ETSU announces its 2026-27 Student Foundation Ambassadors following a successful year of promoting philanthropy among their peers, alumni and donors.  

After a successful year, East Tennessee State University’s Student Foundation Ambassadors (SFA) announces its membership for 2026-27.

Created by the ETSU Foundation, the SFA is a group of student leaders who spread the spirit of philanthropy among their peers, alumni and donors.

In the past year, the SFAs took part in new student orientation, various campus events, and donor and alumni engagements. They played a vital leadership role in Forever ETSU, the university’s award-winning weeklong fundraising campaign, by coordinating Student Day and helping raise more than $40,000 for student-selected funds.

“Over the past year, our SFAs have done more than raise funds for the causes they care about – they have helped reshape how students view philanthropy at ETSU,” said Desmond Pierce, executive director of annual giving in the ETSU Office of University Advancement. “Their leadership is building a stronger culture of pride, engagement and generosity that will inspire lifelong connections to ETSU.”

The SFA program provides members with real-world experience in leadership, relationship-building and philanthropy – all of which will benefit them in years to come, according to Savannah Kern Dorlan, associate director of annual giving.

“They are learning why philanthropy matters, building relationships with donors and representing ETSU in meaningful ways,” Dorlan said. “Looking ahead, we want to continue growing the program by creating more leadership opportunities, mentorship with our development officers and alumni, and experiences that prepare them for life after graduation.

“Ultimately, we hope every ambassador leaves the program with knowledge and skills they can carry into any career path they choose, while also understanding the impact of philanthropy, the importance of giving back, and becoming lifelong ambassadors and advocates for ETSU.”

The 2026-27 Student Foundation Ambassadors are:

• Ijeoma Chukwu Amaechi, a senior nursing major from Lagos, Nigeria

• Thomas Bales, a senior with a major in political science and a minor in legal studies from Greeneville, Tennessee

• Cassie Bartlett of Seymour, Tennessee, who is pursuing a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree

• Audie Brown, a sophomore with a double major in biomedical health sciences and health administration from Erwin, Tennessee

• AJ Burke, a sophomore business management major from Johnson City, Tennessee

• Olivia Castle, a sophomore engineering technology major from Gray, Tennessee

• Amare DaSilva, a junior business administration major with a concentration in marketing from Chattanooga, Tennessee

• Charlie Dorset, a senior who is double-majoring in political science and Spanish with minors in global citizenship and legal studies from Knoxville, Tennessee

• Dani El Minaoui, a junior double-majoring in microbiology and biomedical health sciences with a minor in culture and health from Jonesborough, Tennessee

• Reagan Faison, a senior political science major with a minor in legal studies from Cosby, Tennessee

• Danielle Garcia, a senior majoring in political science with a minor in business from Chattanooga, Tennessee

• Dillon Harris, a senior majoring in kinesiology with a minor in general business from Greenville, South Carolina

• Emma Hatcher, a senior double-majoring in Spanish and marketing with a concentration in entrepreneurship from Bristol, Tennessee

• Lucas Havely, a junior double-majoring in health science and business management from Jefferson County, Tennessee

• Jared Huff, a senior with a double major in Japanese and management with a concentration in international business and minors in global citizenship and legal studies from Knoxville, Tennessee

• Josie Jenkins, a junior elementary education major from Gray, Tennessee

• Shelby Koerten, a senior with a major in communication studies and a minor in theater from Sevierville, Tennessee

• Seth Lassiter, a senior media and communication major with a minor in sports media from Morristown, Tennessee

• Gage Latham, a senior biomedical health sciences major from Maryville, Tennessee

• Maddie Moore, a junior majoring in media and communication with minors in sports media and marketing from Knoxville, Tennessee

• Delaney Morris, a sophomore biomedical health sciences major with a minor in culture and health from Kingsport, Tennessee

• Ana Julia Goncalves Pinhiero, a sophomore majoring in international affairs and minoring in Spanish from Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

• Shreya Priyadarshi, a senior with a double major in biomedical health sciences and Spanish and a minor in culture and health from Nashville, Tennessee

• John Statzer, a senior marketing major from Morristown, Tennessee

• Breanna Thompson of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, who is pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree

• Ethan Tuell, a sophomore double-majoring in kinesiology and business from Johnson City, Tennessee

• Chris Wilson, a second-year student in the ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy from Bristol, Tennessee

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