More than 10 percent of all ISU students are international students who come to Iowa State without friends, family or experience with Iowa culture. 

In order to help assist students in their cultural transitions, a peer mentor program was needed.

The Government of the Student Body and International Students and Scholars collaborated in 2012 to create what was originally known as the International Student Mentor Program. Since then, the program has developed further and recently changed the name to the Cultural Ambassador Program.

“We wanted to expand the program, and in order to do so, we needed to appeal to more domestic students as ambassadors, and changing the name allowed a better appeal as a leadership opportunity for them to do so,” said Kyungjoon Chung, student coordinator for the program.

The program provides an American ambassador for all international students during their first semester here at Iowa State. When matching ambassadors and international students, the program takes into consideration aspects such as the age, gender, interests and major of each individual in order to match other students that will connect best to each other.

The ambassadors’ jobs are to guide the students in adapting to a new environment, converse in English, answer any questions, show them the Iowa State life style and, mostly, make sure they have a good start to their experiences in America.

Ye-Lim Lim is an international student and freshman in psychology, currently going through the program and has met with her mentor twice. So far, she said that they went to a concert together and also had a dinner where her ambassador cooked her a typical American meal: macaroni and cheese.

Not only have Lim and her mentor done activities together, but she has also been there when Lim needed assistance for school-related activities.

“I had a concert last Sunday and I didn’t have black shoes, but she also does concerts so she had black shoes I could borrow,” Lim said. 

Lim said she finds it helpful and enjoys having someone to guide her. Through activities with the program, Lim has been able to take on a new understanding of both the American culture as well as her Korean culture.

“When I saw the concert, I learned that many American students are good at more than just studying and thought Korean education should be changed to focus on more than just studying,” Yelim said.

At this point, the program consists of 64 international students and 59 ambassadors. The program not only benefits the international students involved but also allows any domestic students who become ambassadors to gain both leadership and cultural experience.

 “All students who are at least sophomore level are eligible to be an ambassador [or have had] one year of living in Ames as a student is required,” said Chung.

At the beginning of the program, the ambassadors attend training that goes over some of the basics such as expectations and role-playing activities.

Throughout the semester the ambassador and the international student meet and interact on their own, doing things that interest them most and helping one another. As a whole, there are few things in which they offer for all involved.

“We host two socializing large events and we decide by sending a poll allowing [students] to vote on their choices,” Chung said.

Previously, they have done things such as ice skating, bowling and performances related to international culture. At the end of the semester the program holds a banquet including certificates and prizes for those ambassadors who have been successful in guiding their peers.

The program restarts each semester, offering an opportunity for all students, international and domestic, to get involved.