Marketing Students Reflect on Summer 2020 Internships

While many students’ summer internships looked a little different than usual in 2020, students still found ways to make their experience valuable. Whether working virtually or for an essential business there’s one thing that’s certain – Tippie Marketing students are resilient.  

Marketing students, Jackie Stutz, Allie Wendell, and Travis Hudson gave us a little insight on their virtual internship experience, while Michaela Ackerman provided some reflection on working for an essential business during COVID-19.  

 

Dealing with Obstacles

When asked about the biggest obstacles and concerns they faced during their internship, their answers ranged from dealing with uncertainty, lack of clarity about expectations, trying to separate work from home, and effectively communicating with coworkers.  

Working for ALDI, who was considered an essential business and held their internship in-person, Mikaela’s biggest concern was the uncertainty regarding how long the pandemic would last and what each day would look like. Mikaela relied on her coworkers and managers to ease her concerns saying, “being around the amazing co-workers I had during the internship made this so much easier. ALDI has fantastic communication and I appreciated them always keeping the interns in the loop. 

Travis expressed his difficulty understanding what was expected of him in the beginning of his internship which led to making a few mistakes early on. He was able to overcome the challenge saying, “because I was left alone and unsupervised for most of the day, I had to learn to reach out and ask questions for clarification and specificity.” 

Jackie described the difficulties of separating work and home saying, “I often found myself working 3 plus hours later than I normally would’ve in the office, simply because I had nothing else to do.” To overcome the challenge of working from home, she made a few key changes to find some balance. For Jackie, “It became really important to me to shut my laptop down at a reasonable time to make sure there was a healthy balance between work and home.” 

Allie found that, asking questions when I couldn’t find the answer myself, and learning whether coworkers liked to use email or Microsoft Teams to communicate”, helped her to overcome the communication challenges she faced 

 

Most Rewarding Aspect of their Internships

Reflecting on the most rewarding aspects of their internships, Mikaela remarked, “Honestly, it was as simple as thinking about all the experience I was able to get despite being in the middle of a pandemic was such a great feeling and I will be forever grateful for that.  

Allie also described the experience as an opportunity to develop professionally, stating, “The most rewarding part about my internship was being able to learn new skills that will help me in my future careers. One main skill I grew was time management. Being at home and not in an office I had to make sure I stayed on top of my work.”  

Jackie and Travis agreed that the connections they formed during their internships was extremely rewarding. “The people I worked with were by far my favorite part of the internship. Despite not being in person, connections and friendships were formed with everyone on the marketing team from the top down,” says Travis.  

 

Professional and Personal Growth

Asked about the ways in which they thought their experience affected their professional or personal growth, the sentiment was consistent among them that they were able to learn how to be more adaptable to change. Given the unusual circumstances they faced this summer, they all felt similarly that the experience has prepared them to work in a versatile and rapidly-changing workplace 

Jackie reiterated this saying, “It’s shown me that important work doesn’t have to be done in a professional office. That might seem simple, but I think it’s super cool that hard work and great things can be accomplished even in your desk in your bedroom. The world didn’t have to stop when everything went remote.” 

 

Exceeding Expectations and Accomplishments

When asked whether their internships had met, exceeded or fell short of their expectations, these Marketing Students had nothing but good things to share. Mikaela shared that, “The internship looked differently than I expected, but definitely exceeded my expectations. Even though the staff was not able to be all together, the communication was stronger than ever.”  

Next, the interns were asked to reflect on what they were most proud of accomplishing during their internships. Allie detailed her experience saying, “One thing I was most proud of during my internship was being able to gain so much experience about sales. I wasn’t just treated as an intern, I was treated as a regular employee.”  

Similarly, Travis remarked that he was, “most proud of the connections [he] made.” He went on to say, I believe the people I worked with truly want to see me succeed, and will help me in any way they can with my career going forward. 

Jackie and Mikaela shared similar accomplishments by both receiving full-time offers from the companies they interned with! Mikaela will start her full-time position with ALDI after graduation as a District Manager. Jackie started working for Pear Deck as a Marketing Coordinator Intern back in October 2019, and shared her most recent accomplishment this summer saying, “I’m really proud to say that I accepted a full-time job with them! As of July 2020, I’m a full-time Marketing Coordinator.” 

 

Learning from the Experience

Finally, we asked each of the interns to share what advice they would give to other students on how to make an internship as rewarding as possible.  

“To make a virtual internship rewarding be sure to attend all meetings your invited to, even if they are optional. These meetings can give you great insight on your department and you can learn so much just from listening.” – Allie 

“Make sure you take it seriously. It might be easy to slack off or not hold yourself accountable, but it’s important to not have that mindset. Get the most out of it because we don’t know how work settings will be after the pandemic.” – Jackie 

“Reach out to the people you work with, and make the extra effort to get to know them. Important connections can still be made virtually, networking doesn’t have to stop just because you aren’t face to face” – Travis 

“Be a sponge, have confidence, and ask questions!” – Mikaela 

 

Meet the students featured above:

Mikaela Ackerman is a senior at the Tippie College of Business. Mikaela interned with ALDI this past summer as a District Manager Intern.

Travis Hutson is in his final year at the Tippie College of Business. This past summer he was a Marketing and Business Development Intern with Hawthorne Advertising.

Jackie Stutz graduated from Tippie College of Business in May 2020. She completed her summer internship with Pear Deck as their Marketing Coordinator Intern.

Allie Wendell is a senior at the Tippie College of Business. In the summer of 2020, Allie was a Business Development, Sales Intern with Zebra Technologies.

 

One Last Toast to the Spring 2020 Graduates

When the Spring 2020 semester came to an end, 174 marketing students bid farewell to the Tippie College of Business virtually. Due to the unprecedented circumstances, this group of graduating students missed out on the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments on campus. To commemorate their successes, we reached out to a few of the graduating students to give them a chance to reflect on their experiences as Tippie Marketing students.  

 

What influenced you to pursue a degree/career in Marketing? 

Lauren Jackson: I have always valued relationships, creativity, and helping others throughout my life. When choosing a degree, I decided to pursue a business degree that would encompass all of those core values.

Derrick Johnson: I had an initial interest in business altogether. I felt like my creativity and content creation skills would be great strengths in marketing and promotions. Marketing stretches across all industries. I believed a marketing degree would be a valuable tool that’s applicable in a variety of areas.

Matthew Shellabarger: I chose a degree in Marketing because I wanted to solve problems that don’t have a clear path to the answer. I am an outgoing person, and I knew that Marketing would require me to always be working with others and align with my personality. I thought Marketing would give me the opportunity to find a job that is upbeat and everchanging.

Ashlyn Schumaker: I decided to pursue a degree in marketing because it gave me a consumer-focused view of business. The Marketing degree opens doors to several career paths in management, analytics, product design, sales, etc. Technology in the field is constantly changing, so it encourages strategic thinking and adaptability. 

Emily Studnicka: While I initially planned to pursue a B.A. in Psychology, I soon began to realize that the majority of my interests were centered around the emotional triggers to advertising and creative display. From a young age, my personal passions have been centered around fashion and innovation, causing me to develop a keen eye for creative appeal. After making the change early my Sophomore year, I quickly realized I made the right decision for myself. 

 

Reflecting on opportunities you took advantage of in college, what do you think best prepared you for life post-graduation?  

Lauren: I am so grateful I was encouraged to get involved in student organizations. They provided me with experiences and opportunities to grow as an individual. I was able to earn a leadership role within Dance Marathon as a Morale Captain. It built my confidence and brought forth key skills that I will use my entire life: public speaking, communication, and time management. Tippie Tech introduced me to leaders of various companies, and I was invited to interview for my new role at HPE through the membership.

Derrick: I’d say both the academic and extracurricular opportunities helped the most and prepared me for the pace and difficulty of marketing in the work force. Meanwhile, I met a variety of mentors and professionals in Tippie that helped grow my marketing abilities and gain confidence in my communication skills.

Matthew: Throughout my time at college, I participated in three different internships. My internships were in completely different business fields as well, logistics, IT, and sales. By working with different companies in different areas, this opened my eyes to what parts of business I really enjoy working for. Each position provided me with unique sets of skills and let me get a taste of what a real business job looks like. It was a great way to get out of my comfort zone, put my education to use, and build my resume.

Ashlyn: My internship with Leepfrog Technologies prepared me the most for life post-graduation. It allowed me to gain real world work experience in a professional setting. Leepfrog incorporated curriculum throughout to help us gain a better understanding of HR benefits, professional communication styles, and job shadowing. This helped me prepare for my full-time job as well as help me gain a better understanding of which career path I wanted to pursue.

Emily: I can confidently say that studying overseas in London left the greatest impact on my personal growth. As I reflect on my college years, I have come to realize that the most memorable experiences involved taking a step out of my comfort zone. My time spent in London flew by, filling my days with exploration and excitement. There’s no denying that I occasionally felt uncomfortable, but through this discomfort came the opportunity to grow. I developed a sense of needed flexibility, allowing me to live freely and explore at ease. The best memories ended up occurring spur of the moment, proving that you do not need a step by step plan for life.  The wisdoms gained abroad were lessons I could not have learned in the classroom. Opening myself up to situations, filled with new experiences and individuals, allowed me to gain a deeper understanding for a world less known.

 

What are 3 things you will miss most about Tippie and the Tippie community?  

Lauren: Three things I will miss the most about Tippie and the Tippie community are the people, the familiarity, and the smoothies in Pat’s Too. I have met some amazing people and become so comfortable with my college routine throughout my four years as a Tippie student.

Derrick: I’ll miss the marketing team and the professors that helped me throughout the years. I’ll also miss the friends I made and the sales competitions we participated in. It was all a fun and competitive experience that helped make me who I am today.

Matthew: The main thing I will miss most about Tippie is working alongside all of the other Tippie students and learning new things from them. Additionally, I will miss all of the friendships I made at Tippie throughout my entire college career. Lastly, I will miss all of the sources made available to me. Whether it be access to information or faculty members, I always felt that I was provided excellent help to prepare me for the real world.

Ashlyn: Seeing familiar faces in the hallways, Sigma Nu Tau, and Iowa JPEC.

 

How would you describe your job-searching experience in college? What did you learn throughout your process that you wish you had known sooner? 

Lauren: My job-searching experience was successful after I began taking advantage of the resources and opportunities provided to me. After many unsuccessful attempts at finding a job, I began reaching out to friends and the career center for help. The career center gave me great tips and resources. In addition, my friends and family encouraged me to attend Tippie Tech meetings to meet employers every week. I was fortunate to have gotten an interview, and later a job, after speaking with an employer at a Tippie Tech meeting. If it wasn’t for the guidance I received from the career center and my family and friends, I would probably not have been as successful and gotten a job early in November.

Derrick: The job searching experience has been tedious and disheartening at times, but I learned how to sell my skillset and showcase my strengths more effectively to employers. I wish I understood the job search more clearly in my earlier years, so I could’ve gotten a head start in networking and building my portfolio.

Matthew: I was very fortunate during my job search. I was offered a full-time position from the company I interned with the previous summer. However, I wish someone would have told me sooner in my job search that you need to go out and find a job. It is not just going to fall in your lap. While this seems a bit harsh, I originally thought if I got good grades and was in different activities then I would score a great job. That is not always the case. For anyone looking for a job, I would recommend reaching out to people through LinkedIn. Reaching out and building connections is the best way to get your name out there and score your dream job.

Ashlyn: There is a lot of pressure on seniors to have a job offer prior to graduation. I did not realize how time consuming the job search process would be. You must set aside a couple hours per day to apply for jobs and schedule phone calls and interviews. It is a very time-consuming process, but you have to learn to prioritize with your long-term interest in mind.

Emily: Despite the occasional discouragement that comes along with the job search, I have come to realize that perseverance, self-confidence, and a growing network of connections, are the keys to opening numerous doors. With the various paths available within Marketing, I had no idea where to begin. As I continued to connect with working professionals and alumni, gaining their perspectives on various roles and companies, I gradually began to recognize the career route that appeared fitting for me. If I could tell my past-self one thing, it would be to not take rejection to heart. It is okay to hear “no” more often than you hear “yes”. Take time to build your network and establish positive relationships to those within. The advice gained will speak volumes to your professional development.

 

What would you say was the most valuable lesson you learned throughout your time at Tippie? 

Lauren: I learned that you have the power to be your worst enemy or your biggest support. Become your biggest supporter by doing things that will overall benefit you in the long run.  Don’t be afraid to take advantage of office hours when you need help. Join that student organization you’ve been curious about. Create relationships with peers and professors. Those relationships will last through college and beyond.

Derrick: It’s important to find ways to differentiate yourself from others. Everyone at Tippie is smart, and we should spend more time building our strengths rather than just studying for tests.

Matthew: The most valuable lesson I learned throughout my time at Tippie was to focus on your weaknesses. By this, I don’t mean think about all the things you do bad. Instead acknowledge what you need to work on and practice developing these areas. For me, it was important to understand what my weaknesses were and turn them into strengths. This helped me build confidence and feel much more prepared to enter the workforce following graduation.

 

What is your last imparting wisdom to other marketing students on making the most of the college experience? 

Lauren: College goes by FAST. Make the most of your college experience by stepping outside of your comfort zone. Attend events on campus, create relationships with peers, and take advantage of the free resources that help your academic success.

Derrick: Join more marketing clubs. The networking and opportunities they present are crucial.

Ashlyn: Try to take advantage of every opportunity you get in college. There are a lot of ways to get involved, explore your interests, and step out of your comfort zone. You can share these experiences in the job search process and leverage the skills you gained whether technical or soft.

Emily: There is no timeline to life. Set the pace for your personal journey and realize that it is okay if things do not go as planned. Trying to control everything around you leaves nothing but unnecessary stress. Focus on what is in front of you and take it from there!

 

We want to extend our congratulations to the entire class of Spring 2020 graduates. Thank you for your leadership at Tippie and welcome to the Tippie Alumni Family!  

 

Meet the spectacular students featured in this article:

Lauren Jackson is from Peoria, Illinois and graduated with a double major in Marketing (Analytics track) and Business Analytics, and a minor in Psychology. She is now a Technology Consultant with Hewlett Packard Enterprise.  

Derrick Johnson is from Council Bluffs, Iowa and graduated with a major in Marketing (Professional Sales & Management track) and a certificate in Leadership Studies. Derrick is currently a Retail Sales and Execution Specialist for Chobani. 

Matthew Schellaburger is from Muscatine, Iowa and completed hiMarketing degree (Professional Sales & Management track). Matthew now works for The HON Company as a Sales Development Associate. 

Ashlyn Shumaker is originally from West Des Moines, Iowa and graduated as a Marketing major (Analytics Track) with certificates in Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Management. Her current position is with Keyot as a Crew 212 Process Engineer. 

And last but not leastEmily Studnicka. Emily is from Frankfort, Illinois and graduated with a degree in Marketing (Retail Management track) and a minor in Psychology. 

John Staak is Back for His PhD in 2020

John Staak can’t seem to get enough of the Iowa Hawkeyes and is back for Round 3 at Tippie this semester. After graduating from the MSBA/MBA program in 2019 and working as a Customer Analyst at Casey’s, John is ready to conquer his PhD. Get to know John and learn more about his decision to join the Marketing PhD program below!

Could you start by telling me a little bit about yourself and your experiences at the University of Iowa?

I grew up in Iowa City. I’ve lived here most of my life, but I can be really confident in saying that it’s a really special place to be. I also got married in May last year. My wife and I met freshman year of college.

I was really inspired in my undergrad to go into the Marketing field and then ultimately, try for this PhD in Marketing. I remember classes with Rob Rouwenhorst, Nancy Abram, and Nick Westergaard. The content and concepts they presented was fascinating. You have this whole field of understanding on how markets work, how consumers behave, and how you can study that and tailor your business strategies around that.  

After undergrad, I went to work for a company called Converge in Cedar Rapids. Converge was a digital marketing agency and we also built websites there, but we specialized in the higher education industry. I was an account manager there, which meant that I managed digital advertising accounts. Think search engine marketing, social media marketing, helping develop ad copy, and building strategies around budgets. I really enjoyed the consulting part of my work and it was heavy in analytics. I didn’t really know it at the time because I was just managing ad accounts, but there’s a lot of analysis that would go into how you should spend your budget, across what platforms, and setting up testing to figure out what kind of ads are the most responsive.  

That was a really incredible experience. It was a really small company, I think I was employee #12. It’s since grown to be much larger. That really sparked my interest in analytics. As much as I loved working at Converge, I really wanted to get a more generalized background in analytics that wasn’t focused on a specific industry or marketing application 

So I thought about my MBA, which is a well-rounded approach to business. I keep coming back to Iowa because I know the quality that comes with the faculty at Iowa. They had a stand-alone track for Analytics in the MBA, so I thought, perfect, I can learn all about Analytics and get the holistic view of business that an MBA offers. That led me to the MBA and MSBA, which was a great program. I didn’t know anything about Data Science or Analytics before and in two years, all the sudden, you’re writing code in R and SQL. It’s pretty remarkable.  

Throughout that program, I had the chance to work on a couple of field projects and I enjoyed the hands-on experience with companies. So I worked on this project with Kum & Go and then I just so happened to end up working for Casey’s. It was kind of serendipitous.  

Could you tell me a little bit about the work you did with Casey’s? 

My role was a Customer Analyst. Before going to Casey’s, they went through a value creation strategy. They created new departments, and specific to my role, they created a Digital Experience team. Within that they created a Customer Analytics & Insights team with the initiative to have a much better understanding of how customers purchase, what they purchase, what the patterns are, and how do we understand that to better serve them. That’s what led me to Casey’s. The timing worked out that they were creating that team as I was graduating from the MBA program. 

In my position, we could learn a lot about our customers from our databases, but in a lot of cases people aren’t databases. There’s a lot that goes missed because we’re just looking at their data. I did a lot of field observations at Casey’s to observe how customers shop, what they buy, and how they interact with different parts of the stores. I gained so much information about customers that way. Since I couldn’t do that all day every day, the idea of tapping into the knowledge of frontline workers in a structured way opened up so much more insight into what the customers want. 

Now I’m doing consulting part-time for Casey’s. I think it’s important, if you have the opportunity, to do both [work and do the PhD program]. It helps you stay in touch with real business applications and real problems that companies are trying to solve. It helps you stay grounded in how you can apply research to problems that companies are pulling their hair out trying to solve. I’m excited to stick with them because it gives me an inside look at the challenges for retail companies of needing data robustness and validation provided through research. 

How did your undergraduate and MBA experiences shape your outlook on marketing? 

I took Nick Street’s Data Science class and I think that got me really excited for retail analytics. It made me realize we don’t have to just speculate about how consumers might behave. We can predict it. And in some cases, we can predict it really well if we have the right data.  

Rob Rouwenhorst was also a big influence on me with the way he taught. In class he was always going to tell you how it is and tell you what the world is like. It was entertaining to be in his class and I learned so much. He definitely had a big impact on me. 

What prompted you to make the decision to join the PhD program? 

I don’t think there was a singular event. It’s funny because I found an old list of goals from when I was an undergrad and a lot of them were “pie in the sky” goals, but one said PhD in Marketing. So, it must have been something I was thinking about for a while. I’ve always really liked school and researching, acquiring knowledge and learning. In the past couple years, as I was reflecting on what I want to do with my career 10, 20 years down the road, I was thinking about what brings me the most fulfillment in my job. I could think of two instances when I’m most happy. 

One is when I’m teaching a coworker or someone outside the company about a new concept or a new way to do something. I realized that was so fulfilling to know I’m making an impact, even if it’s small, that’s going to make their lives better.  

The other is coming across a really interesting and actionable finding in data that nobody else has seen before. So, I thought about what career lends itself to those two areas. Being a professor is very research-focused, but you’re also constantly teaching and interacting with students. So I did some exploration, and just decided to go for it.  

What area of research are you most interested in? Why do you think it’s important to study? 

I’m trying to go into this program with an open mind and really take the first few months to explore that. My role at Casey’s was very customer-centric and I’m really fascinated with customer analytics, mining customer level data to understand their behavior and what motivates them. 

I think it’s important because if companies want to best serve their customers, which is what marketing is all about, it’s absolutely critical to understand how they behave, how they purchase, and why they might lapse. Looking at customer segmentation and what natural segments of customers emerge and why that is. Then using that to explore improvement for marketing strategy. Customer analytics is an ambiguous area and normally research is hyper-focused.  

Specifically, I will say I have an interest in researching online customer behavior and optimizing e-commerce experienceI think that’s going to be increasingly important in the age of COVID and a really sought after area for best practices and research. It’s an area that has a lot of ongoing research, but how people are using digital is constantly changing.  

I worked closely with rewards programs at Casey’s to understand how customers use the program and what incentives work best to keep them engaged and loyal. I’d say, in general, I’m interested in Customer Analytics, but more specifically, research around digital platforms, how to optimize e-commerce experience, rewards programs, and customer centricity.  

What are you hoping to gain from this experience and how do you plan to apply it? 

I think the big thing is converting data into insights into theoryThe benefit of the PhD program is you think about how can you move from insights that data provides into theories about why people behave the way they do. It’s taking one step further, beyond the data, to understand why some phenomena happens and helping companies, or anybody really, leverage that. You’re creating knowledge for why something happens. 

What advice would you give to undergraduate marketing students starting to think about post-graduate life? 

First, figure out what gives you energy and what makes you excited, and figure out what you’re good atThen, find the intersection of those two areas and you’ll be really happy in whatever you’re doing.  

Second, I really wish as an undergrad I branched out more and reached out to people in business or even professors. It can be a little bit intimidating when you’re 19-22 years old to reach to somebody who is a Chief Marketing Officer or has a big, prestigious title. People really want to help, I’ve found out. Especially when you’re a student, they want to help that much more. It kind of gives you an automatic in to be able to reach out to anybody. 

What are you most looking forward to this semester and the rest of your PhD program? 

Just exploring areas of customer insights, getting really deep into those topics, and exploring all the possibilities for research. At this point, it’s a little overwhelming how much opportunity there is, but the program is extensive and it affords you the time to think about really interesting areas that are in demand for research. On top of that, working with faculty, learning from other students, attending conferences, and understanding emerging areas of research. Additionally, working with companies to figure out what they would like to know and then thinking about how academic research could fit that need. 

My approach is to integrate constant communication with industry, specifically retailers, to understand what problems need to be solved. Then, look for opportunities where academic research can build theory and methods around solving those problems. I think it’s absolutely crucial to be in touch with businesses and real-world problems.  

Favorite things about Iowa City/University of Iowa? 

It’s a big city opportunities because of the resources and opportunities, but small town feel. It’s a great restaurant scene, which I love to eat so I’m really happy about that. My favorite restaurant is Stella, but Big Grove is also tied for number 1. Overall, Iowa City is really a unique and tight knit community. 

As far as the University goes, I think Tippie and the faculty have always impressed me. I’ve always really enjoyed learning from them and being mentored by them. That’s why I’ve been loyal to the University. And Iowa Football, of course! 

Favorite quarantine activities/hobbies? 

Golf, Netflix (recently watched The Umbrella Academy and The West Wing), playing with my doga mini Goldendoodle named Dot (pictured right), and reading. Some of the books that stand out are Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger, and Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Both books are from academic researchers, but those types of books that are in the popular press do so much to further their ideas. 

 

Fall 2020 Career Fair Guide for Marketing Students

The Fall 2020 Virtual Business & Entrepreneurship Job & Internship Fair will be held this Thursday, September 24, 2020 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Students must register for the event on Handshake and can then sign up for group or 1-on-1 sessions with employers they wish to learn more about. Check out this Handshake Guide for more information about how to attend the virtual career fair. 

We’ve put together a list of employers attending the Career Fair who are seeking Marketing Majors for full-time positions and internships. This list was compiled to help you narrow down which companies you’d like to speak with at the Career Fair. Check out the list of companies attending the Career Fair and some of the jobs they have available below! 

 

Advertising, PR & Marketing 

Division-D – Political Account Executive, Recruitment Manager 

Kendall Hunt Publishing, Co – Corporate RecruiterCustomer Support Specialist, Sales Intern, Social Media Intern, Graphic Design Intern, Publishing Services Intern, Associate Web Project Editor Intern 

 

Banking & Investment Banking 

Bankers Trust – Summer Internship Program 

Cambridge Investment Research – Digital Front-End Developer, Education & Events Content Curator, Various Internships 

CIBC – Client Service Representative, Corporate Summer Internship 

DLL Financial Solutions – Account Executive 

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago – Communications Intern, Sales Intern 

GreatAmerica Financial Services – Sales & Operations Support Specialist, Sales Support Specialist Development Program, Sales Internship 

McAdam Financially Advanced  Financial Advisor/Wealth Manager 

Passage Global Capital Management – Marketing and Communications Specialist, Marketing Assistant Intern 

Renaissance Financial – Financial Advisor 

 

Energy 

Alliant Energy, Inc. – Various Internships 

Renewable Energy Group – Customer & Sales Admin Coordinator, Business Development Intern, Corporate Strategy Intern, Corporate Services Intern, Corporate Environmental & Social Responsibility Intern, Sales & Marketing Intern, Procurement Intern, Communications Intern 

 

Internet & Technology 

CDW – Sales Internship Program 

Collins Aerospace – Marketing Operations Specialist, Marketing Specialist Intern, Business Development Intern, Integrated Solutions Marketing Intern 

Course Hero – Campus Representative 

 

Insurance 

Cottingham & Butler – Sales Executive, Graphic Designer, Sales Intern, Client Management/Consulting Intern 

Geico – Sales Representative, Emerging Leaders Program, Underwriting and Product Management Intern 

Goosehead Insurance – Account Executive, Franchise Sales Coordinator, Service Agent 

Holmes Murphy & Associates – Business Development Associate, Account Manager, Summer Internship Program 

Mutual of Omaha – Consumer Marketing Intelligence Analyst, Associate Marketing Project Manager, Sales Analyst  

Northwestern Mutual – Financial Advisor, Financial Representative Intern 

Global Atlantic Financial Group – Sales Intern, Business Relationship Intern, Digital Customer Experience Intern 

 

Healthcare 

Direct Supply – Search Engine Marketing Specialist, Sourcing Associate, Marketing Intern 

 

Manufacturing & Distribution 

Caterpillar Inc. – Marketing Rep Development Program, Marketing Media Consultant, Salesforce UX/UI Designer, Various Internships 

HNI Corporation – Sales Development Associate, Supply Chain Analyst, Supply Chain Intern 

New Leader Manufacturing – Marketing Intern, Supply Chain Intern 

Pella Corporation – Sales Development ProgramSupplier Specialist, Production Supervisor, Field Sales InternDigital Marketing SEO Intern, Retail Sales Intern, User Experience Design Intern 

Vermeer Corporation – Product Marketing Specialist Intern, Sales Support Intern, Graphic Design Intern 

 

Retail & Food 

ALDI, Inc. – Marketing Assistant – Divisional, Marketing Assistant – Product Photography Sourcing, Digital Specialist – Media, Promotions Assistant – Trend & Design, Public Relations Assistant – Influencer, Pricing Specialist – Produce, Corporate Responsibility Specialist, District Manager Intern 

Casey’s – Community Program Coordinator 

Chick-fil-A – Various Internships 

Mike’s Hard Lemonade – Field Sales Representative, Customer Service Planner, Social Media Associate Manager, Marketing Intern, Sales Intern 

Sherwin-Williams Company – Management/Sales Full-Time Training Program, Management/Sales Internship 

Target – Operations Manager, Loyalty Operations Analyst, Store Management Intern, Associate Buyer Intern, Marketing Intern 

Uline – Marketing Associate, Pricing Analyst, E-Commerce Merchandising Manager, Sales Account Representative, Sales InternMarketing Intern, Business Development Intern, Product Marketing Intern, Graphic Design Intern 

Von Maur – Retail Merchandising Internship, Retail Management Internship, Executive Training Program 

Wells Blue Bunny – Sales Development Program Associate, E-Commerce Content Specialist, Creative Design Intern 

 

Staffing & Recruiting, Human Resources 

Beacon Hill Staffing Group  Staffing Consultant, Account Executive, Associate Consultant 

Collabera – Account Manager 

Insight Global – Recruiter/Account Management 

Palmer Group – Sales Representative, Digital Media Buyer/Digital Marketer, Marketing Coordinator 

RHM Staffing Solutions – Entry Level Sales, Sales Trainee 

 

Transportation & Logistics 

Arrive Logistics – Sales Representative, Carrier Sales Representative, Pricing Analyst 

Avenue Logistics – Account Executive  

Coyote Logistics – Sales Representative, Digital Marketing Specialist, Carrier Sales Intern, Customer Relations Intern 

CRST International, Inc. – Leadership Development Rotational Program, Pricing Analyst, Driver Recruiter, Driver Manager, Sales Executive 

Echo Logistics – Client/Carrier Sales Representative, Client/Carrier Sales Intern, Marketing Intern, Intermodal Intern 

Enterprise Holdings – Management Trainee, Full Management Trainee Intern 

MoLo Solutions – Carrier Sales Representative, Customer Operations Representative, Carrier Sales Intern, Customer Operations Representative 

Schneider – Sales Account Representative, Client Relationship Manager, Media Relations Manager, Recruiting Specialist, Various Internships 

 

Other 

Greater Des Moines Partnership – Festival Programs Internship, Graphic Design Internship 

KMB Property Management – Marketing Intern 

AArete – Consulting Intern 

Marketing Alumni Share Job Searching Advice

The best advice often comes from the ones who have been in your shoes before. That’s why we asked recent Marketing alumni about their experiences with career fairs, job searching, and responding to difficult interview questions. They shared their best advice for current students on conquering career fairs and the job search process!

What tips/tricks would you give students about making Career Fairs a more valuable experience?

  • “I would recommend having a plan in terms of which companies you want to speak to ahead of time. Also – try to make a personal connection with the recruiter outside of talking about job descriptions and your experience. It will help them remember you.” – John Staak, Customer Data Analyst, Casey’s General Store
  • “It’s important to spend some time before to really think about why you’re interested in certain companies and/or positions. Try to come up with 5 that you can articulate why you want to work for that place specifically. Then write down any and all questions you may have. The more curious you are in them the more they will be in you.” – Evan Hopper, Business Intelligence Consultant, RSM
  • Obviously do your research and prepare ahead of time. Have a set list of companies in mind that you want to talk to, but make sure to network with everyone. Limiting yourself to only a few options isn’t the best of advice. It is still okay to go talk to companies even if you haven’t done any prior research. – Micheal Hoffman, Project Manager, ProCircular, Inc. 
  • “Don’t get hung up on the potential awkwardness of talking to strangers at the fair. These recruiters are in a very similar boat as you and I bet some of them might even be dreading the fair, just like you. Talk to them like you would anyone else and if you run out of things to say, ask questions.” – Grant Kamperschroer, Content Marketing Specialist, Straight North

What is the best piece of advice you received during your own job search and what additional words of wisdom do you have for current students?

  • “Figure out WHERE you want to live before starting the job search.” – Michael Hoffman
  • “Start applying early. Sometimes internships are great ways to land full time positions. It is okay to be an intern out of college. Find your passion.” – Evan Schmidt, Sales Coordinator, Hyatt Place
  • “The best way to feel out options is to pick up the phone and reach out to people who are doing work that interests you. Make connections selflessly and with a genuine intent to learn.” – John Staak
  • “Be yourself, be authentic, and let your personality show while remaining professional.” – Evan Hopper
  • “Don’t rush into anything. If something doesn’t feel quite right, that’s okay. That job might not be for you.” – Grant Kamperschroer

What is the hardest or strangest question you have been asked during an interview?

  • Tell me about a bad manager you have had.
  • I’ve been asked a few riddles to test how I think and apply logic. It’s easy to panic when you get one of those. I recommend asking clarifying questions to buy yourself time and clear your head
  • “Tell me about 3 people that you believe you have influenced for the better in your life so far.” This one was a bit difficult for me and I stuck mostly to friendships since at this point, I had not had professional opportunities to do so. For me, this question was a wake up call since it was difficult for me to answer.
  • “What do you do on Sunday mornings?” The interviewer was vying to inquire about my religious background. These types of questions are shady and borderline illegal – Know your rights and what interviewers can/cannot ask you.
  • Tell me about a book you’ve read recently. That one caught me off guard. Luckily, I was taking a class that had us reading a book.

Marketing Major Spring 2020 Career Fair Guide

With over 100 companies attending each year, the Career Fair is a great opportunity to meet with employers and learn more about their job opportunities firsthand. With so many employers, the Career Fair experience can feel overwhelming at times. Don’t worry, you got this! Our Marketing major-specific guide for the Spring 2020 Career Fair will have you feeling like a Career Fair aficionado in no time.

To get started, check out the list below of attending employers from various industries who are seeking Marketing majors, and the positions they are offering. Then, research a few that interest you and decide which ones you want to meet with at the Career Fair. You can also download the Career Fair app to keep a list of your top 10 employers, view a map of the Career Fair, and get more information about the event. Finally – as all good marketing majors know – make sure to practice your pitch ahead of time to leave a lasting impression on recruiters and voilà! Career Fairs mastered.

The Spring 2020 Career Fair will take place on Wednesday, February 19th. The event will run from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 pm at the Iowa Memorial Union. Now do some research, practice your pitch, and let your personality shine on Wednesday!

Advertising, PR & Marketing

American Marketing & Publishing, L.L.CDigital Marketing Inside Sales

Division-DAssistant Account Manager, Assistant Account Executive

Echo Marketing GroupSales/Marketing Internship, Sales Associate

Kendall Hunt Publishing, CoSales Associate, Sales Intern

 

Banking & Investment Banking

Balfour Beatty InvestmentsMarketing Internship

Cambridge Investment ResearchAdvertising Analyst, Various Internships

Cottingham & ButlerSales Executive, Sales Intern, Consulting Intern

GreatAmerica Financial ServicesSales Professional Internship

Passage Global Capital ManagementMarketing Assistant Intern

Renaissance FinancialFinancial Advisor

Republic Bank of ChicagoBanking Internship

 

Environmental Services

ClearDefense Pest ControlCDPC Sales Team Internship

EmersonVarious Full-Time positions

 

Internet & Software, Electronics

Avionos, LLCBusiness Development Representative

BusinessolverProfessional Development Program Representative

CDWSales Internship Program, Sales Training Program

EpicProject Manager, Technical Problem Solver, Software Tester/Quality Assurance

Leepfrog Technologies, Inc.Various Internships and Full-Time positions

OracleBusiness Development Consultant

 

Insurance

Ethos GroupBusiness Manager

F&G Annuities & LifeActuarial Intern, Internal Audit Intern, Expense Reporting Intern

GeicoBusiness Leadership Summer Internship, Management Development Program

Goosehead InsuranceAccount Executive

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co.Various Internships and Full-Time positions

Kunkel & AssociatesSales Internship, Sales Account Executive

TransamericaVarious Internships and Full-Time positions

 

Healthcare

ChildServeVarious Internships and Full-Time positions

 

Manufacturing & Distribution

3EManagement/Sales Trainee

Bunn-O-Matic CorporationPurchasing Specialist

Caterpillar Inc.Marketing Representative Development Program, US Corporate / Part-Time Internship Program

EmersonVarious Full-Time positions 

HNI CorporationSales/Marketing Internships and Full-Time Opportunities

L&W Supply CorporationManager Candidate in Training, Outside Sales

Mueller Industries, Inc. – Sales Associate

Pella CorporationSales Development Program

Techtronic IndustriesField Sales & Marketing Representative, Event Marketing Specialist

Vermeer CorporationVarious Internships and Full-Time positions

 

Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods

ALDI, Inc.Buying Intern (Marketing or Market Research & Analytics), Marketing Proofreader, Public Relations Assistant, Merchandising Assistant

Hy-VeeVarious Internships and Full-Time positions

Iowa 80 Group, IncManager Trainee, Videography Internship, Supply Chain Management Internship

Von MaurRetail Merchandising Internship, Retail Management Internship, Executive Training Program

Sherwin-Williams CompanyManagement/Sales Full-Time Training Program, Management/Sales Internship

 

Staffing & Recruiting, Human Resources

CollaberaAccount Manager

Eight Eleven GroupVarious Full-Time positions

Insight GlobalRecruiter/Account Management

KellyMitchell GroupSales Account Manager

MedixRecruiter/Account Manager

TeksystemsTechnical Staffing Recruiter

 

Transportation & Logistics

Arrive LogisticsSales Development Program for College Grads

C.H. RobinsonVarious Internships and Full-Time positions

Coyote LogisticsSales Representative, Customer Relations Intern

CRST International, Inc.Leadership Development Rotational Program, Driver Manager, Sales Executive, Driver Recruiter

Enterprise HoldingsManagement Trainee, Management Trainee Intern

Load Delivered LogisticsSales Representative

Murphy-Hoffman CompanySales Intern, Management Trainee

SchneiderSales and Marketing Intern Program

Students Participate in Fall 2019 Tippie Team Sales Challenge

Back row, left to right: Samuel Wright, Tristan Garcia, Mia Qu, Derrick Johnson.
Front row, left to right: Jackie Stutz, Emma Boson, Jenna Bower.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, nine Tippie students were to compete against Iowa State students in the fourth annual PepsiCo Team Sales Challenge. However, the PepsiCo staff who were to be the teams’ advisors and the judges were called to a corporate meeting on short notice. So, the Department of Marketing decided to hold the event ourselves.

Tippie students participating were Emma Boson, Jenna Bower, Tristan Garcia, Derrick Johnson, Emma Laporte, Jackie Stutz, Mia Qu, Samuel Wright, and Chase Woods.
After welcoming comments from Dean Sarah Gardial and Sr. Associate Dean Amy Kristof-Brown, the three teams got the case at 9AM and had 3 ½ hours to put together, record their sales presentations and turn them in to the administrator.
The recorded presentations were then provided to four external judges to score on an established rubric. They provided their scores on Wednesday, Nov. 20, with all three teams’ scores separated by only 4 points. In the end, Team 2 (Derrick Johnson, Emma Laporte, and Jackie Stutz) were the winners.
The participants revealed afterwards that they enjoyed the competitive nature of the event and the opportunity to implement their critical thinking skills outside the classroom.

Participant, Sam Wright, commented, “Learning on the job and in high pressure situations is really valuable and you learn so much more than just sitting in class. It really is incredible how much more you learn.” With 50% of business graduates  and nearly 80% of Marketing majors starting in sales-related positions after graduation, the competition allows students to improve their skills and become comfortable with selling.
A big congratulations and thank you to all who participated! If interested in participating in the future, stay tuned for announcements of the Spring Team Sales Challenge. We hope this event will be sponsored by a local company, with prizes for the winning teams!

Dean Gardial Exclusive Marketing Interview

Dean Gardial

Dean Sarah Gardial set out to achieve many goals when she became the first female dean of the Tippie College of Business seven years ago. Two of her most notable achievements include creating a culture of “we” at the college and creating a dynamic, ever-changing environment at Tippie to keep up with business trends. Throughout her time at Tippie, Dean Gardial has been a source of positivity and inspiration for students, faculty, and staff alike. Her legacy at Tippie will live on long after her return to Tennessee in March 2020. We sat down with Dean Gardial in an exclusive Marketing interview to discuss the state of marketing today and her vision for the college after her departure.

 

Could you tell me how you initially become interested in studying marketing and what drove you to pursue a career in the field?

“Absolutely, what I really wanted to major in was Psychology. I really am fascinated about what goes on inside people’s heads and I think it’s getting even more fascinating now that we’re getting physiological stuff to go along with it. But it just didn’t seem practical in terms of a major and I had no plan at that point to get a PhD. That wasn’t even on my horizons, so I was trying to be, you know, a practical middle class student who needed to have a job the day after graduation.

So, I learned that marketing was a really great intersection between psychology and business and I thought, well there’s the ticket, because then I can study the thing that I love and there will still be a job at the end. As I eventually decided to not stop going to school, the whole way through I was doing a marketing degree but with a minor in psychology, which really kept my foot very much in that camp. To me, a lot of marketing is psychology in the context of commerce, and so it’s just allowed me to study what I loved but in a particular context that has some real relevance to it.”

 

Based on your experiences, what are some of the skills or temperaments you’ve observed of successful marketers, and how have you seen those change over the years?

“That’s a really great question. I’ve always looked at marketing as an interface role between the organization and their customer base out there. So, you’re a boundary spanner for starters, and that means you’ve gotta understand both sides really well to do your job. You’ve got to understand your organization and potential, what they can deliver on, and maybe change and innovate. As well, what trends are going on that are shaping the influences, the demands, and the marketplace, and then bringing those two together. So, I think there’s problem solving, I think there’s creativity there. I also think there’s always been the need to be diagnostic about what’s going on in both of those worlds and to have a really curious mind about what’s driving change, and then how to bring solutions together around that. I don’t see that ever changing, I think that will fundamentally always be a part of marketing.

However, it would be crazy not to say that in my time what I’ve seen is a shift to where the data that we have available to understand what is going on in both of those worlds is just explosive. I think originally in my early career, it would’ve been people who had really good intuition and instincts and could ‘read the tea leaves’ a little bit and make some brilliant decisions based off of that. Now with transactional data, you really understand people’s buying habits and what’s going to drive them to do the next thing in terms of their purchase. I would say the analytics piece was something that simply wasn’t so much a part of my training. We talked about market research, but it looked at giant blocks of people like 20-year-olds, or women, that said what’s going on with them. But literally having transaction data down to the individual level, I think is the game changer. 

I will just say as someone who doesn’t live in that world, I won’t even teach that stuff. That’s a whole different context for how you build a relationship with a customer that was not a part of my training or even experience now. I’m not even on Facebook, I know you think that’s crazy!”

 

How would you explain your view on the importance of marketing in modern organizations today?

“First of all, almost every market you can name out there is fragmented and competitive. I think the ability to say who you are in the marketplace and own your niche is more important now than ever. The amount of competitors that you have in any marketplace has just exploded and the only way that you’re going to succeed in a marketplace like that is through having real sophistication around who your customers are, who your leads are, and how you’re going to target a particular need in that market. 

There’s only so many Amazons in the world that sell all things to all people. That’s a tiny, tiny fraction of the businesses out there and most everyone else is going to come at it from the point of view of owning a much smaller space than that. So how do you define that space, how do you understand that space, how do you get the data, how do you respond to that data? I think the role of marketing is arguably more critical now than it even was before, because of the hyperness of the competition and the choices that people have. You can’t do it on size or luck any more, and it really is about the strategic thinking around marketing that is going to create success in marketplaces. It’s not always the best product that wins.”

 

What were some of the goals you initially set out to achieve as Dean, and how do you feel you’ve accomplished those goals?

“One of the things that I thought was most important was to build a culture of “we” that brought everyone in the college together. When I came here, I recognized that there were a lot of good things going on in the college, but they were all going on independently, siloed, and there wasn’t a lot of conversation going on across. There were no opportunities for synergy or collaboration, and I really wanted everyone to feel like they were an important part of a bigger whole and that we all were coming together around some goals. Creating a common vision was a part of that. Having meetings where we could share and talk about what was going on and work on problems together – that’s been something that from day one was important to me.

I can’t claim that I’m 100% there, but we just had a review from AACSB and this was one of the things that outside people coming in definitely cited as a best practice for our college. Everyone seemed to be on board with the same vision. It didn’t matter who you talked about, from top to bottom, everyone was on the same page and all moving in the same direction, and that was a really proud moment for me.

The second thing I would say is I came in with a really strong sense that every business school in this country has to change what it’s doing because business is changing too much. We can’t stand still when everything outside of our walls is changing. So I look back now at the decisions that we’ve made to improve existing programs, start new programs that didn’t exist, to close programs that weren’t what the market wanted, and I see an organization that is nimble and is able to change and react to the new realities of what people want from business schools.

I think that’s a really important thing for this college for the future because we’ll never be able to take our foot off that accelerator. We’re always going to be chasing a dynamic marketplace. If you talk to employers, the non-profits and the for-profits that are hiring our students, they will all say we’re changing as fast as we can. Well, it would just be crazy for us to say we’re not. We’ve got to run with them, we’ve got to change with them, we’ve got to understand what their challenges are and send them students and graduates that can meet those challenges. So, the bar for us is changing all the time.”

 

What have been some of the most rewarding experiences you’ve had as Dean?

“By far, two things. One, any time I get to meet with students. I don’t get to have my own classes anymore because this job keeps me really busy and on the road, so anything that allows me to interact with the students is just gold for me because that really is where my heart is. 

The second thing I would say is our alumni. I’ve spent a lot of time on airplanes, in cars, going across the ocean, literally coast to coast in this country, to meet with our alumni and I will tell you that they are the best people in the world. Their love and loyalty to this campus is unlike anything I’ve ever seen and when we ask them for time, talent, treasure, they say yes. I have been so honored to meet alums who have been out 2, 5, 10, 15, 40 years, they are wonderful. They are in some ways the biggest asset that we have as a college because there are now something like 60,000 living alumni out there and they all want to help us. It’s just amazing.” 

 

For the 2017 homecoming, your “Dear World” story reflected on your experiences with sexism growing up and why you now push for women empowerment. As the first female dean of Tippie, how have you observed support for women in business grow and how would you like to see that continue?

“Now you’re hitting my passion here. One of the things that we know because there’s ample research out there, is that although women have continued to enter the workforce for decades at the same rate as men, they are not moving into leadership roles at the same rate. This is as true now as it was when I graduated from my undergraduate institution in 1980. It’s a long time for no change. So you’ve got to stop and think – what’s going on here, why isn’t that changing? If women are entering the workforce in the same way, why aren’t they getting where they need to be? Ultimately, the answer is there’s a lot of things going on there, there isn’t any one thing that makes it simple. 

So, what I like to focus on, and what I’ve tried to focus on here, are what are the pieces of that puzzle that women actually control? Not the pieces that we can’t control, like the wage gap or those kinds of things. What are the things that hold women back, ourselves? That’s where I’ve put a lot of emphasis on leadership development programs for women, bringing our successful female alumni back to tell their stories, to be a role model, to be an inspiration to women. Because I know that the challenges in the bigger world out there around women moving into leadership are still very much there and are changing at glacial speed, it’s very incumbent on anyone in a business school, but especially women, to say let’s make sure that the women are getting what they need to help create a nudge for them.”

 

How would you like to see the progress that’s been made during your time as Dean continue in the coming years?

“That’s a really great question. You know, because when you walk away from something, you really have to let go. Let me say, you don’t have any influence and so you have to in some ways detach and let things flow the way they need to. So when I think about looking back, I don’t see particular programs or types of students. What I hope I see is a college where faculty and students want to come because both of those groups are thriving and being nourished here. A business school that still has very strong partnerships with industries because that’s probably the best barometer of whether we’re doing the right stuff. If we’re not, they’ll walk away.

So if I walk back and see that employers want to come here and hire our students, that students want to come here because they know what a special experience it is, and that faculty want to come here because they know that their careers are going to be supported, that’s really success. Then everything else is going to evolve and change, so I really am talking about a culture of excellence.”

 

Final question courtesy of Marketing DEO, Dhananjay Nayakankuppam: In your opinion, why and when did rock and roll die?

“You know, I would say probably some of the culprits, disco for sure. Alright, disco was just the death of really good rock and roll and it just became kind of poppy and kitchy and you know strings and violins. And when was that, late 70’s, early 80’s? Disco did not help at all. And then I would say rap is kind of when it went in the coffin. We don’t have a lot of music per say, the emphasis is more on the lyric then on the melody. A lot of what I loved about the early rock and roll is the melody and we’ve lost some of that as well. But you know, classic rock and roll is alive and well in my house and on the radio stations out there. And by the way, those artists are still out touring, so tell DJ (Dhananjay Nayakankuppam) maybe it’s not dead yet!”

 

Tippie Professor, Alice Wang, Recognized for Research Excellence

After 14 years as an Associate Professor with Tippie, Alice Wang was recognized this semester with a promotion to Professor of Marketing. Most recently, Alice made headlines when KCRG reported on her research regarding the impact of loneliness on purchase habits. We sat down with Alice to discuss her research and recent recognition. 

Alice Wang was originally drawn to the Tippie College of Business for its research environment and has since made quite the name for herself with her consumer research. Between teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Wang has also been a Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow for the last 6 years. 

Her interest in marketing research stems from the advice of an instructor during grad school who recommended studying marketing. Since then Alice has taken a psychology-based approach to studying how consumers make decisions. Her research on how loneliness affects consumption patterns recently made headlines in this KCRG article. Most recently her research focuses on time perception, specifically regarding service wait times. Through her research, she discovered ways in which to switch peoples’ mindsets about the length of wait time they observe.

In the future, Alice plans to further research the concept of loneliness, the persuasiveness of narratives in marketing, and areas related to disposition – such as how people get rid of their stuff and their attachments to belongings. 

In her 15 years with the college, Alice has most enjoyed the research environment and interacting with students. She loves how the research community is full of active thinkers to discuss ideas with and how the Marketing Department is always supportive of faculty research. Additionally, the college provides amazing resources to do her research. With teaching, she appreciates students’ eagerness to learn and enjoy every moment at the college. She also enjoys getting to work with PhD students on their interests.

As a recently recognized professor, Alice reflected that it felt good to be recognized for her hard work over the years. She stated, “It’s one thing to work on your interests, but another to have people understand the importance of your research.” Alice has also taken on the role of Director of Graduate Studies, working with PhD students, developing policies, and overseeing the marketing curriculum. 

Alice is extremely dedicated to her work and when asked how she enjoys spending time outside of school, her response was, “I’m here all the time, even on weekends!” When she manages to spend time outside of Tippie Alice can be found supporting her 12-year-old daughter, who she commented also keeps her very busy. 

Her favorite thing about Iowa City has been the lively, broad perspectives from people all over the world. She enjoys exchanging ideas in a very intellectual town of both professionals and academia.

We congratulate Alice Wang on her recent achievements and are proud to have her on the Marketing team!

November Student Highlight – Sarah Francisco

First-year PhD Marketing student, Sarah Francisco has big goals to succeed in the amazing research program here at Tippie.

Background: Born in Southern Brazil, Sarah moved to the Quad Cities when she was just four years old. She discovered her passion for understanding the psychology of marketing during her undergrad at Tippie. Sarah recently graduated from Tippie in May 2019 with her undergraduate degree in Marketing. She returned this fall to pursue her research interests as a Marketing PhD Candidate.

Research Interests: Sarah’s research is primarily interested in consumer behavior, with a special interest in morality and self. Her current research takes a look at how moral behaviors can affect consumption. She is also interested in social comparison and how it affects people’s judgements and decisions.

Previous Research Projects: Sarah worked with former Tippie faculty member, Bill Hedgecock, as part of a study on judgement and decision-making. They performed a coin toss study to examine how people gambled and analyzed physiological changes such as heart rate and pulse. For her honors thesis, Sarah researched the ease of haptic imagery with Andrea Luangrath. Their research focused on virtual reality and haptics, focusing on sense of touch. Running studies gave Sarah an exposure to practical implications of research and how to overcome research problems.

PhD Goals: Sarah’s primary goal of her PhD program is to further her understanding of consumer behavior. In general, she’d like to learn more about academia, such as how to conduct research that’s meaningful to the field of marketing. Sarah would like to translate her interests into research that makes contributions to marketers.

Favorite thing about Tippie? “How supportive faculty are in answering questions, helping with ideas, and giving it to you straight. With the culture of the Marketing Department, you get the best of the program”