Meet the ACE Ambassadors | Agricultural & Consumer Economics

We are proud of our outstanding students in the Department of ACE and are fortunate to have a group of students to represent the department and tell our story.

The ACE Ambassador Program is a group of trained students who assist prospective students in their college exploration process. Ambassadors work closely with the Department of ACE Undergraduate Programs Office as well as the College of ACES Office of Academic Programs to enhance the admissions process for prospective and incoming students. Our ambassadors also function as leaders and foster a network of peer support where students and prospective students can voice their questions and get information on many aspects of student life.

Our Ambassadors

Emily Brooks

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Prophetstown, IL
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio: Emily comes from many generations of Illini and agriculturalists, so she is looking forward to being a resource for new and prospective ACE Students. In addition to serving as an ACE Ambassador, Emily works in the ACE Department's Business Office, serves as Alumni Relations Chair for UIUC Hoof N'Horn, is an active member of UIUC Collegiate Farm Bureau, and was the previous Interview Chair for 4-H House Cooperative Sorority.

Jack Brown

Graduation Year: 2027
Hometown: Monticello, IL
Concentration: Farm Management
Ambassador Bio: Jack grew up in Monticello, a town 30 minutes outside Champaign. He is currently a Freshman studying Farm Management. On campus, Jack is involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, and he enjoys Illini sports, especially football.

Viktoriya Dragnevska

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Mount Prospect, IL
Concentration: P ublic Policy and Law
Ambassador Bio: Viktoriya is a sophomore majoring in Public Policy and Law and minoring in Legal Studies. Apart from being an ACE Ambassador, she is also a part of the College of ACES Student Advancement Committee, as well as Pre-Law Honors Society and Undergraduate Law Review. She is excited to meet and aid new students!

Ryle Duke

Graduation Year:
Hometown:
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio:

Bailee Fanning

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Milford, IL
Concentration: Public Policy and Law
Ambassador Bio: Bailee Fanning is a senior studying ACE Public Policy and Law. Bailee is originally from Milford, Illinois, where her passion for agriculture first started on her family farm. She is active in Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, Student Advancement Committee, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Bailee hopes to pursue a career in agriculture policy and lobbying in the future.

Christina Fraser

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Chardon, OH
Concentration: Public Policy and Law
Ambassador Bio: Christina is a senior in ACE Public Policy and Law. When she's not going to class, studying, or doing her job as SORF secretary, you can find her at the ARC training for her next powerlifting meet or watching bad reality TV with her friends. Christina is Vice President and co-founder of Illini Barbell and an active show team member of the Illini Equestrians Western team.

Kayin Garner

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Mahomet, IL
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio: Kayin is a senior from Mahomet, IL studying Agribusiness Markets and Management. On campus, she's involved in her sorority, Chi Omega, is a Teaching Assistant for Professor Paul Stoddard, and is involved in the Christian organization, GreekCru. After graduation, she is moving to Kansas City to work as a grain merchandiser.

Hayden Gaskins

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Harrisburg, IL
Concentration: Public Policy and Law
Ambassador Bio: Hayden is a senior in Public Policy and Law with minors in Political Science, Legal Studies, and Environmental Economics and Law. She is on the executive board of Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity and is a part of the Campus Honors Program. She is a member of the Environmental Leadership Program for Spring '24. She is an aspiring agricultural and environmental attorney who has a deep passion for the law and how it intersects the agricultural and maritime sectors of our world.

Will Hensley

Graduation Year: 2025
Hometown: Bushnell, IL
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio: Will is currently studying Agribusiness Markets and Management in the department of ACE. He grew up on a farm in western Illinois and went to a small high school in Bushnell, Illinois. On campus, he is involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, the College of ACES Student Advancement Committee, and the Campus Honors Program.

Jason Hlavacek

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Oswego, IL
Concentration: Finance in Agribusiness
Ambassador Bio: Jason grew up in a suburb of Chicago, Oswego, and is currently studying Finance in Agribusiness with the hope to go into accounting. On campus, he is involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, and enjoys all Illini sports.

Ava Kessler

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Ingraham, IL
Concentration: Consumer Economics and Finance
Ambassador Bio: Ava is a sophomore double majoring in Consumer Econ and Finance and Engineering Tech and Management for Ag Systems. In addition to being an ACE Ambassador, Ava works for Campus Rec and is actively involved in her business fraternity as well as undergraduate research. She is excited to meet new ACE students!

Madalyn Koster

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Carrollton, IL
Concentration: Finance in Agribusiness
Ambassador Bio: Madalyn is an ACE transfer from Food Science and Human Nutrition. She is an active member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority on campus. She is excited to interact with all the new ACE students!

Grace May

Graduation Year: 2025
Hometown: Princeton, IL
Concentration: Public Policy and Law
Ambassador Bio: Grace is a junior studying Agricultural and Consumer Economics with a concentration in Public Policy and Law with minors in Business and Political Science. With her degree, she hopes to eventually work in policy development to bring more opportunities to small communities like the one she grew up in. When she is not studying or working in Soybean Research for the Department of Crop Sciences, she can be found doing one of her numerous ADHD-developed hobbies or cheering on the Illini at a sporting event.

Callie McAdams

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Carrollton, IL
Concentration: Environmental Economics and Policy
Ambassador Bio: Callie is a sophomore studying Environmental Economics & Policy. She serves on the Panhellenic Council Judicial Board and is director of risk for her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. She is also on the risk committee for Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity. Callie loves UIUC and is excited to share her appreciation for the ACE major!

Olivia Messerges

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Schaumburg, IL
Concentration: Environmental Economics and Policy
Ambassador Bio: Olivia is a senior in ACE Environmental Economics and Policy with minors in Legal Studies and Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. In addition to being an ACE ambassador, Olivia works with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment and the Prairie Research Institute. She is also a member of the Pre-Law Honors Society and a frequent volunteer with Project for Less. She is excited to work with all prospective students, especially transfer students!

Kate Miller

Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Macedonia, IL
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio: Kate is majoring in ACE with a concentration in Agribusiness Markets & Management. She is a member of the 4-H House Cooperative Sorority, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and ACES Council. She is beyond happy to be able to call the University of Illinois home!

Sara Poletti

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Jerseyville, IL
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio: Sara is a sophomore majoring in ACE with a concentration in Agribusiness Markets and Management and minors in International Development Economics and Leadership Studies. Sara is a member of Collegiate Farm Bureau and Student Advancement Committee, and serves as ACES Council/PHC Representative for Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority.

Gavin Roegge

Graduation Year: 2025
Hometown: Jacksonville, IL
Concentration: Public Policy and Law
Ambassador Bio: Gavin grew up in Jacksonville, IL and is currently a sophomore concentrating in Public Policy and Law. He is currently serving as the Recruitment Chair of Alpha Gamma Rho.

Nate Scranton

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Pittsfield, IL
Concentration: Finance in Agribusiness
Ambassador Bio: Nate is currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois majoring in ACE with a concentration in Finance in Agri-Business. On campus he is involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, currently serving as the Treasurer. He is also a JBT Scholar as well as a member of the Student Advancement Committee for the College of ACES. He works part time at the ACES Funk Library.

Erika Steinman

Graduation Year: 2026
Hometown: Tolono, IL
Concentration: Consumer Economics and Finance
Ambassador Bio: Erika is a sophomore majoring in Consumer Economics and Finance with a minor in Business. She is also a student in the Real Estate Finance Academy with a desire to pursue commercial real estate when she graduates. She is on the social committee for Rho Epsilon, a student run real estate association club, and works at Campus Recreation. In her free time, she loves working out and going for walks outside, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Patrick Wiemers

Graduation Year: 2025
Hometown: Alton, IL
Concentration: Agribusiness Markets & Management
Ambassador Bio: Patrick is a junior studying Agribusiness Markets & Management in the College of ACES. He resides in southern Illinois, where his family has a small farm. During his free time, Patrick enjoys the outdoors, working, golfing, and socializing with friends. He looks forward to working with the ACES faculty and new students!

Gunnar Wuebben

Graduation Year: 2025
Hometown: Albany, IL
Concentration: Finance in Agribusiness
Ambassador Bio: Gunnar is from Albany, Illinois and his concentration is Finance in Agribusiness. He developed his love for agriculture at a young age helping his grandfather out at the farm. Besides farming, he loves to spend time hunting and fishing.