Dr. Neal Smatresk presents Jordan Gill with the Brand Ambassador award

 

Aug. 31, 2021

When Jordan Gill was a student at UNT, she loved serving as an Eagle Ambassador - an experience that allowed her to share her student experience with others and strengthened her leadership skills.

Now, as assistant director of visitor experience at the UNT Welcome Center, she's training students to serve as Eagle Ambassadors. And her hard work and positive attitude has earned her UNT's Brand Ambassador of the Month Award for August.

President Neal Smatresk presented her with the award Tuesday morning, noting her green fingernail polish and recalling when he knew her as an Eagle Ambassador five years ago.

Gill, who earned her bachelor's degree in 2018 and her master's degree in 2021, was surprised by the honor.

“I'm thrilled,” she says. “This is my fifth year working for UNT so I'm very, very excited and it's truly an honor. I've been serving the university and the UNT brand for five years now. I feel like my dreams have come true in my journey with UNT.”

Her duties are to ensure a positive, engaged visitor experience for thousands of prospective students, their families and other guests. But Gill had to accomplish all of this during the COVID-19 pandemic -- requiring patience, the ability to quickly pivot and lots of diplomacy, says Brenda McCoy, senior associate vice president for enrollment and administration.

Gill conducted a three-day Eagle Ambassador training session while maintaining the UNT Welcome Center operations, taking on extra work due to a staff shortage and moving to an alternate location as the center underwent repairs from damage sustained during February's winter storm.

Gill also builds relationships with the Eagle Ambassadors by supporting them in their studies and offering professional training that will benefit them in their future careers.

“She exemplifies the UNT caring spirit,” McCoy says, “and is dedicated to providing her student workers with a compassionate and supportive environment that allows them to thrive.”