Meet the CSD Admissions Ambassadors

The CSD Admissions Ambassador program connects prospective and admitted students with current graduate students who can offer a firsthand perspective on life at Steinhardt and in CSD. Through everything from answering emailed questions to hosting webinars and attending admissions events, Ambassadors help prospective students understand the academic, clinical, and personal experiences that can shape their graduate education.

Their Inspiration

For Makenzie Kuntz, an on-campus MS in CSD student from New Jersey, and Britt Margulieux, an online SLP master’s student from California, the role is an opportunity to provide the kind of guidance they wished they had when they began their own journeys.

As a first-generation student, Kuntz understands how difficult it can be to navigate graduate school without someone who can explain the process. “I had no one to explain this stuff to me,” she says. “To be able to fill that role for someone else is really special.”

Margulieux came to CSD as a career changer and parent of two young children. When she was considering the transition, she found herself wishing she could talk with someone who had made a similar leap.

“There were a lot of things I had to figure out on my own,” she says. “I wish I could have asked someone, ‘What is this like for you—as a person, as a mom, as a wife, as someone in California, as a career changer, as an older student?’ Now, I hope to be that person for someone else.”

The Day-to-Day

Both Ambassadors connect with prospective students through email, as well as virtual and/or live events, as well as sharing their experiences through social media.

“I help them make the most informed decision as they decide on a grad program,” says Kuntz. “That can mean answering questions about commuting versus living on campus, entering the program with a non-CSD background, getting involved in student life, clinical practicum, and the overall trajectory of the program.

For Margulieux, webinars have become a favorite part of the role.

“It’s a forum for students to ask me questions,” she says. “I like it because it’s live and collaborative. Sometimes people will have even seen my content from a CSD Instagram takeover, such as getting my children to school or preparing for clinical sessions, and they’ll have even more pointed questions about balancing the program with other obligations.”

What Do They Ask?

Questions from prospective and admitted students often come down to one central theme: What will my life actually look like in this program?

“A lot of people want to know, ‘What does it look like in a week for you?’” says Margulieux. “‘Can you pick up your kids? Can you stay working for some of the time? Where do you turn to for support from Steinhardt?’”

Kuntz hears questions about cohort size, collaboration, prerequisites, clinical practicums, and research. She also enjoys sharing the reasons she chose NYU.

“I wanted to be part of a big school, and I knew coming to New York City would push me out of my comfort zone,” she says. “I knew the program was really established, and a lot of the alumni are in spaces where I want to be in 5–10 years.”

Benefits for Students and Ambassadors

For Kuntz, the role has helped her better understand both the program and her own professional trajectory. She has developed relationships with faculty and administrators and found that her fellow students now come to her with questions, too.

“I’ve learned a lot about how the program functions, and that knowledge is something I enjoy sharing with my peers,” she says.

Margulieux has been struck by the diversity of people drawn to CSD.

“We get people who are interested in this program from across the population,” she says. “People really do want to make a change in their lives and want someone to explain how that looks.”

For her, providing that roadmap can make an intimidating transition feel possible.

"My hope is that sharing my experience helps others see what's possible for themselves, and makes the leap into a new career feel a little less daunting." says Margulieux.

Reflecting on Their Own Growth

For Kuntz, CSD has taught her to become more flexible and adaptable while strengthening her ability to prioritize and communicate with caregivers. Margulieux, who previously worked as a teacher, discovered CSD after personal experiences with language and communication in her own family sparked an interest in speech-language pathology. She says the program has helped her see a new way to continue doing what she loves: helping people.

Most importantly, both students emphasize the community they have found at NYU.

“From the moment I started the program, I’ve felt surrounded by people who are invested in my success,” says Margulieux. “I feel prepared with the knowledge I need, and I know I’m part of a community where I’m welcomed and supported.”

“The spirit of support in CSD is what makes being an Ambassador so meaningful,” says Kuntz. “I really love helping prospective students see not only what they will learn at NYU, but also the community they can become part of along the way.”