties and this my fourth and final year at Clark College, I’ll be earning my Associate’s in Fine arts this June. I graduated from the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics in 2016, specializing in Visual Arts. I was born in Vancouver, WA and have lived here my whole life. I hope to transfer out of state to California and go to an art university. I’m excited to move and explore more adventures in the world.
I work at Clark as a Student Ambassador and Hot topic in the Vancouver Mall as a sales associate. I love working customer service and for the longest time I wanted to be a tattoo artist. Recently I’ve changed my mind since being back in school and looking at higher education and the different career paths when it comes to art. I’ve always loved art since I was a kid, I didn’t really grow up with much, but we always had paper and pencils in my home. I didn’t choose to have an art career till the middle of high school. I’m excited to look at the opportunities that come my way.
In my free time, I enjoy making art, playing videogames, watching tv and horror movies. I love going to the beach during the summer and hope to visit a lot of northern Washington this year. I go hiking every few months, this last time I went right outside of Tillamook. I’m so excited to see all of you, and this will be a great year!
Meet Ambassador Tomas
Hello everyone! My name is Tomas Naujokas (he/him), and I am one of your Student Ambassadors for the 2022-2023 school year. I’ve lived in Washington my entire life and absolutely love the PNW. When it’s not raining, you can usually catch me out on the many amazing hiking trails that we have in the area or out and about on my bike. Even though I am generally against the beach as a place to vacation, some of my favorite rides have happened along the Oregon coast.
While I was born and raised in the PNW, my roots take me to a tiny country in Europe with a population less than Portland, OR, and one that most haven’t even heard of, Lithuania. At home, I speak fluent Lithuanian with my family, one of the oldest living languages in the world that is quickly disappearing. Trying to maintain the Lithuanian culture, I frequently volunteer at the Portland Lithuanian-American Community, and I’ve even been known to practice traditional Lithuanian Folk Dance. I try to visit my relatives in Lithuania as often as I can and I will be making a trip out there this Summer. To the few who will understand, labas ir viso gero.
This marks my second year at Clark College, and I am currently pursuing Clark’s degree in nursing. Growing up as my mom worked as a CNA at the Peace Health Hospital off of Mill Plain, my fascination with the medical field quickly flourished. I also knew early on that helping people is what truly made me content so nursing quickly became the goal I set for myself. As I discovered my love for travel and exploration, I found that Travel Nursing offers everything that I’ve ever wanted in a career. I will be applying to Clark’s program this Spring and it’s only forward from there.
But until then, feel free to flag me down if you ever see me roaming around campus and I’ll surely say hello. I am honored to be one of your Student Ambassadors, let’s make it a great year!
Clark College Student Ambassadors 