Empowering Careers: How Real-World Experiences Boost Penn State Students’ Confidence

Kristen Jan is a senior at Penn State, juggling two majors and an internship that aligns with her career goals. She aims for a strategic and creative role in an advertising agency, thanks to her studies in advertising/public relations and kinesiology. This summer, she interned at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which expanded her experience in the nonprofit sector.

“When searching for an internship, I applied to many places,” Jan says. “The foundation felt like a perfect blend of my majors and matched my values.” The foundation, founded in 2000, is the largest nonprofit supporter of Parkinson’s research, having raised over $2 billion.

Initially on a pre-med track, Jan worried about her lack of marketing experience, but her creativity and understanding of human health helped her excel. “I’m usually on the creative side, and this internship taught me what goes into marketing, even the less obvious elements,” she shares.

Jan worked extensively with Meta Business Suite, handling both organic and paid social media strategies. Contributing to creative briefs and conducting audience surveys, she found it rewarding to see her work featured on the foundation’s social media, which reaches millions. Her final project focused on optimizing their YouTube presence, exploring how the platform could support various foundation goals, from research recruitment to fundraising.

Back at Penn State this fall, Jan will lead research in the Public Health and Physical Activity Laboratory and serve as the creative director for the PSU Culinary Medicine Club. She’s also a designer for The Nittany Group, a team that competes in a national advertising challenge.

Kristen’s journey isn’t random; she intentionally chose a mix of kinesiology and advertising/public relations to create her ideal career path. “I want a job where I can be scientific and creative,” she explains.

As a member of the Schreyer Honors College, she’s developed a keen sense of how advertisers influence behavior. “I’m aware of the tactics companies use to persuade me, but I’m still human and affected by them,” she admits.

With newfound confidence from her internship and education, Jan is excited about her future in advertising, where she can harmoniously merge her analytical and creative skills.

Given the growing focus on digital marketing, it’s interesting to note that according to a recent report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, digital ad spending is expected to top $200 billion in the U.S. by 2024. This trend highlights the significance of innovative minds like Jan’s in the evolving advertising landscape.

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