Dean's Ambassadors

Overview

Dean's Ambassadors is a student organization that consists of the most outstanding current undergraduate students within the College of Liberal Arts. Members are selected to represent the College in various capacities, including recruiting and fundraising events, assisting with official College activities, and serving as student representatives to alumni and other stakeholders.

Overview

Texas Phanos is a student organization that consists of the most outstanding current undergraduate students within the College of Liberal Arts. Members are selected to represent the College in various capacities, including recruiting and fundraising events, assisting with official College activities, and serving as student representatives to alumni and other stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Full time enrollment in the College of Liberal Arts as an undergraduate
• Excellent communication skills
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Ability to accommodate daytime, evening, and weekend service opportunities
• A professional demeanor
• Strong organization skills and attention to details
• Ability to work on a team
• Demonstrate passion for Liberal Arts education and a commitment to the College of Liberal Arts

Preferred Qualifications

• Hold a leadership position(s) in other student organizations
• General working knowledge of the College of Liberal Arts (majors, departments, student resources, etc.)
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with students, faculty, staff, and alumni

Duties and Responsibilities

Members of Texas Phanos should represent the best of the College of Liberal Arts and its many departments. The responsibilities of members include but are not limited to:

• Participation in leadership development, communication, and professionalism training and workshops
• Assist with College organized activities during Family Weekend, Explore UT, and
• Longhorn Excellence and Discovery Day
• Participate in fundraising events like 40 for 40 and Thanks Day
• Promote the ideals of a Liberal Arts education
• Promote opportunities for other students to be engaged in College activities
• Attend weekly trainings/meetings
• Assist the college in other outreach efforts to prospective students, families, alumni, and other external audiences
• Complete a minimum of 15 hours of service to the College a semester

Benefits

Students who are selected to join Texas Phanos will benefit in numerous ways. For example, through their training and outreach efforts, they will develop valuable networking, leadership, and communication skills. They will meet alumni and other friends of the College who may serve as future network ties.

Also, by working on behalf of the College, they will interact with faculty and staff in new ways that will give them more insight into the College and how it functions. Finally, their service to the group will enrich their Liberal Arts education with skills that will help them better appreciate and make use of their undergraduate experience.

Texas Phanos members also receive:

• $250 award each semester of their first year in the program (minimum of 15 hours of service required)
• Members who take on a leadership role may be eligible to receive a $500 award per
• semester in their second or third year of membership (minimum of 30 hours of service per semester required)
• An appreciation luncheon with the dean and selected guests
• Clothing and accessories that denote membership in Texas Phanos
• Texas Phanos medallion to wear at graduation ceremonies

Selection Process - Spring 2021

1. Applications were made available in mid-February; the application deadline is Monday, March 8.
2. The application requires the following: a resume, one letter of recommendation (preferably from a Liberal Arts faculty or staff), a personal statement that highlights your Liberal Arts involvement and leadership activities, and a 2-3 minute video response to a prompt.
3. The most qualified applicants will be interviewed by a committee of Liberal Arts staff and current Texas Phanos members.
4. The new cohort will be selected in late March or early April. There will be a welcome event and training will begin immediately.

Application Instructions

Please follow these instructions carefully when composing and submitting your application. Failure to follow instructions may result in your application being withdrawn by the selection committee. You should have all your application materials ready (I.e., Resume, Letter of Recommendation, Personal Statement, and Recorded Video) before starting the application.

Part I: Application Form

Please fill in the application form online.

Part II: Resume

Please upload your resume in .pdf format.

Part III: Letter of Recommendation

Upload a letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member in .pdf format.

Part IV: Personal Statement

In 500 words or less, explain how a Liberal Arts education has prepared you for your future.

Part V: Video Response

Please provide a 2-3 minute video addressing the following prompt: Imagine you are a facilitator in a College of Liberal Arts information session with 50 prospective students and family members. A prospective student raises their hand and asks, “What is the value of a liberal arts education?” In 2-3 minutes, what is your response? (Note: slides are allowed but shouldn’t exceed one slide per minute.)

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 5pm CST on March 8, 2021. Membership applications will only be accepted online.

If you have any questions about Texas Phanos, please contact Dr. Scott Brown (scott.brown@austin.utexas.edu).