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By Jordan-Ashley Walker, APR

Kassidy Thompson is a marketing major from Prince George, Virginia. She is a member of ODU’s spring 2024 graduating class.  

What made you choose Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University?
I chose ODU because when I toured, I loved how inviting campus felt, as well as how diverse the student population is. They have a ton of majors to choose from and resources to help you get where you want to go. I feel like they genuinely care and are invested in students’ success. The Strome College of Business has contributed so much to my wonderful college experience – the faculty, as well. I just feel so comfortable in the program and building, as a whole. The college has so many different opportunities every semester for professional development from activities such as Donuts with the Dean, job fairs and resume-building events. 

Tell us more about your internship with ODU Athletics.
I found my passion for sports marketing through my internship with ODU Athletics. Marketing is such a broad field with so many different avenues you can take, so I took my junior year trying to figure out what that could possibly be for me. I did not know what to expect, but it has been such a wonderful experience getting to be hands-on for game day, as well as learning more of the behind-the-scenes things that I have been doing for my last semester. My second internship was during summer 2023, for a baseball team called the Tri City Chili Peppers. I was able to take the things I learned from ODU Athletics to the summer ball team. There are a lot of internship opportunities on campus through different mediums such as Monarch Dining, the Student Recreation Center (SRC), as well as athletics. You just need to search around as well as follow their social media accounts because they will post when they have openings and job fairs. 

What advice do you have to incoming freshman at ODU?
My advice to college freshman, as well as undergraduates, would be to join clubs that coincide with your major as well as areas of interest. My next tip would be to not just attend your club meetings, but to hold leadership positions in these organizations and jump in to volunteer with events or activities the club will put on over the semester. Networking is a big deal in the business world, so I would create a quality LinkedIn profile as well as an e-portfolio as soon as you can so you can post and connect with people in your job field. Do not be afraid to try something new – you are trying to figure out what you like in your career and what you want to do post-grad. 

You’re very involved with the AMA Strome Marketers. Tell us more about the club and what it has meant to your college career.
I have been so grateful for my senior year to be on the executive board for the AMA Strome Marketers. I was the head of Marketing and Sales Week for the fall semester, as well as the clothing drive coordinator for spring. I have had so many opportunities to come out of my comfort zone and speak in front of large audiences of people. For example, one of those events being the senior share resume event, where I got to share my resume with my peers and they gave constructive feedback. I can not talk about AMA without shouting out to Professor Michelle Carpenter, my professor as well as the AMA representative. She is truly one of the kindest people I have ever met and has made my experience at ODU one that I will never forget. She has been an amazing mentor to me throughout my time at ODU, she goes above and beyond for AMA and her students. 

What are your plans after graduation?
After I graduate in May, I am planning on looking for a job in the sports industry. I really love baseball, so I am looking for jobs in that area. My dream team to work for at this point is the Richmond Flying Squirrels.