student interview
Interning at a Fashion PR Agency with Bella Villanueva words by cruz rendon Senior public relations major Bella Villanueva spent her summer as a virtual intern at Linda Gaunt Communications. The agency is responsible for top fashion brands such as Todd Snyder and Eileen Fisher. “I secured this internship in February and was planning to spend my summer in New York City,” Villanueva said. “[Quarantine] was disappointing at first, but I’m learning a lot at my internship and the agency is giving me a lot of opportunities for career growth.”
student: bella villanueva major: public relations class: 2021
After news of the stay-at-home orders, Villanueva had to adapt rapidly as her world started to change. She celebrated a quarantine birthday, cancelled her spring break trip and lost her job. Luckily, she was able to shift her NYC internship to a remote experience. In quarantine, Villanueva has learned the importance of staying connected with people that matter to her personally and professionally. She credits being a PR student at Moody for preparing her for this internship by allowing students to connect with professionals in the communications industry. Looking ahead, Villanueva would like to start working with brands on their social media presence.
Managing a Band with Julia Greenspan words by maya dandashi Newly graduated, 22 year-old advertising major and Texas Creative student Julia Greenspan began managing a local Austin band, “Dean Keeton”, just as quarantine started.
student: julia greenspan major: advertising class: 2020
Greenspan decided to continue managing the band despite moving back to Connecticut after graduation.
I would always go to the sessions and be an extra ear, give my opinion.”
“Most managers do function over the Internet anyway. So working from home in Connecticut means not much has changed,” Greenspan said. “I do miss being there when the boys recorded their songs though.
Greenspan looks forward to possibly continue working in the music industry in the future. “I’m so much happier working for musicians and creatives than I would be at an ad agency,” Greenspan said. “I think it’s because it’s not as much a commodity as it is a passion and a message being sold to people.” “COVID-19 has given me the opportunity to learn a lot. At the beginning it felt very dooming. Once I realized that this wrench in the whole system is exactly what the creative mind wants, I started to look at it as a way to expand on my skills more.”