Jan and Bud Richter Center
Richter Center Student Leaders
RCSL members are student leaders who volunteer their time to promote and support the
university’s community engagement efforts.
Richter Center Student Leaders
RCSL members are student leaders who volunteer their time to promote and support the university’s community engagement efforts.
The Richter Center Student Leadership (RCSL) Program provides students who are passionate about service with meaningful leadership opportunities while serving their peers and the broader campus community. RCSL members volunteer their time to promote, strengthen, and support Fresno State’s community engagement initiatives.
Student Leaders contribute through a variety of programs and projects, including outreach at campus events such as the Richter Center’s Community Service Opportunities Fairs, providing peer-to-peer assistance in the Richter Center office, and planning and implementing one-day and short-term service initiatives such as Alternative Breaks, Spring into Service, and campus Blood Drives.
The Richter Center Student Leadership Program is comprised of three distinct teams: Richter Center Ambassadors, Alternative Break Leaders, and Blood Drive Leaders. Select the title below to learn more about each team and their unique roles.
The Richter Center Ambassadors program engages Fresno State students in meaningful, hands-on leadership opportunities that advance a culture of service and community engagement across campus. Serving as highly involved student leaders, Ambassadors act as representatives of the Richter Center to the university community and the community-at-large. They serve as liaisons between the Richter Center, campus departments, and community partners while helping shape and strengthen Fresno State’s service initiatives.
Under the mentorship of the Assistant Director and professional staff, Ambassadors gain experience in leadership development, event planning, facilitation, fundraising, marketing, outreach, and program assessment. The role combines strategic campus outreach with service event planning and execution, providing students with both behind-the-scenes planning experience and hands-on leadership at one-day service events and campus-wide initiatives.
Originally founded in 2008–09, the Richter Center Ambassadors program has included dozens of student leaders representing a wide range of majors, backgrounds, interests, and skill sets. Ambassadors play a vital role in planning and executing service events, coordinating volunteers, leading campus-wide service campaigns, facilitating workshops and presentations, and representing the student voice on community engagement committees. They also support signature Richter Center programs such as Kids Day, Service Fairs, blood drives, and other campus-wide initiatives.
Through this experience, Ambassadors develop strong professional skills, build meaningful relationships with campus and community leaders, and help expand service opportunities throughout the university. The program is designed for students who demonstrate a commitment to serving others, strong communication skills, responsibility, flexibility, and a desire to positively impact both campus and community.
Alternative Break (AB) Leaders, plan and coordinate Alternative Break service projects during the Thanksgiving and Spring Break periods.
Students serving as AB Leaders undergo extensive training to learn facilitative leadership and event planning skills. This program is especially useful for students who are interested in gaining leadership experience, are looking to further explore the field of community service, or are particularly interested in sharpening their event planning and group facilitation skills.
Blood Drive Leaders serve as student coordinators for Fresno State’s on-campus blood drives, playing a key role in supporting the planning and execution of multiple drives throughout the academic year. In collaboration with the Richter Center and community partners, they assist with event coordination, volunteer engagement, and promotional efforts to ensure successful campus-wide participation.
In this role, Blood Drive Leaders serve as liaisons to campus Blood Ambassadors, helping to strengthen communication, outreach, and peer education efforts. They provide day-of support at each blood drive, assisting with event logistics, volunteer coordination, and participant engagement to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience.
Blood Drive Leaders also undergo training on the importance of blood donation, gaining knowledge about the ongoing need for blood and how to effectively educate others. Through outreach and peer engagement, they help raise awareness and inspire the campus community to contribute to this life-saving effort.
Join the Richter Center Student Leaders Program!
To apply to become a part of the Richter Center Student Leaders, review the questions below prior to completing the application:
- List the qualifications (ex. characteristics, experiences, or relevant strengths) that you will bring to the RCSL team.
- Are you a member of any of the following programs? ASI, College Corps, Health Paws, Smittcamp
- List any co-curricular activities and campus clubs/organizations you plan to be involved in during the 2026-27 academic year.
- List your volunteer and/or service-learning experience, beginning with the most recent (include the length of commitment, name of community benefit organization, and a short description of your duties.)
- Why are you interested in applying for RCSL? What do you think will be the most rewarding aspects of serving in a position like this?
- Briefly describe a meaningful community service or service-learning experience you have had. Why was this experience important to you?
- What do you hope to contribute to the program(s) to which you applied? How might your contribution make an impact on the university community?
Contact rcsl@mail.fresnostate.edu with any questions