Brandeis GPS Blog

Insights on online learning, tips for finding balance, and news and updates from Brandeis GPS

Tag: Digital Marketing and Design (page 1 of 4)

Featured Graduate: Refaya Priya

May 18, 2023 / / 1 Comment

Refaya PriyaRefaya Priya, Global Marketing Specialist, Intertek

Program: Digital Marketing and Design

Graduation: May 2023

My experience at Brandeis has been a game changer for me, both in my professional and personal life. Earning my MS in Digital Marketing and Design has helped me get to where I am now in many ways.

I earned my undergraduate from UMass Lowell, and I knew I wanted to earn my master’s. When I found the Digital Marketing and Design program at Brandeis GPS online, I was intrigued. The application process was simple, and the admissions team was supportive. I applied and was accepted, and I knew this was a huge accomplishment.

I began working as a Sales Coordinator at Intertek in November 2019. Even though I was new to marketing, I found myself engrossed in the world of digital marketing as a result of working with such an incredible team. The skills I gained in the Digital Marketing and Design MS at Brandeis have helped me advance within the company. I was later brought into projects for technical marketing, working alongside the web design and social media team, and I am now working with the Global Marketing team.

Refaya PriyaOutside of my full-time role, I’ve also been able to use the skills I gained in my program at Brandeis in my role at Tamrochura Dance School. The dance school is the only Bangladeshi dance school in Massachusetts. Using my experience from Intertek and Brandeis, I developed their website and marketing strategy. I have loved working with the community at this dance school and in the surrounding New England area.

The people I met during this journey have been incredible. I’ve learned so much about the industry and the challenges that exist, and I have been inspired to pursue a career that I’m truly passionate about and to never give up on my dreams. I would like to thank my professors, especially Meredith Fortney, Andrew Schall, Ross Morrone, and Laura Hindman.

I would also like to thank my Student Advisor, Nicole Russo, for supporting me and helping me realize my educational goals; I’m grateful to have had her as an advisor.

Earning my master’s degree is one of the most rewarding accomplishments of my life, bringing with it a sense of pride and personal fulfillment.

For more information on the MS in Digital Marketing and Design or any other GPS programs, visit our website.

2023 Rabb School of Continuing Studies Award for Outstanding Teaching presented to Meredith Fortney

May 10, 2023 / / 1 Comment

Written by Meredith Fortney

I owe my love of learning and teaching to my mother; she was an educator her whole career and taught me that teaching is one way to have a positive and lasting impact on others. I have carried this philosophy with me throughout my life and career, hoping to help others both personally and professionally. Marketing was my minor in college (I thought I wanted to be a TV news reporter, but things changed), and it made an impression on me as a space where anything could happen. Once I graduated from Auburn University, I joined a small, boutique marketing agency in Atlanta, GA where I dove headfirst into campaigns, reporting, optimization, and learning all I could about my clients.

I believe that my hunger for learning has been the single most active driving force in my career. I seek challenges when I am no longer learning or able to grow at a company or within a role. I challenged myself and successfully earned my MBA while working full-time. I have always loved school, but also knew having advanced business knowledge would help me progress in my career, and allow me the opportunity to mentor others who were looking to grow in their professions. While in my online MBA program, I had the opportunity to attend a few in-person speaking engagements, where I learned there was a path to online teaching for me once I had graduated. I knew this was the opportunity I was looking for to continue my quest for learning and sharing, so I began applying to different adjunct positions immediately upon earning my degree. I was lucky to land at Brandeis over seven years ago, and being an instructor here has provided me the opportunity to pass on the wisdom, experience, and perspectives of my nearly 20-year career with others who are interested in the world of marketing. 

I believe teaching also makes me a better people leader at work, and I use the skills I have learned in the academic space to aid my teams’ career development and progress. Nothing makes me happier or more fulfilled than seeing others reach their potential or achieve their goals through learning and development, from my students to my team members. I hope my passion for learning and knowledge sharing has inspired others to go out and do the same for their communities because the more we learn and share, the bigger impact we will have overall. The Graduate Professionals Studies program is a wonderful place for senior career experts to have a tangible impact on students, and hopefully, some of my students will be here teaching in my place in the future. 

Meredith Fortney, Digital Marketing and Design Faculty at GPS, is the Director of Talent Acquisition Programs at FanDuel where she leads the Talent Marketing, Employer Branding, and Early Careers teams. Throughout her tenure as a marketing and branding expert, she’s led teams at Kirkland’s, Cummins, Asurion, and most recently HelloFresh. Meredith has been teaching for The Rabb School for seven years and was recently appointed to the Advisory Board representing the Digital Marketing and Design program.

Meredith lives in New York City with her wife Alex, and three dogs Cooper, Huck, & Eros. When she’s not working and/or teaching, she loves to read, learn about wine, watch documentaries, and she never misses a day of Wordle.

For more information on the MS in Digital Marketing and Design or any other GPS programs, visit our website.

Student Spotlight: Yusing Tsou

May 8, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Meet Yusing Tsou ’23

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Full-time Student

MS in Digital Marketing and Design

In her spare time, Yusing likes to attend live rock shows, reverse engineer recipes, and volunteer for various non-profits throughout the year.

Get to know Yusing!

Why did you choose Brandeis GPS? 

Brandeis GPS was the right choice for me — as an American living abroad, my MS needs to be globally recognized. Brandeis University has an excellent reputation in the United States and abroad, plus the Digital Marketing program is ranked highly. 

What inspired you to choose your field of study? (How did you discover the field? What motivated you to pursue further education?)

​​I was invited to work on a boutique law firm’s website, blog, and social media channels. This opportunity helped me realize that I have a knack for digital marketing. Specifically, I found analytics fascinating. I discovered a whole world of data behind the interface and wanted to explore more.

 How have you enjoyed your experience at Brandeis thus far?

Something that I appreciate about Brandeis is that each instructor will give students the tools necessary to succeed, regardless of their past experience with digital marketing. It is then on the student to determine the quality of education they experience.

For example, my first class was intimidating — it felt like all my classmates were experts, and here I was with (what felt like) no real experience. I persevered by taking advantage of all the class tools provided and reading all the resources suggested by the instructor to fill-in my knowledge gap. As I have taken more Brandeis classes, my foundation of knowledge has built over time into a solid understanding of digital marketing best practices. 

Additionally, I enjoy connecting with my classmates. I have made a few dear friendships at Brandeis GPS, and we have supported each other in completing the program.

What has been your favorite class to-date? Why?

I do not have a favorite class because all of my classes have been equally helpful in developing my career. I have enjoyed learning from a few key faculty members: Meredith Fortney, Ross Morrone, Garrett Gillin, David Lumerman, Mary Caraccioli, Edward Gazarian, and Sarah McMaster.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the rest of your time at Brandeis? 

I am in my last session before completing the MS program, and I hope to finish strong.

What are your plans for after graduation?

As the global economy recovers from COVID, I plan on keeping an open mind about job opportunities. 

What advice would you give to incoming students?

  1. Get familiar with your syllabus;
  2. Learn keyboard shortcuts; and
  3. Get comfortable with ambiguity.

For more information on the MS in Digital Marketing and Design or any other GPS programs, visit our website.

 

Featured Graduate: Melanie Lukac

May 5, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Melanie LukacMelanie Lukac, Co-Founder and Content Creator at Dicky Waffles

Program: Digital Marketing and Design

Graduation: May 2023

One of the main reasons I chose Brandeis GPS was its flexibility. As a working professional, I needed a program that would allow me to study at my own pace and on my schedule. GPS provided that and more. I was able to connect with students from all over the world, which gave me a global perspective on digital marketing. I also chose GPS for the quality of education. Brandeis is known for its rigorous academic programs, and GPS was no exception. The courses were challenging but rewarding, and I felt like I was truly learning the skills I needed to succeed in my career. 

Now that I’ve graduated, I’m excited to see where my degree takes me. I plan to use the skills I’ve learned to advance my career in digital marketing. I also hope to stay connected with the Brandeis community and take advantage of any networking opportunities that come my way. 

One of the highlights of my experience at Brandeis GPS was the opportunity to work on real-world projects. In one of my courses, we were tasked with developing a digital marketing campaign for a local business. It was a great experience to apply what I was learning in the classroom to a real-world scenario. 

 One of the things that stood out to me about Brandeis GPS was the emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. I was able to work closely with my classmates on group projects and assignments. This not only helped me develop my teamwork skills but also allowed me to learn from my peers’ unique perspectives and experiences. 

I felt like I was part of a community through this online program. The teachers were friendly and approachable, and my classmates were supportive and enriched my learning with their weekly assignments and feedback.

Earning a master’s degree from Brandeis GPS means a lot to me. It represents the hard work and dedication I put into my education, and it also signifies my commitment to my career. Having a master’s degree in Digital Marketing and Design will open up new opportunities for me and help me achieve my professional goals. My experience at Brandeis GPS was incredibly rewarding, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have earned my master’s degree. I look forward to using the skills I’ve learned to have a positive impact in the world of digital marketing and design.

For more information on the Digital Marketing and Design MS or other online master’s degrees available at GPS, please visit brandeis.edu/gps.

Q&A with Steve Dupree

November 9, 2022 / / 0 Comments
man smiles into camera

Steve Dupree, Program Chair of Digital Marketing and Design MS

Steve Dupree, program chair of the Digital Marketing and Design MS, has more than a decade of experience helping startups across multiple industries achieve $1B+ valuations through digital marketing and tactical customer acquisition. After receiving an MBA from Stanford University, he dabbled in venture capital before exiting to build companies again. Steve continues to invest in and advise promising entrepreneurs in his free time. In addition, Steve did his undergraduate degree at Brandeis – Go Judges! 

What led you to a career in digital marketing and design?

After graduating from Brandeis with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics, I sort of stumbled into digital marketing. At that time, few people knew and no one told me that math and science would be critical for the emerging field of digital marketing. It turned out to be a fun path: digital marketing is an interdisciplinary field utilizing math, economics, psychology, design, computer science, writing, communication and engineering. You use all sides of the brain.

What emerging trends in the field are currently exciting you?

One emerging trend that excites me is the uptick in companies trying to democratize personal data and give control back to individuals. In the past two decades, a handful of well-known companies have dominated marketing channels and been opaque about which data is collected and how it is used. I hope this is starting to change so that we can provide more value to consumers, reduce misinformation and level the playing field when it comes to folks having access to opportunities such as online job postings.

Do you have any tips or tricks for Brandeis GPS community members who are pursuing a job search in digital marketing and design currently or planning one soon in the near future?

When pursuing a job search in digital marketing and design, don’t just apply cold through company websites or portals such as Indeed or LinkedIn Jobs. For hiring managers, it’s difficult to surface you among dozens or hundreds of resumes if they don’t know you. Try to identify the hiring manager(s) and find a mutual contact to introduce you. If that’s not possible, contact them directly with a brief email stating your interest and a relevant question or offer to help on a project. DMD candidates in particular might look at specialized job boards such as jobs.GrowthHackers.com. 

As program chair, what are your best hopes for Digital Marketing and Design students and alumni?

My hope is for you to find a product, service or cause that you truly believe in and use your digital marketing and design skills to scale it up. Most organizations, whether they are for-profits, nonprofits, universities, governments or other institutions have some leaders at the top with really good ideas, but they don’t always know how best to implement those ideas. They need our help. They need people like us who can, for example, take complicated concepts and deliver them to mainstream audiences in meaningful ways. Some orgs prioritize marketing more than others. If yours doesn’t appreciate what you do or lacks the culture to grow, then find another one that nurtures you!

What is a fun fact that Brandeis GPS community members may not already know about you?

I’ve gotten really into board games over the past five years. Some of the games I kickstarted back in 2017 are still arriving and I don’t have space for them! I want to reduce the friction to discovering, learning and playing new tabletop games and there are a few pathways that look interesting. I’m open to exploring other perspectives and exchanging ideas about it.

For more information about the Digital Marketing and Design program or other online master’s degrees available at GPS, please visit brandeis.edu/gps.

Alumni Spotlight: Paulita Chartier

June 20, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Alumni Spotlight

Program: Digital Marketing and Design

Graduation Year: 2021

Paulita is from Dry Prong, Louisiana. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography, hiking, and bike riding.

Q: Why did you choose Brandeis GPS?

A: I searched for months for the perfect digital strategy program. I wanted to learn SEO, content creation, digital marketing strategy, social media, and anything else that I could use to hit the ground running in starting a new job. I wanted to learn all the things I would have learned had I still been working but missed out due to being out of the industry for five years. And I wanted to learn it from a highly respected institution that showed good job results after graduation.

After months of research, I chose Brandeis University Graduate Professional Studies’ Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Design program. The program requires courses that directly meet the needs of students interested in becoming professionals in my intended career, which is that of a digital strategy and media expert. This is a job in high demand and compliments my 30 plus years in mass communication. Many programs offer certificates in digital media; however, I wished to bolster myself with as much education and expertise as possible, making a master’s preferable to a certificate program.

I thoroughly researched a plethora of master’s programs. My criteria included class relevance to demand, school reputation, and accessibility via online programs. Although I uncovered master’s programs targeted towards learning digital strategy, the school that came up heads above the rest according to my criteria was far and away Brandeis University’s GPS program.

Q: What inspired you to choose your field of study?

A: I’ve worked for 30 years in mass communication, primarily public relations, copywriting, design, and photography. I have truly loved it. One of the very best parts of my career was learning innovative technologies. The Mac debuted in 1984 and so did I, having graduated in 1984 with my Bachelors of Arts in Journalism. So I’ve grown up with the technologies as they have improved. My industry is zooming towards digital media and I wanted to become an expert in this field, so I chose to obtain a Master’s in Digital Marketing and Design.

Q: Did you enjoy your experience at Brandeis GPS? 

A: I tremendously enjoyed my time at Brandeis. The classes were the right size, the instructors were inspiring. The course material was excellent and prepared me for the new world of digital marketing and communications. 

Q: What have you been working on since graduation?

A: I plan to freelance with my own company, Chartier Digital Strategies. Mostly, I want to gain employment with a firm specializing in digital work and learn as much as I can from that organization. I don’t really plan on retiring until very late in life. I’m not sure what I’d do with myself!

Q: What advice would you give to incoming students?

A: Download all learning material as early as possible. Scan the expectations for the week. Then set a schedule and stick with it. You don’t want to fall behind. Don’t hesitate at all to ask instructors for help or advice. With me, they were more than helpful and they were kind! There are no stupid questions.

Q: What class did you find to be the most applicable to the work you do today?

A: Geez, it’s hard to say which has been the most applicable class. They all were very informative and often fun. The required classes kept getting better as far as being relevant in the real world.

Brandeis GPS Student Spotlight

June 13, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Student Spotlight

Refaya Priya ‘23

Lowell, Massachusetts

Sales and Marketing Coordinator @ Intertek Small Business Owner @ Renaz Stylofy Founder and Dance Director @ TDS

Program: MS in Digital Marketing and Design

Refaya is a Bangladeshi-American student living in Lowell, MA, with her parents and younger sister. Aside from her professional experience, she loves to do community service. She served as the youngest Cultural Secretary of one of the oldest Bangladeshi organizations in the New England area for the 2018-2019 term. It was a very successful term, and she was also awarded for her work. 

Refaya has also been dancing since the age of four and earned many National and International awards before she immigrated here with her family in 2014. She has since continued to dance and has a team of 30 people at present. In her spare time, Refaya enjoys spending time at the dance school she owns and spending quality time with her family.

Get to know Refaya Priya! 

Why did you choose Brandeis GPS?

Brandeis has a great reputation. It’s an honor to get accepted into a prestigious university.

What inspired you to choose your field of study?

I work in the marketing department at Intertek and run my small business part-time. We live in a digital era where digital marketing and design would help me in both the prospective side and the technical side of marketing. 

I also want to promote the work of my dance school outside MA to showcase our creative works. My team was the first Bangladeshi team to be invited out of state to perform in NY and CT. Digital marketing plays a huge role in today’s world, and any field must maintain the best of the best social image.

How have you enjoyed your experience at Brandeis thus far? 

Everyone has been so helpful. I am very much delighted.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the rest of your time at Brandeis? 

I am looking forward to exciting opportunities and gaining more insights into the new era of digital marketing. 

What are your plans for after graduation?

Higher level management positions and/or become one of the best young entrepreneurs taking my small business to reach new heights 😀

What advice would you give to incoming students?

Research the market where you want to study and only apply when you find a subject curious and interesting. This is because you enjoy learning when you find the field interesting. It’s like finding your ikigai. 

Faculty Spotlight: Digital Marketing and Design

June 7, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Faculty: Garrett Gillin, MBA

Program: Digital Marketing and Design MS

Course: RDMD 135 Conversion Rate Optimization

Education: Drexel University, MBA

Bio: Garrett Gillin, MBA, is a Co-founder and Principal at 215 Marketing, a 2020 INC 5000 company and Google Premier Partner agency, located in Philadelphia, PA, where he oversees the development and execution of integrated digital marketing initiatives with a concentration on programmatic advertising, marketing automation, and advanced analytics.

Why is this course important or valuable to a Digital Marketing and Design student?

Oftentimes in marketing and design we are so focused on the tactics, that we lose focus of the bigger picture. The CRO course helps students take a step back and look at the full customer journey and identify ways to grow a business through small, incremental improvements at various touch points.

Why do you enjoy teaching this course? 

When I developed this course in collaboration with the department chair, Steve Dupree, we wanted to create something that was relevant and actionable to all businesses regardless of type and size. My favorite part of teaching this course is that students often can use what they learn immediately in their day-to-day jobs and develop a more holistic view of marketing and design that they can apply throughout their careers.

Anything else you would like to share with a student interested in enrolling in the course? 

This course may be a bit different from other courses you have taken. We use your current place-of-work (or a business you are looking to start) as the basis of each week’s assignment, so you can directly apply the learning to the company and industry you work in. Students have found this approach to feel more organic and actionable, while making the content more relatable.

 

For more information on the Digital Marketing and Design MS or other online master’s degrees available at GPS, please visit brandeis.edu/gps.

Communication for Effective Leadership

March 30, 2022 / / 0 Comments

It may go without saying, but communication is a prevalent and critical component of today’s workforce. The skillset is especially essential for professionals seeking to excel in a leadership role. Regardless of industry, professional communications is imperative for leading effective meetings, mitigating crises, and navigating negotiations and conflict resolution.

“Communications is a critical part of doing business, especially in today’s environment. News travels fast. A bad customer experience can become a social media sensation before the CEO is even informed of the problem,” said Mary Caraccioli, Chief Communications Officer for The Central Park Conservancy. “On the flip side, you can use the power of social media to engage directly (and more deeply) with customers, employees and other stakeholders. You can use the power of the communications revolution to your advantage by making communications part of your business strategy.”

Mary Caraccioli HeadshotCaraccioli is teaching a master’s-level course in Communication for Effective Leadership, a fully online, 10-week class that will help students build on their critical thinking skills and apply oral and written communication strategies to solve organizational problems and drive organizational change. Throughout the course, students will focus on topics such as negotiation and facilitation, crisis communications and public relations, virtual and global communications, and stakeholder management.

By the end of Communication for Effective Leadership, students should be able to:

  • Develop, execute and measure communication plans to manage stakeholders, solve organizational problems and drive organizational change.
  • Adapt communication strategies and use digital technologies to align with organizational, cultural, virtual, and global needs.
  • Build a portfolio of communication campaigns including crisis response, company positioning, and media statements.

This course is available for professional development or as part of several GPS graduate programs. To learn more, submit your information or contact the  GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787 or gps@brandeis.edu.

Alumni Spotlight: Annie Harrison

March 16, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Program: Digital Marketing and Design MS

Graduation Year: ’21

Current Company: The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University

 

How a background in journalism has been an asset to my master’s studies and career in strategic communications & marketing

When I made the decision to transition from a career in journalism to a career in media relations and marketing, I knew I needed to broaden my skill set. While I had plenty of writing experience, I did not have a background in design or data analytics. I had taken a few graduate classes previously at another institution, but I hadn’t yet found a program that I felt would prepare me for the fast-evolving environment and challenges of communicating in a digital era.

I was fortunate enough to enroll in GPS’s Digital Marketing and Design program while as a staff member at the Brandeis Library, and immediately I knew I was in good company. Although my faculty and students came from different industries, we all had similar interests and had experienced similar challenges in our work, such as needing to increase newsletter open rates, improve user experience navigating websites, and make our content more accessible. It was encouraging to see so many of my peers had similar career paths and could relate to the experience of going from writing news articles to pitching story ideas and building multichannel marketing campaigns.

My writing background was an asset when I started the program, and I was eager to learn how to take those fundamental skills and create marketing content that was both concise and meaningful for our audiences. I appreciated how I could take each week’s lesson and almost instantly apply it to my work designing newsletters, building webpages, and drafting social media content. Being able to share my real-world successes and struggles with my classmates and learn from their insights helped me become not only a better writer but also a more strategic communicator overall.

I had only taken traditional classes before, so I was initially concerned about whether the online format would be a good fit for me, but I found that I felt more connected to my faculty and classmates through engaging in regular assignments and message board discussions throughout the week as opposed to seeing them in-person once a week. As a plus, the online format gave me the flexibility to work on assignments on my own time, whether it was during my lunch break or on a Sunday evening. I was able to complete my program within three years while working full-time, and within months of graduating, I was pleased to accept a new role as the senior communications specialist at the Heller School in summer 2021.

I’m excited about the new opportunities ahead, and I’m grateful to GPS for helping give me the tools and connections to take my career to the next level.

For more information on the Digital Marketing and Design MS or other online master’s degrees available at GPS, please visit brandeis.edu/gps.

« Older posts

© 2023 Brandeis GPS Blog

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑

Protected by Akismet
Blog with WordPress

Welcome Guest | Login (Brandeis Members Only)