In the weeks leading up to NISTS 2024, we're highlighting the transfer stories of this year's National Transfer Student Ambassador award winners. All four students will attend the conference in St. Louis and participate in a student panel conversation. You can read more about Sam's story and meet the other 2024 ambassadors on the NISTS Blog.
NISTS 2024 National Transfer Student Ambassador: Sam Haines
In this pre-conference conversation, Sam describes her transfer journey from Bucks County Community College to Rider University. She initially withdrew from college due to financial difficulties but ultimately viewed her time away as a "blessing in disguise." Sam was interviewed by NISTS 2024 Curriculum Planning Committee member Dr. Shannon Hayes Buenaflor from the University of Maryland.
About the interviewer: Dr. Shannon Hayes Buenaflor serves as the Program Director for Transfer Student Advising & Admissions at the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering. In her role, she oversees all transfer student programming for the college, including pre-transfer advising, orientation, and various onboarding programs. Dr. Buenaflor also serves as the liaison to all of the community colleges in the state of Maryland and works with faculty and staff to review course evaluations and articulation agreements. In addition to her professional role, Dr. Buenaflor engages in research focusing on transfer efficacy, pre-transfer advising, the transfer college choice process, and STEM transfer student experiences.
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