CUPPA Student Ambassadors
Meet Our 2024-25 Ambassadors
The Student Ambassador Program in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) is an opportunity for undergraduate students who are dedicated to serving and playing a special role in CUPPA. Student Ambassadors provide campus tours, serve as CUPPA representatives, and perform duties at various campus and community events. Student Ambassadors also perform duties within the Office of Academic Affairs over two-semesters with a commitment to a minimum of 40 hours of service.
Request CUPPA Ambassador Assistance Here
Margarita Arango Heading link
Major: Public Policy
Minors: Urban Studies, History, and Sociology
Hometown: Rockford, IL
High School: Auburn High School
About Me
Hello! I was born in Forest Park, IL, but I’ve lived in Rockford since I was two. My first language was Spanish, and I am a dual citizen of the US and Mexico! I danced at Rockford Dance Company for 13 years, and while I was a dancer there, I was really involved in community service and outreach. I volunteered for local campaigns and did a lot of community service through my school and church; all of these things drew me to pursuing a degree in Public Policy. I really enjoy school and studying, but in my downtime, I love to cook, spend time with friends, dance, and explore the city!
Why CUPPA?
As a high school student trying to figure out what I wanted to study in college, I was exploring online to find different majors that I hadn’t heard of before. Nothing stood out to me, and I felt lost, but then I found a sample schedule for UIC Public Policy majors. The classes sounded fascinating, and I was more excited to pursue higher education than I ever had been, so I knew I had found my path. After comparing CUPPA’s program to that of other universities, I realized that it was more focused on service and building communities than other programs. I always wanted to live in the city and the opportunities are so abundant here, so I knew CUPPA was perfect for me.
Campus Involvement
Honors College Ambassador, President of Student Advocacy Coalition
Carter Neubauer Heading link
Major: Urban Studies
Hometown: Bolingbrook, IL
High School: Plainfield East High School
About Me
Hi everybody, my name is Carter Neubauer! I am a second year student and I am majoring in Urban Studies as a part of the CUPPA program here at UIC. I love sports and enjoy playing almost every one, although my favorites are baseball, basketball, and soccer. I also love listening to music, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. If you see me on campus don’t hesitate to say hi!
Why CUPPA?
Cities have been something that has fascinated me all my life. I love looking at all the little things and seeing how they all come together to allow a city to function and of all the cities, Chicago is definitely my favorite. It is a dream of mine to be able to be able to live and work in this beautiful city that so many of us call home and I believe CUPPA can help me accomplish those goals. CUPPA really has a community feel to it and everyone here is so friendly and willing to help. The passion that all the students and staff have for what they do is unmatched and ultimately these factors are what made me chose CUPPA. And I couldn’t be happier with my decision!!
Thomas Rose Heading link
Major: Urban Studies
Minor: GIS
High School: Blue Valley Northwest
Hometown: Overland Park, KS
About Me
Hi, I’m Thomas! A second year student in Urban Studies at CUPPA, I love to read, play video games like Fallout and Cities: Skylines, and explore new places. I currently am working at the Daley Library, but in my free time participate in activities like UIC’s Improv club, along with my student railfanning group. Local government has been a massive interest of mine since I was a little kid; I’m excited to meet all of you!
Why CUPPA
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a servant of the people. I didn’t discover exactly how I would achieve that until a couple of years into high school; the impacts of the pandemic, combined with living in a suburban environment in a small city, made me realize just how much urban form dictates how we live as a nation. I decided urban planning was my best option, and to learn how to make a real city, you must study in one: CUPPA’s reputation for hands-on planning experience led me to it like a moth to a flame.
Samantha Snyder Heading link
Major: Public Policy
Minor: Education
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
High School: Hereford High School
About Me
Hi! I’m Sam Snyder, currently a sophomore undergrad here at UIC. I’m studying Public Policy and plan to declare an Education Policy concentration. My goal is to teach after college and get classroom experience before transitioning into a state or federal-level position to help develop flexible curricula that addresses regional gaps in teaching, whether it be a lack of information shared or an absence of the proper materials and resources. Outside of classes I’m really into music (please give me recs!), photography, playing video games. And if you want, please reach out if you ever want to play Spikeball so it stops collected dust in my closet!
Why CUPPA?
I grew up in a small rural town outside of Baltimore but living close enough to the city allowed me to see the issues that persisted as I got older. I wasn’t considering public policy until my senior year of high school, and I knew I wanted to go to college in a city where I could make lasting connections that allowed me to work towards addressing the kinds of issues I saw in Baltimore. When I found CUPPA, I loved the ability to specify a concentration in a specific type of policy while still being able to take classes in other concentrations. I also appreciate the proximity to downtown and being in the middle of everything – it feels so much more motivating than pursuing a Public Policy degree anywhere else, in my opinion. The staff and faculty in CUPPA are also so helpful and knowledgeable, and the classes are fun and engaging. If you’re considering a major or minor within CUPPA, I highly encourage it!
Campus Involvement
UIC Radio Podcaster
Marc Zoppi Heading link
Major: Urban Studies
Minor: Public Policy
Hometown: Riverside, Illinois
High School: Riverside Brookfield High School
About Me
I’m a third year Urban Studies major with a minor in Public Policy in the CUPPA program here at UIC. I’m from Riverside, Illinois a western suburb of Chicago, and have lived there all my life. In my free time, I
like to spend time with my friends and family, travel, and listen to music. Some of my hobbies include playing basketball, playing the violin, and hiking.
Why CUPPA?
Having grown up in such close proximity to Chicago, I’ve been exposed to all the city has to offer my whole life. Even here in the suburbs, there are a multitude of different cultures and traditions that I’m exposed to on a daily basis. This diversity is exactly what excites me about cities and the potential it has to create such a unique community. I was introduced to the field of urban studies through a class in high school and since then haven’t looked back. Choosing to study urban planning at UIC with CUPPA has definitely proved to be a great decision and isone that I’m sure I’ll fondly look back on throughout my academic and professional career.