O'Laughlin Ambassador

Mara O’Laughlin graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1966 and spent most of her career working in the Admissions Office. During her time as Director of Admissions, she admitted two thirds of the current body of William Smith alumnae and spread her love for the colleges to many. The O’Laughlin Ambassadors are named in honor of Mara and her decades of service and commitment to Hobart and William Smith.

In the HWS Admissions Office, O'Laughlin Ambassadors will be expected to handle a variety of responsibilities including marketing and promoting Hobart and William Smith as a tour guide, welcoming guests to the Admissions Office, and helping to support on-campus events such as Open Houses. These students will introduce the Colleges' campus, curriculum, and programs to prospective students, their families and any visitors as needed. All O'Laughlin Ambassadors are expected to assist with special events including some weekend programs. O’Laughlin Ambassadors typically work 1.5-4 hours a week, and scheduling is done based on availability.

*** Please note, while we will make sure to review your application, if it is past September 30th, we may wait until the Spring 2025 semester to proceed with the application process and if it is past February 28th, we may wait until the Fall 2025 semester to proceed with the application process.***

 Responsibilities:

• Conduct campus tours for prospective students, their families and other visitors
• Work at Admissions’ events such as Admitted Student Days and Open Houses
• Answer incoming phone calls, take messages and transfer calls to other departments
• Greet visitors, assist with maintaining the appearance of the office and ensure daily visits are running efficiently
• Confidently share experiences of Hobart and William Smith students and answer general questions about the colleges

Qualifications: 

• Reliable, organized and responsible
• Confident and comfortable with public speaking and leadership roles
• Solid customer service and interpersonal skills
• Strong communication skills
• Open to all class years

 Application Process 

After the initial application, students will be contacted via email for the first round of group interviews. Group interviews will be conducted by the Assistant Director for Visitor Relations, Gaby Nieves, and the Head O'Laughlin Ambassadors. After the group interviews, students who are selected for the final round will be sent a sign-up sheet and will prepare a mock tour based on two locations of their choosing. Confident body language, voice projection and clarity, accuracy of information, enthusiasm and passion, interaction with mock visitors, and professionalism are some of the areas that will be considered. Hiring decisions will be made shortly after mock tours conclude, with the hope that students are trained during the fall semester, can help with fall semester events and begin working regular shifts in the Spring semester. For specific questions, please email Gaby Nieves at Nieves@hws.edu.