2019 Communication and Journalism Alumna Brigitte Meisse: Event Marketing and Sales Manager
Major: I was a double major in both communication studies and journalism - strategic communication!
Plans after graduation: I'm an Event Marketing and Sales Manager for Feld Entertainment. Feld is a global company that produces a variety of live shows including Disney on Ice, Disney Live, Jurassic World Live, Sesame Street Live, Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, and more. They are the same company that used to produce the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. In this position, I'm in charge of event promotions for their East Central region, which essentially spans from Columbus to Missouri!
What clubs and organizations were you involved in? During my time at OHIO, I was super involved in the Scripps Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and I just finished my term as Chapter President. For a while, I was also a member of PRSSA's student-run firm. When I was involved they were called imPRessions, but now they are called 1804 Communication.
Did you have any jobs on campus? Did you complete any internships? What were they? Where? My first internship was with Destination Mansfield - Richland County as a Public Relations and Marketing Intern. Destination Mansfield is a destination marketing organization, and I was able to promote my hometown as a fun place to visit, live and work. At the same time and over the course of the next few years, I worked with Mid-State Multimedia Group as a Social Media Coordinator. Here I managed social media platforms for WMFD TV, Mix 106.1 Radio, 99.3 The Light and the Pour One Nine Beerfest! Starting at the end of my sophomore year, I became a Marketing and Communications intern for University College at OHIO. I spent that summer in Athens and ran all of the social media platforms and communication initiatives for Bobcat Student Orientation and all of University College's programs for a year. Finally, I spent the past year and a half as a Marketing and Social Media Assistant at MediaSource, a Columbus-based public relations agency. In this position I ran MediaSource's social media accounts, assisted in client social media campaigns and essentially coordinated MediaSource's master marketing calendar. Both MediaSource and Mid-State were remote jobs, so I spent a lot of time doing this work while on campus.
Briefly describe the aspects of your Scripps experience that you think most helped you land your job: I think there are two things that define my time with Scripps - first was the opportunities for involvement here. I give credit to PRSSA for absolutely EVERY connection, internship, and job I've had during my career so far. Scripps has so many amazing organizations that are filled with dedicated students and alumni. Second, I would say the faculty members at Scripps were crucial when it came to landing my job. I actually found my current position because former strategic communication professor and PRSSA adviser, Dan Farkas, sent it to me! All of the faculty members really care and are beyond willing to help you find opportunities.
How do you feel about graduating? To put it simply, I am heartbroken to have graduated. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO glad I'm done studying and taking exams, but Ohio University gave me the best four years of my life and a group of friends who I literally can not imagine my life without.
In June, a whole new class of Ohio University students will be coming to campus for Bobcat Student Orientation. If you could tell them one thing, what would it be? Learn how to say no. As a Scripps Kid, you'll feel a lot of pressure to be involved and be "the best," but your involvement shouldn't come at the cost of your mental health. Take care of yourself first. Everyone has there own path, so you can't compare your success to the successes of your peers. Mentally, that will put you in a bad place. Enjoy these next four years in Athens - you'll end up exactly where you are meant to be.