Penn State Smeal Marketing Department

Congratulations to the Class of 2021! We have a special video compilation of some of our faculty and alumni with their well wishes and reflections to our (almost) new alumni!

Some pictures from graduation last Saturday of our faculty! The sun came out twice and it was great to celebrate our students in-person this year! If any students would like to submit their photos from graduation, please message us with a caption!

Emily Massini | Senior Spotlights 2021 Harrisburg, PA Emily is a Marketing major that graduated this Spring. When we asked her, why marketing? She said:... I chose marketing because I felt it had the most opportunity for creativity and expression. For the past three summers I created accounts and ran social media marketing for the beach boutique I manage in the summertime, and I enjoy it so much! Once covid hit and they had to close, I was able to help them create a website and market it through the social media platforms I had built. It was amazing to see a project I created come full circle and really help a family business. During COVID, a hobby that Emily picked up is upcycle clothing. I taught myself to sew and it is fun to thrift clothes and turn them into new, unique pieces while also being more sustainable! After graduation, she will be moving to NYC in September to begin working as an assistant buyer for Ross. Congratulations, Emily! Best of luck in the city. Check out our Instagram for more link in bio. If you would like to be featured on our Facebook page, please email [email protected] for more information!

Brian Fischer | Senior Spotlights 2021 Ambler, PA Brian is a Supply Chain major with a minor in Marketing. When we asked him, why marketing? He said:... I decided to get my two-piece in marketing because I've always found it interesting to study why people make the decisions that they do. During COVID, he learned how to cut hair. Throughout his time at Penn State, he worked as an equipment manager with the football team. He had the opportunity to fly around the country to different Big Ten schools as well as travel with the team to the Citrus and Cotton Bowl. When we asked him, if you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you would give yourself? He said: I would encourage myself to take the time to enjoy all of the things about being a student at Penn State. The time goes quickly and I'd encourage anyone to get involved with a handful of things that they enjoy most. Also, to take full advantage of all the different resources and people here that can help you accomplish your goals! Brian is awaiting a decision about working as a Business Development Consultant with Oracle in Boston, MA. Congratulations, Brian, we wish you the best! Check out our Instagram for more link in bio. If you would like to be featured on our Facebook page, please email [email protected] for more information!

Thomas Sweeney | Senior Spotlights 2021 Langhorne, PA Thomas is a Marketing major with a minor in Statistics. When we asked him, why marketing? He said:... I'm a numbers guy at heart. There are a lot of different ways one can apply this passion, but none do it quite like Marketing. A lot of decisions need to be made in this fast-paced industry and a lot of data is needed to back those decisions up. Being able to work as a part of a team and serve as a foundation for others to express their talents is what makes Marketing so exciting to me. During COVID, he found himself spending a lot of time with his 5 roommates. The pandemic made him realize how important it is to surround yourself with great people. During his years of college, Thomas said that one of the highlights was the Whiteout game. Nothing can come close to the atmosphere Penn State brings to Beaver Stadium for the Whiteout. The 2019 Whiteout versus Michigan was no different. Being a part of the crowd that forced Michigan to take a time out before the first play of the game is something I will never forget. After graduation, Thomas will be working as an Allocation Analyst at the TJX companies in Massachusetts. Congratulations, Thomas! Best of luck to you on your future career. Check out our Instagram for more link in bio. If you would like to be featured on our Facebook page, please email [email protected] for more information!

Alana Ippolito | Senior Spotlights 2021 Parsippany, NJ Alana is a Marketing major graduating this Spring. When we asked her, why marketing? She said:... I chose Marketing because I loved MKTG 301 with Professor Roth! Her class introduced me to all the different areas of marketing. I was fascinated by consumer behavior and understanding why they make the decisions they do. I was then able to take Consumer Behavior with Professor Meg Meloy and found my true passion. I’m so grateful for all the amazing professors in Smeal, but especially grateful for those in the Marketing department including Meg Meloy, Jennifer Coupland, Jennifer Roth, and Matthew Checchio. A fun fact from her years in college was that she was able to do a Consumer Brand Management Co-Op this past fall with Johnson & Johnson, supporting their Listerine brand. When we asked her, if you could go back in time, what is one peice of advice you would give yourself? She said: I would tell myself to continue working hard in my classes, networking with my peers, and getting involved because it would all pay off in the end! After graduation, Alana will be moving to Arlington, VA to work for Nestlé as part of their Marketing Development Program! Check out our Instagram for more link in bio. If you would like to be featured on our Facebook page, please email [email protected] for more information!

Emma Laub | Senior Spotlights 2021 Staten Island, NY Emma is a Marketing major with a minor in Media Studies. When we asked her, why marketing? She said:... It’s a major that you can do so many different things with. I find it really interesting learning about the reasons behind the decisions marketers make and how customers perceive different things. During COVID, Emma started to bake a lot with all of her free time. One of her best memories during college was being able to study abroad in Barcelona. She was there while the pandemic was beginning. After graduation, Emma will be working for a third party marketing agency. Congratulations, Emma! Best of luck on your future endeavors. Check out our Instagram for more link in bio. If you would like to be featured on our Facebook page, please email [email protected] for more information!