Aaron Fausz was flipping through the student newspaper at Northern Kentucky University in the mid-1980s when a small announcement caught his eye—a new organization was forming, one that would soon become a defining part of his college experience.

That listing was the university’s call for the very first Presidential Ambassadors, or PAs—student volunteers selected to represent NKU at high-level events, from presidential functions and commencement ceremonies to campus tours and recruitment efforts. A business student at the time, Fausz was intrigued by the chance to engage more deeply with the university community.

Fausz applied, interviewed and ultimately became a member of this cadre of students designated to help President Leon E. Boothe represent NKU.

"I thought it would be a chance to meet more students from other academic programs on campus that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to—and I did meet a great group of students," he says.

Now, as the PAs celebrate their 40th anniversary, Fausz is reflecting on the legacy of an organization that’s helped shape hundreds of students just like it shaped him.

During his time at NKU, Fausz was involved beyond the PAs, working in the Office of the Registrar and later at the Campus Recreation Center. He says what set NKU apart was the personalized attention and genuine care shown by faculty members—something he credits for helping him find his career path when his initial plans didn’t work out.

Fausz originally aspired to become a Navy pilot, but when that path sputtered out due to unforeseen obstacles, he discovered a new career path through a conversation with an NKU faculty member.

"Rob Snyder was running the management program at NKU at that time, and after explaining my situation, he suggested I consider going to grad school for industrial-organizational psychology," he says. "After researching it, I changed my major and figured out how to take all the classes I needed to in one year. I was slammed, but I did it, and I was accepted to grad school, too."

That pivot led to a rewarding career in industrial-organizational psychology, primarily in the health care industry. Over the years, he’s traveled extensively as a consultant, helping organizations improve workplace efficiency and employee well-being.

But no matter how far he’s traveled, NKU and the PAs have always stayed with him. He remembers the sense of excitement and possibility that infused the university during his student years.

"NKU celebrated its 20th birthday when I was here, so everything still felt pretty new," he says. "Everybody was creating something—you could feel the enthusiasm everyone had for what this campus could become."

He feels that the spirit of growth has only accelerated.

"It feels like it’s twice the size, both physically and in the number of students," Fausz says of the campus today. "But NKU has still managed to keep up with all the advances in technology and education practices."

For Fausz, the most meaningful part of being a PA was the opportunity to meet a wide range of people—prospective students, university leaders and community stakeholders.

"It was introductions like this that broadened my horizons," he says. "It helped me break out of my comfort zone and become more confident in talking to people, which became essential in my professional life."

Fausz recently returned to campus for the Lamplighters Award Banquet and PA alumni reunion, where he reconnected with fellow alumni and celebrated the organization’s history.

"It was great to see how far the organization has come—and even better to reconnect with some of the older members at the reunion," he says.

Fausz’s advice for current PAs—and NKU students in general—is made all the more meaningful by knowing how he embraced the unexpected turn his early education and career goals took.

"Make a plan, but remember that it should be flexible," he says. “Take advantage of exciting opportunities when they are presented."