Meet Your Student Ambassadors – Part 2

Hey everyone! My name is Renee and I am currently a second-year Doctor of Audiology student. I am from East Rutherford, New Jersey (home of the Giants and the Jets for any football fans!). I graduated from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, with a degree in communication sciences and disorders. During my undergraduate career, I was extremely involved with different offices on campus. I was a tour guide, an orientation leader, and served on our Student Association for two years. It only felt natural coming to Salus and applying to be an ambassador.

I knew Salus was where I belonged as soon as I stepped on campus. When I arrived, I instantly felt welcomed by the students, staff and professors. I chose Salus because of the location, biomedical approach to education, and early clinical exposure. As a Doctor of Audiology student, clinical experience is invaluable. Having the University’s Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) on campus allows students to gain clinical experience in the first semester. 

As an ambassador, I value the interdisciplinary connections I have been able to make through different events on and off campus – one of my favorite events was the Dean’s Winterfest! 

When I’m not in class or studying, I love doing yoga, embroidering and hanging out with my friends.

Hi! My name is Zach, and I am a second-year Doctor of Audiology student at Salus. I am originally from South Jersey, and currently live in Roxborough; just a short drive from the Schuylkill River and down the street from the Wissahickon Valley Trail. I received my undergraduate degrees from La Salle University, one in communication sciences and disorders, and the other in urban public health. I currently serve as an ambassador, a member of the Student Engagement Committee, and am a member of the Salus Mentor/Mentee Program. 

I chose Salus because of the early hands-on clinical experience, expert faculty and the opportunity to develop interprofessional relationships with other programs on campus. I was excited to become a member of the Student Ambassadors because of their involvement on campus and the surrounding community. I was always involved in clubs and different organizations throughout high school and undergrad and knew being an ambassador would give me the opportunity to continue that part of my life. I look forward to representing Salus and hope I can impact all those that I talk to.

Hello, I am Emma Grace Lanhart and I am a first-year Doctor of Audiology student. I was born and raised in a small town in Cambridge, Minnesota. I received my bachelor’s degree in communication disorder and sciences at Louisiana State University (LSU) in May 2019. At LSU, I played on the women’s rugby team #GEAUXTIGERS! I took a year after I graduated and worked as an audiologist assistant at a clinic in Minnesota before I came to Salus. I also got married in December 2020! 

I chose Salus because of the early hands-on experience and for how well-known the program is known for making their students into well-rounded and prepared doctors. With that in mind, I decided to move to the East Coast and go to Salus because of how great of an education I would receive. 

As an ambassador, I am very excited to reach out to others and get to know individuals along with their stories. I am passionate about Salus and the audiology profession and I am thrilled to share it with all of you.

Hello! My name is Lindsay Lelas and I am from Guilford, Connecticut. I am a first-year Doctor of Optometry student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus. I received my bachelor's degree in biological sciences at the University of Delaware, where I also minored in Spanish healthcare. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, exploring new places, binge watching Netflix shows and yoga. 

During my first visit to PCO/Salus, I knew this was the school for me. The students, faculty and staff all had radiating smiles while walking through the halls and campus, reassuring me that everyone here is genuinely happy to be a part of the Salus family. In addition, there are also extensive resources at Salus University to help you throughout your graduate journey, and the curriculum is highly clinically based, which was appealing to me because it helps prepare students well for post-graduate experiences. 

Being a Salus Ambassador is a rewarding experience because it gives me the opportunity to instill the same excitement I have for the school in others. I look forward to fostering relationships with new potential students, peers, faculty, alumni and staff throughout my next four years here. Salus University has so much to offer, so it is an honor to be able to follow my dream of becoming an optometrist, while also sharing my experiences through the ambassador program with a larger community.

Hi, my name is Ava Moran, and I am a first-year Doctor of Optometry student at PCO/Salus. I graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University in December 2019 and received my Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medical and health studies with a minor in nutrition. I was born and raised in a small, historic town called Newburyport just north of Boston, Massachusetts. I have a twin sister who is in dental school at Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine-Illinois. We both ventured away from home to pursue our dreams. When I am not studying, I love to read, travel, dance and sing. I was a dancer throughout my undergraduate studies, and it was such a fun way to meet more people and express myself while also releasing stress.

When I came to PCO/Salus for my interview, I was extremely nervous since it was the first one that I would be attending. All the mock interviews and practice questions had come to this moment, which made me excited and anxious all at the same time. However, as soon as I met the staff and the students that day, I felt so at ease and comfortable. I knew I wanted to call PCO/Salus my home away from home. Everyone was genuinely happy to be here and I even asked my interviewer why she chose to work at Salus. She explained everyone wants you to be successful and that she genuinely loves coming to work every day because the students, staff and faculty make it all worth it. That made a huge impact on me and when I went to interview at other schools, I couldn’t seem to make any of them meet the level of comfort and joy I had felt while at PCO/Salus.

I have always loved being involved in school and holding leadership positions. In undergrad, I was president of the Pre-Optometry Professional Society which opened my eyes to so many opportunities within the field and within my community in Boston. We participated in everything from road races and fundraisers to just hosting meetings for the students at MCPHS. It was such a rewarding and wonderful experience, when I saw Salus had an Ambassador program, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity. I cannot wait to expand my knowledge of the field of optometry by making new connects both at PCO/Salus and within the University community, but also in the greater Philadelphia area. I am so excited that I have been given the opportunity to represent the University and PCO/Salus as an ambassador and look forward to my future ahead.