Sociology and Anthropology Department Student Ambassadors
The Sociology and Anthropology Ambassadors are a prestigious group of sociology and anthropology majors who assist with recruiting and advising events, orientations, and provide peer advising. SOA Ambassadors are a great resource for both current and future students and we encourage you to reach out to them at their contact information below to ask questions or learn more about our programs. Their office is located in Schroeder Hall room 316.
Xavier is returning as an ambassador for a second year. Xavier is a senior Sociology Major. Having changed his major to Sociology, he is aware of how rewarding and informative sociology can be as a student, especially during COVID. It revived his interest in academic pursuits. As an ambassador Xavier wants to help students learn about sociology, providing a chance for them to learn about this field. He is looking forward to networking with students and faculty to improve interactions through the department. He can provide advice and guidance for classes and requirements to the major/minor of Sociology at ISU. Above all else, Xavier is excited to help others learn about sociology.
Jayden is returning as an ambassador for a second year and is a senior Sociology major. Jayden serves on the Student Government Association and Black Student Union at ISU and was named a Robert G. Bone Scholar for 2024-2025. Jayden also serves as a teacher's assistant for SOC 112 and Career Ambassador where I help students build their professional portfolio.
Learning about different cultures and meeting new people has always been his passion. Jayden credits sociology for giving him life skills that no other major could offer. The study of social institutions and how they operate in today's world is valuable information that he believes everyone should have knowledge about. Jayden believes that you have to understand people to help people and sociology is all about people!
Before coming to ISU last fall, Tyler Despe graduated from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, IL with an associates degree in biology. Now a senior, they are a sociology and economics double major, food studies minor, one of two Executive Co-Chairs for the Young Democratic Socialists of America, and a research intern for Project XV voting rights museum in El Paso, IL.
After working and conversing with people from a wide variety backgrounds in environments such as vegetable fields, fast-food kitchens, and the community college classroom, Tyler enjoys learning about sociological explanations for the phenomena they observe in everyday interactions. They are thrilled to guide fellow students in finding sociology’s role in their own everyday lives.
Ella Woodruff is in her second year here at ISU and is currently Sociology Club’s President and this is her first year serving as an ambassador! Ella is a Sociology and Legal Studies double major with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a concentration in Queer Studies. Sociology has always been a great passion for her, and she is looking forward to interacting with students that have an interest in her field of study. Please feel free to reach out to Ella with any questions that you have about our department and campus life!
Kaley Beckman is a senior sociology major with a political science minor. In addition to being an ambassador, Kaley currently works 2 jobs as a Career Services Student Receptionist and as a server at Cracker Barrel. Furthermore, Kaley is an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority where she dedicates her time to bettering the community of Bloomington-Normal through fighting hunger. She previously served as the chapter's diversity, equity, and inclusion director. Kaley has also prioritized the importance of being involved in the sociology department as she both previously worked in Dr. Sprecher's social interaction lab as a student researcher and committed her time as a teaching assistant for SOC 111. Kaley plans to pursue a master's degree in social work with a concentration in healthcare and believes studying sociology provides one with an invaluable perspective that enables you to realize how society was structured the benefit certain groups of people while oppressing others. She believes studying sociology makes you a kinder human in a world that is so polarized.
Maureena Terven is a senior Anthropology major with a Sociology minor. She serves as the SOSA secretary, which is the RSO for students with an interest in Anthropology. She is very eager to help students curious about Anthropology and those who want to learn more about the field in general.
Jesse Dees is a senior anthropology major at ISU. Jesse completed two years to get his associate degree at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield before transferring to ISU. Jessse originally began college as a history secondary education major before switching to anthropology and continuing history as a minor. Jesse wanted to be a history teacher focused on the cultural aspects of society rather than the number of wars fought. He was then shown anthropology at ISU and it was more connected to his interests than history alone. In the future Jesse would like to work as a professor or in the Peace Corps.
Rachael Kooistra is a senior anthropology major and a history minor. She is the former President of History Club, and she was a TA for ANT 102 in Spring 2024. This year she is a TA for ANT 265 and is eager to help students learn. As an SOA Ambassador, she looks forward to introducing students to anthropology and answering questions regarding professions, classes, and higher education.
Kaitlyn is a senior anthropology major who transferred to ISU Fall 2023. Kaitlyn has been involved with many clubs on campus, like SOSA, Indy Service Dog Club, Disney Club, and Deaf Redbirds. She is honored to be the treasurer for SOSA this school year and also an ambassador. One of her favorite activities on campus is hanging out with the therapy dogs that come to the library for PAWSitivity.
Kaitlyn chose anthropology because when she was on a tour of ISU, she discovered anthropology and was instantly drawn to the idea of having a different way of learning about humans and bringing the past to life. After ISU, she plans to continue her education and get her Masters, so she can travel the world as an Archaeologist.