Annie Odell A’19, ’21, a marketing major in the Barney School of Business, completed a for-credit marketing communication internship this summer with the Connecticut Institute For Communities (CIFC), a nonprofit organization that offers support services to residents of Western Connecticut.
This summer, CIFC is heavily focused on communicating important information about COVID-19, as well as the locations and requirements of free testing sites in the Greater Danbury area. Annie worked with the organization's communications department to help raise awareness about the testing sites through the use of its social media platforms and updating information and messaging on CIFC’s website.
Annie says the experience gave her the opportunity to learn how to multitask. “I didn’t have any experience with switching between so many projects or tasks within one day,” she says. “It was important that I learn to be flexible with what was given to me and take advantage of different opportunities.” Annie, who previously worked for the Dean’s office in Hillyer College where she began her academic career, says she gained valuable marketing experience including social media management, marketing, writing, and planning. She also enjoyed working with such a wide variety of people in different departments.
Annie Odell A’19, ’21, Marketing MajorFrom researching all of the healthcare recognition months, to openly participating in COVID testing, it made me feel so appreciated and impactful when I left and they told me they would miss me. It’s really the smaller things that you may not find to be as impactful or helpful, that sometimes make the biggest difference.
The most rewarding accomplishment of the internship? “It was being able to participate with my team in promoting the COVID-19 testing,” says Annie. “I was able to focus on growing my passion for marketing while learning about what a non-profit healthcare organization does to get their word out.”