Meet our Honors Ambassadors

Hi! My name is Kiersten Witters, and I am from Charleston, West Virginia. I am a senior pursuing two degrees in Accounting and Finance. While being an out-of-state student was difficult initially, the BHC has made me feel welcome and given me lifelong friends and opportunities. In addition to being an Honors Ambassador, I am a member of the Honors Board of Directors and an Honors Mentor, where I welcome and get to know some first-year students to ensure that they each have the best freshman year experience possible. Being an honors student was one of my best decisions in college because of all the fantastic opportunities it has provided for me. I hope that even if you are far from home like me, WCU becomes a place where you feel welcomed and encouraged!

Kiersten also serves as Co-Lead Ambassador. She acts as a liaison between the Honors faculty and student ambassadors and uses her experience to help and encourage ambassadors as well as acting as a resource for them.

Hi! My name is Emma Garrett, and I am from Dawsonville, GA. I am a senior here at Western, and I am a Forensic Biology major with a minor in Spanish and Literature. I love to read, play music, spend time with my friends, and learn other languages in my free time. I chose to be an Honors College Ambassador because I wanted to help out-of-state students like myself achieve an easier transition from high school to college and find ways to connect with people on campus to make Western feel like home. I am honored to be a part of the Brinson Honors College and am thankful for the many opportunities they have given me to grow at Western!

Emma also serves as Co-Lead Ambassador. She acts as a liaison between the Honors faculty and student ambassadors and uses her experience to help and encourage ambassadors as well as acting as a resource for them.

Hiya! My name is Desota McCorkle and I’m from Charlotte, NC. I’m a sophomore with a major in Biology and a concentration in Veterinary Medicine. I love hiking the trails near campus, drawing, reading, and (of course) petting dogs. I love being an honors ambassador and, in the honors college, because it’s a new way to connect with people. You gain a unique college experience that no one else on campus has.

Hello! My name is Jenna Williams, and I am from Lugoff, SC. I am a sophomore majoring in Pre-Recreational Therapy with a minor in Psychology. One of the biggest challenges coming into college is finding a community that you feel truly connected to. The BHC was/is exactly that for me. It is an incredible community of like-minded people who genuinely want to help you grow and accomplish all your goals. The BHC has been a privilege to be a part of and has allowed me many amazing experiences since being here at Western. While being an ambassador, I have been able to grow personally, meet so many new/potential honors students, and be a part of helping to better our honors college. My college experience would not be the same without the Brinson Honors College and I hope many of you choose to be a part of this same journey!

Hi! My name is Natalie Pulido Rodriguez, and I am from Robbins, NC. I am a sophomore majoring in Integrated Health Science with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy. I am involved in some campus organizations like Mujeres Con un Proposito (MCP), Latinx Appreciation Student Organization (LASO), the Integrated Health Science (Pre-Professional) Student Organization, the BHC Ambassadors, and the BHC Diversity Leaders. When I am not in class or running to meetings for these organizations, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. Being in Brinson Honors College has given me so many opportunities already. I am so glad I can be a part of the Brinson Honors community.

Hello! My name is Erica Massaro, and I am from Williamston, South Carolina. I am a Senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in Integrated Health Science with a Pre-Professional focus in Physical Therapy. Once completing a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, I hope to work for a few years, then open a Physical Therapy practice in South Carolina close to my family. Besides being an Honor’s Ambassador for my third year, I am the co-founder/president of the Integrated Health Science (Pre-Professional) Student Organization. I am also involved in the Brinson Honors College Mentor Program and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. I love hanging out with friends, working out, and being outdoors whenever possible in my free time. Being an out-of-state student, I understand how difficult it can be to move away from home, but I feel that I have found my place here at Western by being involved with the BHC community. There are many unique opportunities to experience with the Brinson Honors College, and I hope you get the chance to experience them too!

I am Efrain Arias, a first-gen business and honors college student. I am a junior and double majoring in Business Administration and Law & Finance with a concentration in Banking Finance and minoring in Global Business. I am a Grace Allen Memorial scholar, an ambassador for the Brinson Honors College and College of Business, a panelist for the Brinson Honors College academic integrity committee, and an FBLA member. I chose to develop my involvement with the Brinson Honors College and become not just a student but an ambassador because I enjoy connecting with peers that share the same fundamental values in communication and leadership. So far, Brinson Honors College has bettered me as a person and improved my skills and knowledge in experiences that shaped me into a well-established academic and professional student. I hope to influence this incredible experience for prospective ambassadors and students at the Brinson Honors College.

Hi! My name is Madee! I’m a senior double majoring in psychology and criminal justice. I’m from Sylva, North Carolina. I am involved in other campus organizations like Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity and the clubs for both of my majors. I love hiking the trails around campus and spending time with my friends. I also really love cooking and finding new recipes to make. I decided to become an Honors College Ambassador because it gives me the opportunity to meet new people and reach out to others who could someday be where I am right now! Being a part of this organization and being involved with the Brinson Honors College has helped me further my college career, and I think that it is a wonderful experience.