GET INVOLVED

Nathalie Durozel represents College on and off the campus.

"Whenever I find out about an interesting event, I volunteer to work at it," said Nathalie Durozel, an international business major in the College of Business Administration whose efforts have resulted in a number of internships and important professional contacts. Even her recent job as an assistant to Annabelle Rojas, director of external relations in the Executive Dean's office, grew out of a stint as a volunteer.


Nathalie Durozel
Her activities have ranged from making out name tags at professional gatherings in Miami, such as the International Advertising Association, to helping with the "Evening of Stars" gala, which recognized College donors and introduced them to the plans for the new building complex.

"In addition to working, I get to socialize," she said. "I've met lots of interesting and helpful people as a result."

Durozel, who will graduate in May 2006, is now interning 25 hours a week in the international programs unit of the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

"I love international business," she said. "I love languages and learning about other cultures. I wanted to see international business more from the government's perspective, and the internship is enabling me do that. In the spring, I plan to intern at a multinational corporation to get the business perspective."

As a full-time student, an intern, and the international chapter liaison of Xi Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi)—the nation's oldest and largest co-ed business fraternity—Durozel manages her time carefully and feels that everything she is doing is something she wants to be doing.

"A friend told me, ‘Opportunities do not fall in your lap—you have to create them,'" she said. "I keep my eyes and ears open, visiting the Career Services web site, for example, and I contact people right away when I see something that interests me."

The College refers to Durozel and others who do similar work as student ambassadors. There is also a formal Student Ambassador program at the University through which students from across the campus give tours to high-level dignitaries and prospective students, or work at meetings, such as those of the Council of 100 or the Board of Trustees. A number of students from the College are among the very select group of the University's thirty Student Ambassadors, including Dianne Cordova, Alejandro Diaz-Ferguson, Andrew Lanzziano, Lemar Linton, Onil Maruri, and Jason Tilghman.

"Potential Student Ambassadors go through a series of interviews, are required to attend two monthly meetings a month, and work at two events monthly," said Sean Kramer, the University's assistant director, alumni relations. "These students have the opportunity to make valuable contacts, receive a number of perks, such as a uniform and an FIU tie or scarf, and get invited to special events."

To find out about the Student Ambassador program, check out www.fiucrew.com, which will be updated with current information during the fall.