Meet Maxwell Rhames ’25, a President’s Student Ambassador

Posted on by Andy Brown

Kalamazoo College is spotlighting its President’s Student Ambassadors to let you know who they are and the roles they serve for K. As student leaders, ambassadors serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College with a spirit of inclusion. About 15 students serve as ambassadors each academic year. The students selected show strong communication skills and demonstrate leadership through academic life, student life or community service. Meet Maxwell Rhames ’25 through a Q-and-A conducted with Social Media Ambassador Blagoja Naskovski ’24.

Maxwell Rhames ’25 from Adrian, Michigan, is a chemistry major with minors in anthropology and sociology. He is involved heavily with the chemistry department as a research student and a teaching assistant. He is also a member of the Academy Street Winds, a leader of K’s chemistry club, and a member of Higher-Level Education in Dow, an organization that seeks to eliminate boundaries for students pursuing graduate school in the natural sciences after K.

What’s your favorite part of your K Experience?

“My absolute favorite part about being a student at K is working alongside such amazing faculty. The professors here are exquisite and truly care about making sure that their students understand the material and can apply it in relevant and advanced ways.”

Why did you accept the invitation to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador?

Portrait of Maxwell Rhames
President’s Student Ambassador Maxwell Rhames ’25 is a research student and teaching assistant in the chemistry department.
Rhames, Arias-Rotondo and Ann Marie Johnston ’24 talk about undergraduate research in this video produced by Ethan Galler ’25.
Two students, including President's Student Ambassador Maxwell Rhames, work with chemistry professor on a lab experiment
Rhames (left) helps Assistant Professor of Chemistry Daniela Arias-Rotondo and Caelan Frazier ’23, in the lab in the summer of 2022.
Five students, including ambassador Maxwell Rhames, and one professor sit with a stuffed animal in front of a sign that says "Proud to be a Chemist" in Indianapolis
Rhames (second from right) was among five students who participated in the American Chemical Society Conference in Indianapolis in winter 2022. He was joined by Shay Brown ’23, Crystal Mendoza ’23, Lindsey Baker ’24, Arias-Rotondo and Frazier.

“I wanted to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador so that I could share the wonders of the K College community and student body with alumni and friends of the College. As an ambassador, I find it very rewarding to be able to meet an incredibly diverse group of people and share my K story with them and hear their stories in response.”

What is your favorite part of being a President’s Student Ambassador?

“My favorite part about the President’s Student Ambassador program is the ability to work so closely with President’s Staff and interact frequently with members of the College community, such as alumni and friends of the College. Being able to speak with these individuals and share my experiences and stories has proven incredibly rewarding and is by far my favorite part of the role.”

What would you recommend for the incoming President’s Student Ambassadors in 2024–25?

“I would recommend that interested students speak with current ambassadors to hear more about what the program entails. In general, I think that any interested students should absolutely apply to become a President’s Student Ambassador because it is an incredibly rewarding role!”