Entry No. 15 | Nov. 16, 2012

Last week was one of the College of Arts and Sciences' events, “An Evening with Rory Kennedy.” Rory is youngest daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy (brother of JFK). She was showing her documentary, “Ethel,” about her mother and answering questions about the film afterwards. The event was held at the beautiful Tampa Theatre. If you have never been to the Tampa Theatre, I suggest you go! It is one of the most beautiful theatres I have ever laid eyes on.

Before the showing I was across the street to help at the VIP reception. At the reception I was able to talk with Dean Eisenberg, Dr. Roscoe and administration members. As one guest was checking in to the VIP reception she told me that she had met Ethel Kennedy before and was with the family during one of RFK's election results. How cool?!? The Kennedys are practically American royalty. At the reception Rory introduced herself to me. She held out her hand and said “Hi, I'm Rory.” In my head I was thinking, “Of course you're Rory!” I was really excited to meet her. I had never met anyone famous before.

During the film screening I went through the questions for Rory to help determine which ones were best to ask and what order the questions should be asked. Students, VIP guests, and tweeters submitted questions. I tweeted live from the event and monitored our @USF_College account. I was still able to catch some of the film. From what I saw, the film was witty and endearing.
 
After the documentary viewing she introduced herself, again, and thanked all the interns for their help. I asked her how long it took her to edit all of the film; she replied six and a half months! I was so grateful to have met her with my fellow interns and we even have a picture with Rory! I think everyone enjoyed the event and I know the interns enjoyed the leftover food from the VIP reception.

Stay tuned for information on the next Frontier Forum Event.

Go Bulls!
Carrie

 

Entry No. 14 | Nov. 15, 2012

One of the projects we recently finished was our “Good Time” lip dub video that was used to promote our info session for prospective students interested in applying for the internship. I was in charge of arranging the whole project and had a great time putting it all together. Originally, we all decided to do a Gangnam Style flash mob to promote the internship and info session, unfortunately another organization beat us to the punch so we decided to film a lip dub video instead.

Before we filmed the video, we all decided on an energetic song that would be simple enough to learn but also catchy enough that it would get stuck in your head by the third time you listened to it. That is how “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen was chosen! After throwing around story line ideas for the video, the technical aspects were next on the list. We came up with a general story line that collaborated well with the theme of the song, then broke down the song into different screen shots we wanted in the video. Our idea was to make it a single shot video that ran through the whole song. We decided to map out a route and record it with a camera to get a better idea of how it will look once we began filming. You will see that our rough draft video was not necessarily the best but gave us a good visual of how it would come out in the end. After getting all the logistics out of the way, we broke down the song into singing parts for each intern and picked a day to finally film! After a couple takes and minimal editing by me, we managed to produce a great lip dub video by your favorite CAS interns.

The whole preparation of the video, up until we filmed, was such a fun experience. I never laughed so hard in my life. One of my favorite parts about the project itself was that I was able to produce and edit the video. It was a project I took on, and throughout the process realized what a great opportunity I had. I am so grateful to say that I am a CAS intern and have the ability to take on projects like these. Never would I think I could produce something that would gain so much interest on YouTube, and I can only thank my director and the interns for it. They truly made the project a great learning and bonding experience. It’s always a good time with the CAS interns!

-Becky

 

Entry No. 13 | Nov. 14, 2012

Prior to my internship at the Dean’s office, I spent the summer learning the ins and outs of live and studio production at a television station in Miami, Fla. I learned a lot while I was there, but the experience I gained was restricted to technical work like how to operate cameras and managing equipment.

My time at the Dean’s office, on the other hand, has been a much different experience. I’ve been able to show my creative side and gain a much wider set of skills.

As a broadcast student, my professional experience is limited mostly to video production, but I applied to be a CAS intern with the hope that I could learn as much as possible from Michele (and my lovely fellow interns!) about other areas of media that were unfamiliar to me; namely, public relations, advertising and social media. I can honestly say that my favorite part of being a CAS intern has been working with a variety of media, whether it be something I’m comfortable with -- like filming and editing -- or something I’m not comfortable with at all -- like creating fliers on Photoshop.

Our very first assignment was to come up with a new concept for a title intro for the college’s YouTube videos. I sketched a draft of what I wanted to do on PowerPoint, but somehow it didn’t quite come out how I imagined. When I told Michele that I was having some trouble with this assignment, she invited an industry professional who taught us how to use Adobe After Effects, an advanced special effects program. After the seminar, he continued to work with me to make my idea a reality! I was able to add a new skill to my repertoire that I could never have gained from my classes.

-Dom

 

Entry No. 12 | Nov. 13, 2012

We took our first field trip last week to Walker Brands in downtown Tampa, a place that has created the brand identity of huge companies like Disney, Publix, AAA and even our own home at USF.

From the second we pulled into the parking lot, we could tell it was going to be interesting. Outside, guest parking spaces are labeled with things such as “Favorite Client” and another one calling out whoever’s late. Once inside, we were amazed by the space: the sculptures hanging from the ceiling, the quotes lining the walls, and the books and inspiration area. Even a cute little kitchen stocked with drinks! We explored for a few minutes before Nancy, the president of Walker Brands, sat down to talk with us.

It was interesting to hear the process of how USF’s brand was established. As we stood in a room with an airplane wing for a table, we learned how they had come up with words to describe USF, words they believed encompassed what USF meant such as “bold” and “diverse.” In fact, if you’re interested in seeing more about what they’ve branded USF, look here: http://www.usf.edu/brand.

One of the most important things I learned from the day was building brands and figuring out who you are as a company before you try to do anything else. As an advertising major, this is so important to my future career. A place like Walker Brands make my job so much easier because they help define what a company is and gives them an identity before the ad agency comes in and tries to sell that idea to the public. I’m so glad to have had the chance to go learn about Walker Brands, thank you CAS internship!

-Joline

 

Entry No. 11 | Nov. 6, 2012

One of the things I love about this internship is being able to participate in fun projects, as such as the “Where’s Rocky?” contest we just finished.

At CAS, we love to do contests in order to promote school spirit and the college itself, and we always come up with some type of contest to get students involved in. This year for homecoming week, the staff came up with the idea to have a “Where Rocky?” contest, which we placed a Rocky the Bull doll in abstract spots around campus and took pictures of him. Our Facebook friends had to guess where Rocky was located. The winner of the contest won a prize package of Homecoming XVI goodies such as this year’s T-shirts, hats, cups, sunglasses and posters (courtesy of this years Homecoming marketing board).

Finding inconspicuous and yet interesting spots around campus to take the pictures for the contest proved to be kind of a challenge; how many places can one place a stuffed bull without being too obvious? Despite some trial and error (and some strange looks from bystanders), Rocky finally ended up in some nice spots to photograph such as the graffiti mural on the 5th floor of Crescent Garage, a waterless, rocky pond (no pun intended) in front of the ISA building, and a display at the bookstore. More than 75 people entered the contest, and overall people really enjoyed this scavenger hunt!

This was definitely one of my favorite projects by far during my time in CAS. It just shows how great this internship is with balancing both creativity and school spirit.

-Stephany

 

Entry No. 10 | Oct. 29, 2012

 

 

Entry No. 9 | Oct. 25, 2012

One reason why I’m fortunate to be a broadcast intern with CAS this semester is that it gives me the opportunity to give back to the university. Even as a transfer student, I still feel a special attachment to USF, and I appreciate any chance I can get to be a part of the campus atmosphere.

One of our first assignments came when the Today Show broadcasted live from the Marshall Center for Kathie Lee and Hoda’s College Challenge. Michele asked that we take pictures, film the event and pass out green and gold bullhorn hats that featured the CAS logo across the front. That morning before heading out to the event, we joked about how funny it would be if we somehow got Sara Haines, the segment host, to wear a CAS bullhorn hat on air.

If there’s anything I learned that day, it’s that -- given the chance to be in the national spotlight -- USF sure knows how to throw a party. The university pulled out all the stops, inviting the Herd of Thunder marching band, the Sun Dolls and Rocky the Bull to join the fun. Dozens of students came out -- on a weekday morning, no less! -- to show their school spirit. Even Judy Genshaft made a cameo appearance.

We got some great pictures and video footage of the event, grabbing Dr. Genshaft at one point for an interview. To top it all off -- after making our way through a crowd of NBC production crew members, local reporters and nearly 40 USF students competing for Sarah Haines’ attention -- we managed to get her to wear our CAS hat just before she went on air!

-Dom

 

 

Entry No. 8 | Oct. 22, 2012

As a college student, I have always known landing an internship was extremely important for my future. The thought of going through the application and interview process was scary and overwhelming. After a semester of debating whether or not I was going to apply to an agency, I came across a Facebook post from the USF College of Arts and Sciences announcing an internship to start in the summer--but it was the last day to apply. I immediately dropped everything I was doing, made some corrections to my terribly-formatted résumé, whipped up a cover letter, filled out the application and quickly rushed over to school to drop everything off.

A little while later I was called back for an interview. Scared as can be I wandered around the second floor of Cooper Hall trying to find Michele for my interview. When we sat down to start, I was instantly relaxed. Michele was extremely welcoming and I survived the interview. A little bit of time passed and then one day I got my exciting “Congratulations” email I had been anxiously awaiting.

I had no idea what to expect when I started. I just knew I was going to spend my summer working with a great group of interns and a great boss. Michele would give us assignments, like a press release or to design a flier, and she would guide us along the way when we needed help. Prior to the internship I had never used any of the Adobe Creative Suite programs, so getting to learn the programs was a little overwhelming at first. Throughout the summer we would attend workshops, where Michele would teach us about all of the different programs we use, the printing process and most importantly grammar. P.S. if you’re ever speaking with her NEVER say “alums,” for alumni. It is not a word, unless you’re referring to the chemical compound!

So far I’ve been interning here for about six months, and it’s by far the best experience I’ve had at USF. I love the people I work with and work for; the atmosphere is great. I learn something new every day and am so grateful for it. All of the tools I’ve gotten thus far have helped me tremendously in my schoolwork. And Michele feeds us--so what more could you ask for?

 

Entry No. 7 | Oct. 15, 2012

Coming into this internship, I honestly had no idea of what to expect. I was really nervous; I had five classes this semester and thought “what did I just get myself into?”, but I worked so hard to get where I am that I wasn’t going to let that scare me. I can honestly not say anything bad about this program. I have become friends with everyone that I work with and we all get along so great. I always have a good feeling going into work, knowing that something fun is always bound to happen.

I came into this internship with a writing background and that was pretty much it. I felt very inexperienced with all of the software that we were supposed to utilize (Quark and the Adobe Creative Suite). It was a bit intimidating at first but then after my first Adobe InDesign seminar, I felt so much more confident in my work and myself. I was very excited to be given the opportunity to learn things and utilize programs that will help me (because I am an advertising major). Soon we are even taking field trips to places like a printing facility, which will be an awesome experience to get a real life view on how publishing is actually done.

I have had the chance to learn about and be in the presence of some remarkable people, most recently Dr. Michio Kaku. Even though I was “technically” working the event, I learned so much from our guest speaker and was honestly excited to be in the same room as him.

This internship has been so much more than a job. It’s been a place where I have made friends, where I have met and done remarkable things for the USF College of Arts and Sciences, and most of all it’s been a learning experience that I could get no where else!

-Marina

 

Entry No. 6 | Oct. 12, 2012

This is my first semester interning with the College of Arts and Sciences, and I was selected as a broadcast intern, seeing as my major is TV production. I applied to this program hoping to gain experience in my field of study, and I’ve actually gained a lot more than that. Not only does this internship provide me with hands-on experience in broadcast, but it also allows me to learn about every other aspect in the mass communications department such as marketing, public relations, writing and social media.

Our director, Michele, also provides us interns with seminars on news writing, desktop publishing, Photoshop, Premier, and also résumé building. The seminars allow us to get a step up in preparing for our future careers.

Interning with the College of Arts and Sciences has been a great experience. My fellow interns and I have worked on a lot of fun projects so far, and we have some really great ideas ahead that I am overly excited about. For me, the best part about this internship is that we can learn from each other and work together.

-Sami

 

Entry No. 5 | Oct. 11, 2012

Never before did I know everything that goes on behind the scenes of the College of Arts and Sciences. Did I think the events and promotions came from thin air? Maybe. But now I know that a lot of people are working hard to make everything happen, and I have the pleasure of being an intern who helps make these things possible.

I’m advertising student and I wanted to intern for CAS because it gave me the opportunity to work in the marketing and communications department. Now that I’m a part of it, I’ve gotten to create promotions for events and help come up with material for the college’s social media pages.

There’s such a wide range of things you get to do as a CAS intern. This week, I spent most of my “office hours” outside selling T-shirts to students. I’m working on projects to promote the College of Arts and Sciences, and designing a handout for the Department of Geology. On top of that, I’m coming up with lines for social media promotions.

It’s a fun internship, and our weekly meetings give us a chance to learn about new projects and share ideas with the other wonderful interns. It’s a chance to learn more and connect with others.

Overall, I think that’s what this internship has been about for me… learning and connecting. I can’t wait to see what else is in store!

-Joline

 

Entry No. 4 | Oct. 10, 2012

Remember that one (or many) test you crammed for and after you took it, you immediately forgot everything you learned? The College of Arts and Sciences internship counteracts that.

Although you may have taken "Writing for Mass Media" last semester and threw that AP Stylebook away, AP Style is still alive and well whilst participating in this internship, among other things. Throughout this internship, I have been able to truly practice what I have been learning in my coursework. I've had the opportunity to attend and film interesting lectures and events that occur on campus and around the community. I've also learned to work with editing on Adobe Premier.

What I enjoy most about this internship is being able to explore different areas such as writing, social media, editing, etc. One thing I didn't expect was how much I have learned from my fellow interns! We've definitely formed a bond and have made my experience that much greater.

-Johora

 

Entry No. 3 | Oct. 9, 2012

So far, my internship with the College of Arts and Sciences has brought me real-life work experience, as well as given me the opportunity to polish my writing and design skills, preparing me for graduation this December.

I have never worked in a corporate or professional setting. My part time jobs through my high school and undergraduate studies always have been in the food service industry. Having to keep office hours and appointments with colleagues or clients, and attend meetings and events held by CAS, has put me in the mindset of a working adult. I haven’t felt really “grownup” until this semester.

This internship also has given me the chance to fill up my portfolio with some really good work.  We keep busy writing and designing material for the college. Our work is actually used by CAS on the website, social media sites and event materials.

Along with practice in the office, our mentor, Michele Dye, collaborates with real companies, such as printing houses or branding companies, letting us take tours of their offices and learn how things run. Michele also gives us weekly seminars and workshops, training us on necessary skills like portfolio and résumé building or Adobe Creative Suite.

It has only been about a month and a half into the semester, and I have already learned a lot from this program.

Sarah
English Major

 

Entry No. 2 | Oct. 8, 2012

I started interning for the College of Arts and Sciences in spring of 2012 and was accepted as a social media intern. Most of the past and present interns are mass communications majors, so I was the first communication student to intern at the Dean’s office. I proudly represent my major every day and try my best to learn from my surrounding peers with advertising, journalism, and broadcast knowledge.

When you think of social media, you usually do not relate it to the professional world. Before this experience I more so thought of Facebook and Twitter as a fast, assessable way to connect with old acquaintances and reach my friends. I now see social media as a new, vastly advancing channel for business outreach. It is a new form of marketing, journalism and a communication technology that is changing the system. There are not many professional settings where you are expected to be engaged with Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest on the job. So for me, this internship has been a rare educational experience that I appreciate. I have improved on programs that have been helpful to me for the marketing world, like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. My writing skills also have seen improvement over the past few months in the office as well as in the classroom and my résumé has improved each semester since my arrival. This learning experience enhances my understanding of interpersonal and professional communication skills, which I can easily take away and apply to future jobs.

I have been able to combine my educational and professional experience with my creativity to produce work and events that I a proud to be a part of. Two semesters ago, I would never expect to be rapping for a garden cat nor be a part of creating a music video for her. This project had to be my favorite, so far.

However, the greatest parts of my experience are the personal benefits. I have met great and wise individuals, whose encouragement and enthusiasm often help me though the day. This internship as opened my eyes to the ideologies of why we, as a society, use social media and are perhaps even addicted to it in a sense. These thoughts consistently spark my motivation and further my interest in my current field.

Go Bulls!
Carrie
Year: Junior
Majors: Communication and Sociology
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla.

 

Entry No. 1 | Oct. 5, 2012

Welcome to the Dean’s Office Interns’ Blog! We hope this will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what all goes on in the College of Arts and Sciences.

I started this internship program almost two years ago, and it is a great opportunity for our students to gain hands-on experience in public relations, writing, social media, marketing, broadcast journalism and communications. We work in a very collaborative environment and have a lot of fun!

This fall we have 12 talented interns from a variety of majors -- mass communications (PR, broadcast and advertising), communication and English. This blog will be a chance for you to get to know them and see all of the great assignments they are working on.

Michele
Communications and Marketing Director
USF College of Arts and Sciences

P.S. -- We’ll be recruiting interns later this semester for Spring 2013. Be sure to like our Facebook page to find out how to apply.