Contact the Ambassadors

Heather Colwell is a graduate student in the Masters of Public Administration program. With an educational foundation in Political Science, Philosophy and Law from the University of Idaho, she honed her skills in campaign management, grassroots organizing, and strategic operations in the field. She is on a mission to create positive and meaningful change by leveraging her background in marketing, political operations, policy advocacy, and strategic communication to create impact. Heather owns a marketing company in Boise, Idaho and is eager to help students make the most of their education and implement what they learn to find work they love while improving their community.

Midori Connolly is a graduate student in the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) M.S. program within the College of Engineering. Professionally, Midori applies her service-oriented mindset to support customer operations for a global cybersecurity service provider and aspires to become a security trainer after completing her degree. Midori is thrilled to be a Graduate Ambassador helping more students connect to the amazing OPWL program (insider tip, we pronounce it “opal” 😉) so they can have the same rewarding, life-changing experience!

Alyssa Farrell is a graduate student pursuing an M.S. in Cyber Operations and Resilience. Alyssa graduated in May 2021 with a B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech. Currently working as a Software Engineer for Northrop Grumman, Alyssa is balancing her career, life, and education all at once. With her firsthand experience as an online Master’s student residing out of state, Alyssa is well-quipped to provide valuable insight to the challenges and opportunities that come with remote learning. Alyssa is excited to connect about the exciting opportunities that Boise State University supplies.

Lorraine Gaudio is a dedicated second-year graduate student in the Anthropology M.A. program at Boise State University, with a specialized emphasis on social network analysis. Holding A.S. degrees from Salt Lake Community College in psychology, chemistry, and biology earned in 2020, she further advanced her academic journey with a B.S. in Biology from Boise State in 2021. Lorraine excels in data wrangling and analysis using RStudio, and she thrives in interdisciplinary collaborations. Drawing from her extensive academic experience and having navigated various opportunities and the application process firsthand, Lorraine is uniquely positioned to guide and assist prospective students in understanding the myriad of possibilities within the graduate program and streamlining their application journey.

Raigan Hetz is a graduate student pursuing a Master in Public Health with an emphasis in intervention and prevention programming. Raigan graduated in May 2022 from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s in Public Health and a certificate in business.

Calvin is a graduate student pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. In May 2021, Calvin graduated from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering. Calvin is part of the Biomaterial and Musculoskeletal Engineering Lab (BMEL) where his research focuses on understanding the nanomechanical properties of novel biomaterials. Furthermore, Calvin seeks to better understand how those properties can be modulated to selectively direct the behavior of cells in aims to improve regenerative therapies of complex musculoskeletal tissues. Calvin is passionate about mentorship and is motivated to provide information to prospective students about life as a graduate student at Boise State University and connect them with Graduate College.

Amanda Nádas is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Population and Health Systems Management (MPHSM) at Boise State University. Amanda is deeply committed to reducing healthcare disparities and improving patient outcomes through payment reform. She currently serves as Senior Government Reimbursement Analyst at University of Wisconsin Health, a leading academic health system and Level 1 trauma center in Madison, WI. Before joining UW Health, Amanda worked as a healthcare reimbursement and advisory consultant at Horne LLP in Ridgeland, MS. She holds a BBA from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, a MS in Accountancy from Millsaps College (Jackson, MS),and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Amanda is committed to connecting prospective graduate students with programs that align with their educational aspirations.

Madeleine “Maddy” Orcales is a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration program and works as a research assistant in the MPA department. She graduated in May 2020 with a B.S. in National Security from the University of New Haven. Maddy has ambassador experience from her undergraduate career and is passionate about assisting prospective students. Maddy is ready to connect with you to answer questions about the graduate school experience, application process, and more!

Margaret Tissier is a graduate student in the Career Track MBA program. She received her B.S. in Psychology and double minors in Health Data Management and Cybersecurity Operations from Boise State and is proud to continue her graduate studies as a Bronco! Passionate about sharing insights from her own graduate experience, Margaret is eager to assist prospective students in making well-informed decisions regarding their graduate education pursuits. She is devoted to providing her perspective on navigating the academic journey and supporting prospective students through program selection and their applications. In her role as a graduate ambassador, Margaret is committed to connecting individuals with the applicable resources within the College of Business and Economics at Boise State. Her goal is to guide aspiring students in making informed decisions about their academic path, ensuring they find a program that aligns seamlessly with their unique goals and aspirations!