Networking and Hands-On Internship Projects Expand Comms Major’s Career Possibilities

Interning within a marketing and communications team at the nonprofit Complete College America helped Ember Brummitt, an undergrad at East Tennessee State University majoring in mass communications, see the wide range of career possibilities her major opens.

Where did you intern and what are some of your responsibilities there?

I interned at Complete College America (CCA), a national nonprofit organization that aims to increase college completion rates and close institutional performance gaps.

As a communications intern, I assisted the communications director with a variety of marketing and public relations tasks. These included developing a marketing plan, drafting email campaigns, writing social media posts and much more!

Tell us about a project you worked on during your internship that was your favorite, the most challenging, or the most exciting. 

My favorite project was working on a marketing campaign for our 2023 CCA Annual Convening, a massive educational conference held every year in December! I got an insider look into how months-long campaigns are developed, including things like scheduling, email marketing, advertising partnerships and a million other little things. It really opened my eyes to how complex communications and marketing can be!

How have you expanded your professional network during your time with TWC?

Because CCA is a primarily remote workplace, I got to meet coworkers from all over the United States. Surprisingly enough, our communications director is familiar with my hometown, and she's introducing me to the marketing director at my college.

I also got to meet really cool communications professionals at a networking event held by TWC. I even connected with one on LinkedIn to chat about photography, and he sent me a beginner's photography guide! It's been amazing meeting so many industry professionals that really care about my learning and success as a student and new employee.

How has this experience impacted your career goals?

Going into the summer, I wasn't sure exactly what sector of communications I wanted to go into. But thanks to TWC and my internship, I've narrowed it down to nonprofit organizations, especially education-oriented ones. I want to help people in my career, and through TWC, I've found a way to do that. 

What advice do you have for students considering an internship with TWC?

My best advice is to make the most of TWC and living in D.C., even if you feel overwhelmed or homesick. Personally, I really missed my friends and family back home, and D.C. isn't my favorite big city. But TWC is such a great opportunity, and I told myself that I had two months to make the most of the experience.

This mindset allowed me to go to multiple Smithsonian museums, go for walks around the city, visit bars and clubs, watch the fireworks at the National Mall, start my fitness journey at the TWC gym and so much more. It can be scary at first, but you can do anything for two months! 

How did the support of the Tennessee State Scholarship expand your opportunity via TWC and career exploration?

The Tennessee State Scholarship was a lifesaver for me. I wouldn't have been able to attend TWC without it. As the oldest of four siblings, my family only has so much money to spare for educational opportunities, so I'm incredibly grateful that the Tennessee State Scholarship and my Honors College Scholarship could cover the costs of this experience. Everyone deserves the opportunity to expand their careers through educational opportunities like TWC!

Let The Washington Center Help

Internships are one of the best ways to learn more about your industry, get hands-on experience under your belt and build a well-rounded skill set. As part of our Academic Internship Program, we partner with hundreds of internship sites, and will work closely with you to find the internship that best aligns with your career goals and interests. Learn more about the Academic Internship Program.
Learn more about the Academic Internship Program.

About the Author

The Washington Center is the largest and most established student internship program in Washington, D.C. Since our founding, we've helped more than 60,000 individuals from across the U.S. and around the globe expand their academic pursuits into rewarding jobs and careers. We use our scale and expertise to deliver solutions that open career pathways for learners, solve recruitment challenges for employers, while helping create greater access, equity, advancement and representation.

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