UNE senior ‘shines’ as co-president of new Presidential Ambassadors program

Aidan Hosein thought he was done playing hockey after the junior leagues. But a phone call to come play for UNE changed the trajectory of both his hockey and collegiate career. 

“It was actually mid-July of 2020 when Kevin Swallow, the head hockey coach, reached out,” said Hosein (Political Science, ’24), who is originally from Toronto, Canada. “I thought if I was ever going to make the decision to come down and play in the States, the schooling would just have to make a lot of sense, too.”  

And make sense it did.  

His decision to attend UNE solidified when he read about the political science program. The degree not only aligned with his passion and future aspirations, but he said that he knew he was on the right path when he got here and met faculty like Ali Ahmida, Ph.D.  

“I still remember the first day I stepped on campus, I met with Dr. Ahmida, who founded the program,” Hosein recalls. “As soon as I understood what I would be learning and the pace of the studies, I knew that this was what I wanted to do.” 

His political science major gave him a deep understanding of policy and governance, which was further developed through his hands-on internship in U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ office.   

“A lot of what that office does is connecting with the tight knit community,” he said, emphasizing the close ties he has felt with the local area. Hosein said his internship was more than reviewing casework, tracking policy changes, and managing communications with constituents — it was also about the personal growth and community connection it fostered.   

“I think having that kind of groundedness in the community, not just in the people but also the place, has been something that’s really shaped my experience and changed the person I am for the better,” he said.   

Throughout his time at UNE, Hosein has been deeply involved in student life, not only as an athlete on a nationally ranked ice hockey team but also as a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, where he worked to enhance the resources and experiences available to student-athletes. In addition, he participated in a dean-appointed group that focused on improving the student experience in the College of Arts and Sciences.  

But Hosein said that it was really his role as co-president of the Presidential Ambassadors program that gave him the opportunity to step into a leadership role. The Presidential Ambassadors program at UNE is a leadership program for a group of select students who work directly with UNE President James Herbert and his wife, Lynn Brandsma, Ph.D., to champion the University to prominent stakeholders. 

“The Presidential Ambassadors have been able to represent UNE, the president, and be the student voice at events,” Hosein said, noting that the ambassadors — which he calls the P.A.s — provide insight into the UNE student experience for prospective donors, alumni, and governmental leaders. “The P.A.s really gives us a platform to be heard and to engage with others.”  

Brandsma praised Hosein for his contributions as UNE’s first cohort of ambassadors, highlighting his leadership alongside the other co-president, Grace Curley (Neuroscience, ‘24), within the program. 

“As a co-president, Aidan has been instrumental in shaping the program, fostering meaningful connections between students and the University’s leadership, friends, and neighbors,” Brandsma said, adding that the ambassadors also received a first-hand look into the role of a university president.   

Brandsma first met Hosein at a UNE town hall meeting.  “He has given so much time to the Presidential Ambassador program and has still managed to win the Outstanding Student for Political Science Award and compete on a hockey team that won a league championship and appeared in back-to-back national semi-finals." 

She said that he has truly exemplified his commitment to serving as a voice for his peers.

“He has effectively communicated the student perspective to all partners of UNE and always with eloquence and gratitude,” Brandsma said.

Hosein’s natural ability to lead with gratitude has allowed him to “shine” as co-president and no doubt will follow him to the next steps after graduation, she said.  

And while his time at UNE has come to an end, Hosein said his time in Maine is just beginning. Just like the lyrics of a John Denver song, he said it feels like he came home to a place he’d never been before.  

“I will take away from the (ambassadorship) more refined skills in professionalism and leadership. It really has been truly special,” he said, adding that he has built lifelong friendships with the other Presidential Ambassadors. “I’m not only taking with me all the lessons and experiences I’ve picked up along the way, but I am also taking with me the amazing connections and friendships that have made my time here unforgettable.”