Marquette University School of Dentistry has launched a new student ambassador initiative designed to give prospective dental students greater access to its clinics and classrooms, at a time when many dental schools offer limited or no in-person tours.
The program, introduced this year by the Office of Admissions, allows visiting students and their families to take tours led by current dental students during regular operating hours. According to Director of Admissions Cassie Stewart, this level of access is rare among dental schools nationwide.
“Many dental schools are not open to prospective students at all,” Stewart said. “What sets Marquette apart is that we invite students and their families to visit us, meet our community, and see what daily life as a dental student here is really like.”
While Marquette has long offered campus tours, they were traditionally conducted by admissions staff. That changed two years ago when then first-year student Maham Jabeen volunteered to help during a busy transition period in the admissions office.
“Whenever I wasn’t in clinic or class, I was giving tours,” Jabeen said. “It just kept growing from there.”
As Jabeen progressed into her second year and clinic demands increased, she recognised the need for a more structured approach. Working with Stewart and Admissions Counselor Tzivi Stern, she helped develop a formal student ambassador program to involve more students.
Feedback from visitors played a key role in shaping the initiative. Stewart said prospective students consistently responded positively to tours led by Jabeen, noting the value of hearing directly from someone living the dental school experience.
“Students spend their days in the clinics, classrooms and simulation labs,” Stewart said. “Hearing about those spaces from a student offers a perspective staff simply can’t replicate.”
The inaugural ambassador group includes around 40 volunteer students. Each year, the school hosts between 400 and 500 prospective visitors, with every tour led by two students—typically from different academic years—to provide varied insights. Ambassadors are encouraged to personalise their tours, ensuring no two visits are the same.
“People appreciate the honesty and relatability,” Jabeen said. “Real students are sharing how dental school changed their lives.”
Beyond recruitment, Jabeen said the tours also give ambassadors an opportunity to reflect on their own growth.
“It’s like a walking journal,” she said. “You realise how far you’ve come, and it makes you appreciate the school even more.”