Hometown: Petal, Mississippi

Degree: B.S. in Sport Communication, 2005

What are the responsibilities of your current position?

I do everything for our 13 teams, including managing the athletics web site, running social media, overseeing our online broadcasts of home events, game day management and staffing, writing releases and recaps, marketing, media relations, photography, statistics, media guides, etc.

How did your education at MSU help prepare you for your field?

Many in my position worked as student workers in college, but I did not take advantage of that opportunity. Instead, I relied largely on my education, which gave me instruction in a lot of areas. That worked out perfectly for my current job, even though at the time I did not think I needed to learn about photography, marketing, layout and design, etc. The professors did a great job of pushing me and implementing hands-on assignments to prepare me for the future.

What advice would you give to current students looking for internships or jobs in your field?

Put yourself out there, be persistent and be prepared to do a lot of work for little or no pay. Writing experience and experience with Statcrew or Dakstats are valuable, as well as knowledge of various sports. Previous experience with your high school or college athletic departments will help out a lot. Also, before you talk to someone about an internship with them, make sure you study up on their program and some of the things they do that you might be asked to help with.