Jennifer McLendon: An Eagle Ambassador who didn't fly away

		Jennifer McLendon, Eagle Ambassador program coordinator (front, center), organizes and supervises the group that is instrumental in the university's efforts to recruit new students to UNT.

Since beginning in 1998, the Eagle Ambass-adors program has consisted of students chosen annually to lead campus tours, represent the university at football games, accompany the university president to public events and attend area college night events on behalf of UNT. As the Eagle Ambassador program coordinator, Jennifer McLendon leads this group and plans their activities.

It's fitting that McLendon holds the position that she does, since it seems that Mean Green spirit runs in her veins.

"Anyone who went to college in my family graduated from UNT," she says. "It was the only school I applied to."

As a student, McLendon made her way up through the ranks, serving as an Eagle Ambassador from 1998 until her graduation from UNT in the summer of 2001.

"I first applied because I heard Eagle Ambassadors get free clothes," she said. "But then I found I had an actual desire to do the job and was amazed that I could get paid for it."

After graduation, McLendon was set to become an English teacher at a local school, but the Eagle Ambassadors wouldn't let her go.

"On the morning I was about to sign a contract with the Sanger Independent School District, I got a call from the previous Eagle Ambassador program coordinator," McLendon says. "She said that she wasn't coming back and that I should apply for the job."

But McLendon's ties to the university go deeper than just her profession. Her husband is also a UNT graduate, and the two married shortly after her graduation.

"I met Willie on a blind date my freshman year," said McLendon. "He's the only person I dated at UNT."

Their family is completed by their two cats, Hamlet and Higgins.

Jennifer and Willie are both into racing and watching NASCAR events. And while Willie drag races a Formula Firebird, it's Jennifer who is the bigger NASCAR fan.

"My father was very into racing, so it runs in the family," she says. "I used to be a Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. fan, but lately I've found myself routing for the rookie, Casey Cain."

Marty Newman, executive director of University Communications and Marketing, speaks highly of McLendon and her work with the Eagle Ambassadors.

"Jennifer is one of the most customer-service oriented people I know," Newman says. "She is always concerned with the experience of tour participants and with improving the Eagle Ambassador program. She comes up with wonderful new ideas each week."

Those ideas and her focus on customer service compelled one of the Eagle Ambassadors she supervises to nominate McLendon for a Staff Contribution Award. She was presented with the honor during this year's Staff Convocation.

McLendon says she is thrilled that her career has allowed her to remain at UNT.

"I believe it was fate," she says. "I love my job and I love my students, and I'm really glad to be where I am."

BY PETER HOFSTAD inhouse@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Madeleine Albright to appear at UNT as inaugural lecture series speaker
• SECC kicks off 2004 campaign this month
• Minding the weather with free food and family fun
• ‘Got Green?' Homecoming celebrations at UNT from Oct. 20-23
• Fall enrollment up slightly from last year
• Staff Council elects officers
• Staff members honored at convocation
• UNT seeking nominations for alumni awards
• Following the Mean Green on the small screen
• Halloween costume contest is only a few weeks away
• Faculty Senate holds its first meeting of 2004-05

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