An Added Dimension
Collegiate-level professional organizations add dimension to a student’s experience. They offer opportunities to practice leadership, meet peers and mentors, travel to events and foster a sense of civic responsibility.
AMA members at an NRF event hosted by Kohl’s at Rockefeller Center.
Over the past year, members of MSU’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter have heard from speakers on topics ranging from LinkedIN to restaurant promotions. The chapter expanded its community engagement, with members helping market on-campus sustainability efforts and volunteering for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle drive. A coupon fundraiser aided participation in professional development activities, such as the group’s first trip to the AMA National Conference in New Orleans in April. AMA members – along with MSU fashion merchandising majors, many of whom are marketing minors – also traveled to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual Big Show in New York in January. There, they heard from speakers like Shark Tank’s Daymond John and attended a Career Fair, where several landed internship interviews.
“Being part of AMA and serving as President opened so many opportunities to me. I was able to network with students and professionals at the conferences and learned how to best market myself to future employers,” states Madison MacLaughlin, who graduated in May and took a position with The Coca-Cola Company. “AMA is an amazing organization and tool, so I encourage students to get involved with the chapter at MSU!”
Last fall marketing majors led the way in establishing a new organization at MSU. In 2016, Feifei Zeng attended Harvard University’s Intercollegiate Business Convention (IBC), hosted by its Undergraduate Women in Business (UWiB) chapter, and was inspired to bring UWiB to campus where she became founding President in 2017. Offering female students a place to connect and empower one another to succeed in the corporate world, the chapter got off to a strong start with about 65 members. Ten attended the IBC in October. In March, MSU UWiB and the College of Business co-sponsored 2018 Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker Lilly Ledbetter, women’s equality activist and namesake of the historic Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act.
Lilly Ledbetter, the 2018 Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker, was co-sponsored by UWiB and the College of Business at an event open to all on campus.
“[UWiB members] meet and get to know people they would have never otherwise met in such a large college,” says co-founder and President Shelby Baldwin, a senior in marketing. “They are able to hear from incredible speakers and inspirational women they can look up to as role models, and there is a huge opportunity for accountability and mentorship between members as well. It gives women a way to give back to their school and build long-lasting friendships with classmates in a way that also helps prepare them for their future career, so it’s really the best of all worlds!”
Next year, UWiB plans to focus on recruiting, fundraising and career development, as well as sponsoring a major speaker event. The AMA chapter aims to add involvement in student competitions at the AMA and NRF events, and to increase fundraising in order to expand MSU’s presence at conferences and competitions.
Feature photo: AMA officers at the New Orleans conference; from left, Andrew Howell, Joseph Portillo, Jonnese Goings, Madison MacLaughlin, Marisa Holyoak
