Our Ambassadors
Pre-Professional Student Ambassadors (PPSA) work directly with the Pre-Professional Advising Office to establish and build an inclusive community for pre-health and pre-law students at UGA. The role of a PPSA is to connect students to campus resources, provide peer mentorship, professional development opportunities, and support/guidance. Additionally, they promote the Pre-Professional Advising Office across campus and work with campus partners for collaboration and outreach.
If you are interested in becoming a PPSA, please click here to learn more about the responsibilities, eligibility requirements, and updates regarding when new member applications open.
Darshan Chudasama
From Duluth, GA, Darshan is a fourth-year Biology major with pre-medical intent. On-campus, Darshan serves as a site leader for UGA Impact. He’s also involved with University Housing and Double Dawgs. For the past 2 years, Darshan has been conducting neuroendocrinology research. Off-campus, Darshan spends his weekends volunteering or working in his local pharmacy. Darshan plays as an intramural sport, volunteers at local hospitals, tutors STEM-based courses, spends valuable time with loved ones, and loves to travel around the world. As a Pre-Professional Student Ambassador, Darshan strives to integrate student diversity and support student endeavors to pursue a pre-professional career. He is excited to engage with the community and find more opportunities for students to thrive as individuals!
Zoya McCook
Zoya is a fourth year Cellular Biology major with a Public Health minor from Lithonia, GA. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant. On campus, she is a member of the Pre-PA club and an undergraduate researcher. Off campus, she spends her time shadowing PA’s to learn more about her future field of healthcare, volunteering at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital, and serving as a Personal Care Assistant for assisted living. During her free time, she also enjoys trading stocks, sewing, and spending time with friends and family. As a PPSA, Zoya intends to strive to increase student participation with the Pre-Professional Advising Office and to provide help/support to students who are still on their journey of solidifying their future career.
Michael Stokes
Michael is a third-year student from Roswell, Georgia majoring in Biological Sciences with minors in Biology and Horticulture. He plans to attend optometry school after graduation and is excited to share his passion for the career path. Working under optometrists as a technician and shadowing other professionals has inspired Michael to pursue optometry, and he is ready to make the next steps towards graduate school. Michael is involved in the pre-optometry club and the horticulture club at UGA and hopes to become more involved in other on-campus organizations. His other interests include swimming, music production, and travel. Michael's main objective as an ambassador is to encourage students with diverse skills, passions, and personalities to become interested and pursue optometry.
Akshay Nair
From Johns Creek, GA, Akshay is a fourth-year Biology major with a minor in Spanish on the pre-medical path. On campus, he is involved with The Backpack Project, Stethoscope magazine, and HOSA. Outside campus, he scribes at Piedmont Athens Regional, plays intramural flag football, and enjoys watching many shows on Netflix. As a PPSA ambassador, he is looking forward to working with students in helping them with their own pre-professional path.
Taylor Talley
Taylor Talley is a third-year from Louisa County, Virginia, double majoring in Political Science and Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State. After graduation in May 2023, she aspires to attend law school to pursue a J.D. with a concentration in Family or Civil Law. She is involved in Delta Gamma Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Designated Dawgs, Shop With A Bulldawg (SWAB), Order of Omega, Phi Upsilon Omicron, RISE, and Undergraduate Moot Court. She is passionate about both of her majors and is a School of Public and International Affairs and College of Family and Consumer Sciences Ambassador. She also participated in the Washington Semester Program in Spring 2022 as an intern on Capitol Hill and a London Summer 2022 Study Abroad through FACS. Outside of school, Taylor enjoys the beach, a good adventure, shopping, and always being on the go/having a full schedule. As a PPSA, she is excited to be another helping hand to students applying to law school whether that be finding prep materials for the LSAT, helping with fee waivers, or just being a listener!
Ziad Obideen
Ziad is a second-year student in the Honors program at UGA double majoring in Economics A.B and Biology B.S. After completing his undergraduate degree, Ziad plans to attend medical school. Ziad is the president of paper airplanes at UGA, which is an extension of the nationwide program that tutors Middle Eastern and North African adults English. Off campus, you can find Ziad participating with Thomas Lay's, City of refuge, and Family promise. Ziad is especially excited to hear the experiences of other students and help everyone reach their pre-professional goals.
Lilly Steiner
Lilly Steiner is a third year biology major, with a human services minor. She hopes to continue her education to medical school after UGA to become a pediatric oncologist. She loves working with children and helping others and wants to carry her passions into her career. She is involved in Greek Life, Doctors Without Borders, Cancer Support Community, and volunteers at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital and Athens Shifa Clinic. As a pre-professional ambassador, she wants to help guide students along their journey and make it as enjoyable/stress-free as possible!
Denise Phan
Denise is a 4th year psychology major with neuroscience emphasis and a biology minor, from Marietta, Georgia. She plans to attend PA school after her post-graduation gap year, and is currently working as a clinical medical assistant at Piedmont Heart Institute. Denise is extremely passionate about traveling and medical care, taking on opportunities to pursue clinical experiences abroad, and interning under medical organizations in places such as Cusco, Peru. She also locally volunteers with Mercy Health Center as an eligibility specialist, working with low-income patients to help them receive medical services. She enjoys painting, skating, and playing piano, as well as cooking. On campus, you’ll find Denise picnicking and cloud-watching with her friends, or attending informational meetings for organizations such as the Period Project. As an ambassador, Denise hopes to be someone that pre-professional students can rely on for career opportunities, resources, and encouragement
Sydney Jones
Sydney is a third-year student from Suwanee, GA majoring in Health Promotion. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she plans to persue a career in the dental field. On campus, she serves as a BeWell Peer Educator for Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention. Additionally, she has assisted with two public health research projects and is a proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Off campus, Sydney volunteers as a pharmaceutical and dental assistant at Mercy Health Center. As a Pre-Professional Student Ambassador, Sydney is excited to share her love of dentistry and pre-health professions with others!
Vongai Mhute
Vongai is a 3rd Year Intended Exercise and Sport Science major pursuing a future in Physical Therapy. In my free time I enjoy being going to the gym and hanging out with my family. On campus I work at International Student Life and I am a member of MSSA!
Madelyn Jackson
Madelyn is a fourth-year Exercise and Sport Science major from Warner Robins, GA. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend Physical Therapy school. On campus, she is involved in UGA Miracle and HEROS, as well as participating in research within the Exercise Psychology lab over the last year. In her free time, you can find her working at Ramsey Student Center, enjoying nature, and spending time soaking up all Athens has to offer! Madelyn is excited to get to know any other pre-professional students and help them prepare for their future careers!
Avery Jainniney
Avery Jainniney is a second-year student from Augusta, GA majoring in International Affairs and Political Science. She plans to attend law school after graduating from UGA, and she is particularly interested in immigration law. On campus, Avery works as a Community Service Assistant for University Housing and is in the Honors College. In addition, Avery virtually tutors high school students from her hometown in a wide variety of subjects, including math, foreign language, and the social sciences. She is also excited to earn her Public Affairs Professional Certificate by participating in the Applied Politics program her junior year. As a PPSA, Avery is excited to work with pre-law students across campus to connect them to the variety of resources and opportunities available to them as pre-professional students!
Sanjanna Shankar
Sanjanna is a second-year Genetics Major from Suwanee, Georgia. After graduating from UGA, she hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in the healthcare field. On campus, she is part of the Honors Program, and is involved with AMSA and UGA Doctors Without Borders. Off Campus, Sanjanna enjoys volunteering at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital, and occasionally works as an administrative assistant in a clinic. As a PPSA, Sanjanna is looking forward to support other students help them reach their professional goals!
Elise Tong
Elise is a third-year Biology major from Atlanta, GA. She is on the pre-med track, and plans to attend medical school after completing her undergraduate degree at UGA. She is a Peer Learning Assistant for BIOL 1108 and is a volunteer at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital and does hospice volunteering with Homestead Hospice. She is currently a member of The Backpack Project of Athens, Doctors Without Borders, and Aurora at UGA. She is also a member of UGA VAW and traveled to Peru on a medical trip in May 2022 with the organization. She is most excited to help connect incoming pre-med students with all that the Pre-Professional Advising Office has to offer and meet new people.
Sara Drinkard
Sara is a 3rd year student from Athens, GA majoring in Health Promotion with an emphasis in Health Services. After graduating from UGA in 2024, she plans on attending PA school and pursuing dermatology. She transferred from Kennesaw State University her sophomore year. On campus, she is a member of the Pre-PA Club, and she is a senior executive of the Global Health Union. Off campus, she does hospice volunteering, and she works as a home health aide. Sara is excited to share her passion with other Pre-PA students!
Hailey Stone
Hailey is a third-year Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) major from Dacula, GA. She plans to attend grad school for Occupational Therapy (OT) after graduating from UGA with the addition of a minor in American Sign Language and certificates in Disabilities Studies, Personal and Organizational Leadership, and Leadership and Service. With a passion for working with people with disabilities, Hailey spends her time volunteering and interning at ESP and works as a registered behavior technician at behavior clinic for children with autism. Her goal as a PPSA is to empower others and help them find their passions. She is most excited for the opportunity to build personal relationships and help students find the resources they need to succeed as a pre-professional.
Zoe Weiss
Zoe is a fourth-year student from Potomac, Maryland majoring in Biological Sciences with a Biology minor. After completing her undergraduate degree, Zoe plans to attend veterinary school with an interest in small animals. On campus, she works as a UGA employee for the Large Animal Research Unit and is involved in Greek Life. She interns at a mixed animal practice, completing farm calls with the vet all throughout Georgia. In her free time, Zoe is usually catching up with friends at a local coffee shop, running through downtown, or exploring all the restaurants and shops Athens has to offer. Zoe is excited to work with PPSA to connect students and help her peers on their pre-professional path!
Matt Winston
Matt Winston is a fourth year student from Sandy Springs, Georgia, majoring in Finance and minoring in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State, while earning a certificate in Legal Studies as well. Matt has worked as a legal intern for Ganek PC and as a business intern for Georgio Bio Behavioral Associates, helping both firms improve and optimize their internal and external practices. Additionally, he is involved in the Marcus Jewish Community Center in Atlanta, the Order of Omega, Greek life, and the Terry Fintech Society here at Georgia. Outside of the professional environment, he enjoys golf, hiking, tennis, working out, and spending quality time with friends and family. After graduation, Matt hopes to continue his studies at law school with a concentration in Business Law. He is thrilled to pursue his interests and strengthen his professional skills as a Pre-Professional Student Ambassador. Furthermore, Matt is eager to provide his knowledge and assistance to a variety of students taking the next steps in pursuing their education in the complex field of law.