The Community Ambassador Program is a service and professional development opportunity that connects students with local community organizations and campus partners. Ambassadors contribute to meaningful community initiatives while gaining experience with the work, services, and impact of organizations across a variety of sectors.
Community Ambassadors have the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom, exploring how collaboration between universities and community organizations can create meaningful experiences for both students and the community.
The ambassadors serve as relationship-builders between Florida State University and the broader community, supporting engagement efforts, strengthening partnerships, and helping connect students with opportunities to get involved. As ambassadors work alongside community organizations, they gain firsthand insight into how agencies serve their communities and address local needs.
Because each ambassador is placed with a different organization, every experience is unique. Students have the opportunity to develop professional skills, build meaningful relationships, explore potential career interests, and gain a broader understanding of community engagement through the lens of their host agency's mission and work.
Partner organizations are updated each academic year.
Ambassadors can gain:
- Hands-on nonprofit experience: Work directly within a Tallahassee nonprofit for a full academic year. Develop practical skills in community-oriented work that goes beyond the classroom.
- Academic grounding: Course covers nonprofit structure, theoretical frameworks, and evaluative research, so students understand the "why" behind the work they're doing.
- Mentorship and professional development: Receive one-on-one mentorship and participate in biweekly professional development meetings and networking opportunities with community and campus leaders.
- A $750 stipend per semester: Ambassadors receive financial compensation each semester, contingent on milestone completion.
- Transcript notation: Service hours are formally recognized on your FSU transcript through ServScript
Requirements for 2027-28 cohort:
To be considered for the 2027–28 cohort, applicants must:
- Be an FSU undergraduate in good academic standing (minimum 2.5 GPA)
- Be entering at least their second year of study at FSU
- Be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours for both fall and spring semesters
- Be available to commit at least 5-7 hours per week across both semesters to their agency
Apply
Applications are currently closed. They typically open in the spring for the following academic year.
Contact
Brianna Surrency
Student Program Coordinator
bsurrency@fsu.edu
