Student Success Story - Austin Taylor
Austin Taylor a May 2025 graduate was involved in a number of different ways at the institution. Austin was a Student Success Ambassadors (SSA), supporting the SOS program and central Student Success Initiatives. Austin and his fellow SSAs, connect anyone to resources in the Student Success District (SSD) and around campus, support Wildcat Welcome, the Gratitude Project and other events. Austin comes from a long line of Wildcats, and knew early on in life that he would attend the U of A, and in May joined his family members as an alumni after he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences.
Austin on his future
Austin stumbled upon the role as a SSA as most students do looking for an on job, but he knew that working on campus was key to his overall success as an undergraduate, and he had already had a positive experience getting academic support from THINK TANK
Austin plans to pursue a career in medicine and credits his role as a SSA to why he’s able to communicate clearly and effectively, which will serve him well in a patient-focused environment.
Austin reflected, “Being really intentional and grounded in my communication is something that I've learned and you can learn something from every interaction.”
Benefits of working as a SSA
Not only did Austin find community by befriending fellow SSAs, and worked to build community for his peers through his position. Although Austin said he was often answering simple questions, he used the interactions as opportunities to connect further with other students: “taking a moment and, asking someone, how's your day or, what class are you looking for tutoring with…even though that's not necessarily required information for me to know in my role, it fosters more of a sense of community and belonging for the students that are seeking resources.”
Sense of Belonging
As a native Tucsonan, Austin was excited about attending U of A and the wealth of opportunities he could explore. His advice to incoming students is the importance of finding that sense of belonging, whether it be through work, student organizations or volunteer experiences. As he reflected, he mentioned that college can feel isolating and “somewhat of an individual endeavor.” Austin shared how he suggests approaching the social part of the college experience:
“in terms of belonging, it's important to find people in each area of your academics, whether it's a course or something else... like-minded or on the same path and working with them… like a study group or starting an organization or being a part of an organization.”