Location: Menlo Park, Calif.
Position, Organization: Client Solutions Manager, Facebook
Major, Graduation: Professional Writing, 2013

Current Role/Responsibilities: I support Facebook’s mission to make the world more open and connected by partnering with brands on their Facebook and Instagram marketing strategies. My role is to help brands reach their audience with the most meaningful and relevant advertising. 

“Expect to be uncomfortable.”

How my major helped with my success? Professional Writing was heavily project-based, which mirrors the professional world. My position didn’t exist when I started college in 2010, but the skills I learned in the College of Arts & Letters directly apply to everything I am doing. Skills like project management, writing etiquette, public speaking, brainstorming, and problem solving have been invaluable for my career growth.

Advice to Spartans interested in following your footsteps? Know the value of strong mentors, set goals and share them with others, and don’t underestimate the power of our Spartan family. 

What should current students take advantage of while at MSU? The opportunities you have at MSU are unlike anything you will encounter after graduation. Take advantage of the incredibly experienced, knowledgeable professors and faculty you can talk to every day, volunteer with your classmates and commit to finding internships that you’re passionate about.

Best experience at MSU or CAL? Working for the College of Arts & Letters with the Marketing and Alumni Teams in Linton Hall was by far my favorite and most valuable experience at MSU. That’s where I found my passion for storytelling, which has led me to where I am today.

What should students be prepared for upon graduation? Expect to be uncomfortable. Asking for favors, reaching out to strangers for informational interviews, interviewing and first days (and months) of jobs are uncomfortable. Lean on your mentors and classmates for advice and embrace the adventure.