Engaged Ambassadors
Ailen Salazar ’21
Majors: Spanish, Sociology
Minors: Latina/o/x Studies, Inequalities Studies, Business
The issue of public concern I’m passionate about is … immigration. In our current day, immigration is a topic that is constantly being discussed. As a result, accurate and inaccurate information is spreading, but people are not thinking about how a mix of information impacts people’s lives regularly. People deserve access to their rights and basic resources.
Engagement experience: Cornell DREAM Team, Cornell Partnership Funding Board, Alternative Spring Breaks, Cornell Tradition Fellow, Brother in APO.
As an Engaged Ambassador, I … am one of the peer mentors for the Certificate in Engaged Leadership. I am here to support you, especially in Stage 1, so feel free to use me as a resource!
I got involved because … throughout my earlier education, I was doing community service to serve the people and better understand my community. When I arrived at Cornell, I wanted to do the same. As a Cornell student, I recognized my privilege to access various resources, and I wanted to give it to other people in the larger community. We are part of Ithaca, and I believe the community struggles also become ours because we share the same spaces.
My friends would say I’m … constantly taking on new challenges. I love to learn and be adventurous, so I am always trying to do something different and new.
Best Cornell memory (so far!): At the start of my freshman year, I joined DREAM Team, which has forever changed my life. I found my community. Everyone is constantly supporting me, and I continue to have the opportunity to explore Ithaca with the many adventures and team bonding events we put forth, which in itself has so many memories.
Fun fact: I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Future plans: I plan to become a consultant to later become the founder of a nonprofit organization back home in Los Angeles.
Engaged Ambassadors
A cohort of students who have completed the Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership and lead a variety of special projects for the Einhorn Center