The Ambassadors of Letters and Science (ALAS) are distinguished scholars who represent the UC Davis College of Letters and Science to diverse audiences, including prospective students, families, peers, campus leadership, and the wider community. The ALAS Program provides leadership opportunities for participants, amplifies College’s outreach through student advocacy, and fosters a sense of community through student-driven initiatives.
Ambassadors are chosen through a selective process, which includes an application and interview. The application for 2024-2025 is closed.
If you have questions about being an Ambassador of Letters and Science, please contact us.
Student Engagement and Outreach
- Ambassadors represent our College at recruitment and yield events, advocate for undergraduate needs beyond the classroom, promote pride and excitement in a liberal arts and science education, mentor students by sharing experiences and campus resources, and collaborate with a team of high-achieving student leaders to build sense of belonging and community.
- Ambassadors gain professional development, communication, and leadership skills by supporting the following initiatives:
- Orientation and Fall Welcome Events
- Undeclared Majors Fair
- Pizza and Prizes with the Dean
- Dean’s Advisory Council Meetings
- First-Year Seminar (1 unit) in Winter Quarter
- College info sessions and student panels
- Aggie Day
- Picnic Day
- Tabling at various campus partner events (STEM Transfer Resource Fair, Discover UC Davis, Parents and Family Weekend, UC Davis Senior Day, ICC Career Fairs, etc.)
- Social media management and promotion (@alasucd)
Program Values and Competencies
L.I.G.H.T.
- Leadership: We build leaders who represent students in Letters and Science - future leaders on the rise.
- Innovation: We are open to possibilities and foster creativity to enhance student engagement.
- Growth Mindset: We take on and learn from challenges to expand our individual skills and accomplish collective achievement.
- Heart: We serve with passion and respect for all students, professional staff, and community members at UC Davis.
- Teamwork: We encourage the diversity of thoughts, experiences, and backgrounds and promote participation and partnership on our campus.
Our program values translate to core competencies which each Ambassador must work towards and demonstrate. These core competencies have been adapted from NASPA Professional Competencies and NACE Career Readiness Competencies.
- Communication: Employ active listening skills and communicate in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively understand.
- Professionalism: Serve as a role model in alignment with UC Davis Principles of Community by approaching tasks with a positive attitude.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Seek cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups and that leads to personal growth.
- Service Initiative: Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps to plan, complete and evaluate projects. Be attentive and show a high level of dedication toward excellence.
- Self-Awareness: Identify one’s own strengths and challenges as a leader and seek opportunities to expand one’s own knowledge/skills.
- Integrity: Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.
- Collaboration: Build mutual trust in relationships with leaders and team members to achieve common goals and vision.
- Accountability: Ask timely questions for specific and guidance from peers and leaders and demonstrate dependability.
- Conflict Management: Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting.