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Ambassadors and Scholars

MEET OUR AMBASSADORS

The Shuford Ambassadors are the top student creatives, problem solvers, and doers in our program.

 

Isabella Casis

Isabella Casis

Economics Major

Kennedy Goode

Kennedy Goode

Public Health Major

Theresa Hemberger

Theresa Hemberger

Advertising/PR Major

Eliam Mussie

Eliam Mussie

Undecided

Calvin Ryan

Calvin Ryan

Michael Sisson

Michael Sisson

Business Administration Major

Nikky Soni

Nikky Soni

Neuroscience Major

Hi, I’m Isabella!

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Hi, my name is Isabella Casis and I have Palestinian, Bosnian and Peruvian roots. I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, but three of my grandparents were born in Palestine and one in Bosnia. I have grown up my whole life with a mixture of cultures and traditions, and that’s why I really appreciate diversity. I’m an international student at UNC majoring in Economics and minoring in Entrepreneurship, and I transferred after a year of studies from a university in Lima. I spent this past summer in my hometown interning at an insurance company, as well as continuing to grow my drawing business, where I sell personalized pencil drawings. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, going out for long walks with good music, and eating at a good restaurant.

Hi, I’m Kennedy!

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My name is Kennedy Goode and I am from Winston Salem North Carolina. I am a senior majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management and I am minoring in entrepreneurship. As a first year, I was an intern for the Shuford Program. I helped
to create marketing collateral, participated in Shuford events, and helped students in the program. My experience was so positive that I then went on to apply for the minor myself. Since then I have been busy exploring the intersection between entrepreneurship and health. I hope to one day use my knowledge of both entrepreneurship and healthcare to eliminate health disparities and create global healthcare solutions through innovation and policy. I have had such an amazing experience in the minor thus far and I look forward to helping others find their passions through entrepreneurship in the future.

Hi, I’m Theresa!

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Hi! My name is Theresa and I have a very weird memory. I am terrible at remembering things for tests and I can’t remember song lyrics but if you told me what your favorite pair of shoes was five years ago, I would probably remember it. I think it’s kinda cool but also makes me seem a little creepy but I promise I’m not. I was born in Hamburg, Germany but grew up in London and moved to New Jersey 12 years ago. I love photography, shopping, traveling and have recently discovered that I actually really like museums which is shocking considering I used to fall asleep on the benches when I was younger and my dad dragged me to museums. My best friend in the whole world is my older sister and I could not imagine my life without her. I transferred to UNC from University of Miami last year and am majoring in Advertising/PR and minoring in Entrepreneurship.

Hi, I’m Eliam!

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What’s up everybody! My name is Eliam and I’m a junior here at UNC. I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin but moved to North Carolina about five years ago. Both of my parents are from Eritrea which has led my culture to play a huge role in my life. My current major is… yeah about that, BUT my minors are in Applied Sciences & Engineering and of course Entrepreneurship. This past summer I spent two months in Italy looking at diasporic communities through the lens of colonialism while exploring the continent. I currently serve as the co-president of the Black Entrepship Initiative and run a couple of businesses on campus. I’m excited for this upcoming year to see where the impact we can make!

Hi, I’m Calvin!

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Hey! My name is Calvin Ryan and I seek challenges. Last summer, I left Chapel Hill and escaped my hometown in Mendham, NJ, to experience something new. I moved to Wellfleet, MA by myself. I read 9 books. I couch surfed for a week. I interned remotely for a software startup 5 days a week. I ran the fryers at a restaurant from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. I made life-long friends. Challenges like these are what breed success. Entrepreneurship and the Shuford Program allow me to collaborate with creative thinkers, learn valuable skills, and build the confidence to take on my ultimate challenge of launching my own startup.

Hi, I’m Michael!

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Hi! My name is Michael Sisson, and I am obsessed with real estate. At the age of 18, I passed my real estate licensing exam to become a Licensed Real Estate Broker in North Carolina. Following my entrepreneurial aspirations, I launched my real estate business after my sophomore year at UNC and have already transacted more than $2.2 million in sales. As a current Senior at UNC, I am studying Business Administration at Kenan-Flagler with a minor in Entrepreneurship through the Shuford Program. During the summer after sophomore year, I studied Finance at the London School of Economics (LSE) where I met students from around the world–it was a fantastic experience! Outside of school, I enjoy watching Million Dollar Listing, trying new restaurants, traveling, and playing the piano.

Hi, I’m Nikky!

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Hey! My name is Nikky Soni and I love random experiences. I’m a senior (a joke, right?) from Cincinnati, Ohio majoring in neuroscience and public policy with a minor in entrepreneurship. The plot twist here is that I’m going into consulting, and spent the past summer interning for EY in NYC. I have 2 younger sisters, who are my favorite people in the world, and the reason why I value teaching and mentorship (also why, during summer 2021, I moved out to San Francisco alone, shared an airbnb with an elderly woman, and taught 8th grade science). I also love hiking, musicals, museums, live music, and traveling. I spent the past semester studying/interning abroad in London through the Shuford Away program. During my travels, I loved taking solo-trips and found a passion for photography, which I aim to continue exploring this year in Chapel Hill!