Representing a community worth celebrating

Because of the community and growth Watts and the other finalists have experienced during their time here, they are honored to represent the university with this position.

“Getting to be here for the past four years, I’ve gotten to be a firsthand witness to how special this campus is, and… all the opportunities it gives you,” Maroon Ambassador finalist Olivia Leasure said.

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From promoting school spirit to connecting students with campus opportunities, Maroon Ambassador finalist Justin Wheeler said Maroon Ambassadors serve as representatives of the university’s core values: integrity, respect, compassion, inclusiveness, equity, social responsibility, excellence and innovation.  

These profiles introduce the students behind the program and explore their experiences, campus involvement and reasons for becoming ambassadors. 

Marayla Cross: A creative voice

Marayla Cross is a senior from Sterling Heights, majoring in graphic design with a minor in art history. 

On campus, she works as a graphic designer for the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, serves as an engagement coordinator for Herrig Hall and is secretary for Design Hub. She has also been involved with Impact and Reaction Dance Team. 

Through her involvement at CMU, Cross said she has gained confidence, developed as a leader and found a community where she feels she belongs.  

“CMU provides opportunities for students,” Cross said. “Everyone is so easily able to get involved and feel they have a space on campus.”

As a Maroon Ambassador, Cross said she hopes to represent CMU’s core values, support the campus community through service projects and help students feel welcomed and connected.  

Her love for Homecoming also influenced her decision to become an ambassador. She has participated in Homecoming throughout her four years through community council, a student lead organization representing residents in their residence halls, and the dance team. 

“I wanted to become a Maroon Ambassador for fun,” she said. “I thought it would just be a really cool opportunity.”

Kendall Fowler: A positive spirit

Kendall Fowler is a senior from West Bloomfield Township, majoring in social studies education with a minor in media arts. 

He is involved in several activities across campus, including Program Board and serving as an engagement coordinator for Fabiano Hall.

For Fowler, being a Maroon Ambassador is about being a positive light and bringing spirit to campus. He looks forward to showing off the good things CMU has to offer and spending time with other ambassadors to hear how they view Central. 

Through his experience at CMU, becoming a leader and building connections with faculty and campus organizations have helped him break out of his shell and shape who he is today. 

“I love CMU, and this is a great opportunity to highlight programs and show what we have to offer students,” Fowler said. 

As a Maroon Ambassador, he hopes to continue highlighting what makes CMU a place students can get involved, make connections and find their community. 

Jayla Turner: Never breaks a pinky promise

Junior Jayla Turner wanted the position to continue the legacy of those in her Leadership Advancement Scholar (LAS) family who were previously ambassadors. 

“It means a lot to represent a university that I love a lot and that has given me so many positive experiences,” Turner said. 

Being a part of LAS, the Zeta Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and president of Black Girls Rock has shown Turner that there’s always an opportunity to try something again. She’s honored to represent those communities as an ambassador. 

“A part of my journey here has been other people seeing leadership in myself, that I didn’t see in myself,” Turner said. “So continuing to pay that forward, continuing to give that back out has been super important to me, and it’s developed me as one, a leader, and two, a person.”

At CMU, she said she’s found the courage to speak up, even if her voice is shaking. She said she has grown into someone dependable and learned how true service involves putting other’s needs above her own.  

People in her sorority nicknamed her pinky promise because of her reliability. 

“Whatever I say I’m going to do, I do it,” Turner said. “I’m of my word, always willing to help.”

Ella Swenson: A friendly face

CMU’s core values stood out to junior Ella Swenson when applying and she’s happy to represent them as a Maroon Ambassador. 

“It’s super empowering, especially because Sarah and Dan Opperman are the grand marshals, and me being at LAS, I feel like I’m representing so much of the Leadership Institute,” she said. 

The communities she’s been a part of at CMU have helped her branch out and expand her network so she can be a network for others. She’s learned to lead with kindness and be authentic to herself. 

“I feel like when you’re confident in who you are, others kind of feel the need to follow and be themselves without caring what other people think,” she said. 

As an ambassador and person, Swenson prioritizes inclusivity. Because of her dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia, she said she knows what it’s like to feel overlooked or not get her needs met. 

“I very much try to make a community that’s welcoming for every student,” Swenson said.

Her goal is to be a mentor to others and a friendly face. 

Justin Wheeler: Consistency is key

When Wheeler heard what being a Maroon Ambassador meant, he realized how well it aligned with what he’s worked towards throughout his four years at CMU.

He chose to attend the university because of its photojournalism program. While here, his involvement in Impact and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gave him the opportunity to help students find representation and inclusion on campus. 

Wheeler said he tries to be an understanding person and remains calm and collected. The inclusivity of smaller, multicultural groups on campus is important to him.

“I guess the biggest thing I try to be is consistent and just constantly show up… and put my best foot forward,” Wheeler said. 

Olivia Leasure: A shoulder to lean on

Leasure is a senior and third generation Chippewa who is grateful for the experiences and community she’s found at CMU. 

“I thought it was a really exciting opportunity to represent CMU in this capacity,” she said. “I’ve been really involved on campus, and I really just wanted to highlight the experiences I’ve had as a student, and then also give back to my campus community in an exciting and fun way, especially around the homecoming season.”

Being a part of Program Board and LAS has not only prepared Leasure for her post-grad career, but helped her be her most authentic self. She said she has been able to grow individually while helping others. 

“I would say just my experience overall at CMU has been so monumental for me,” Leisure said. “It’s so hard leaving in December because of the deep sense of community that I feel.”

Leisure encourages others to give themselves grace and time when searching for their home away from home on campus and not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zones, like she did. 

“I always want to put my best foot forward and be there for someone, like a shoulder they can lean on,” she said. 

Robyn Watts: A good listener

For Watts, being an ambassador gives her an opportunity to represent the school outside of being a track athlete. 

She said this position is another way to give back to the school after it’s done so much for her. 

“Honestly, I didn’t know a lot about the school coming in, which is also why I think it’s so cool that I’m now an ambassador because I feel like I’ve learned so much throughout this process and just the past four years of being here,” Watts said. 

Her time at Central on the track team and with Impact has shaped her as a leader, allowing her to learn a lot about herself and her leadership style. 

“I like to have everyone included in the conversation,” she said. “I like to hear a lot of different sides and perspectives, especially if it’s a perspective I’ve never heard of before or an experience I can’t personally relate to, because I don’t have anything to add to that. I just have to listen.”