“While Stetson has long had an American Marketing Association chapter,” noted Dr. Jones, “we chose to reposition the club to offer many more interactions with practitioners, opportunities to participate in competition teams, and to further increase consulting services we offer to organizations both on campus and off. As a department, we also wanted to provide those opportunities to more students outside of marketing and first-year students who are still undecided but anxious to get involved.”

As emphasized by new club President Elizaveta Garifullina, “My goal is to create a welcoming community where students at any stage of their career journey—whether just starting or bringing years of experience—can come together to learn, share, and grow. By fostering an environment of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we’ll bridge the gap between academic knowledge and hands-on experience. Our mission is to apply our best efforts to support campus organizations, enhancing their branding and making a tangible impact in our community.”

To that end, members of the club have already participated in three site visits in the fall semester (Innovated Studios, Holoscape, and EA Sports), with a visit scheduled with marketing leaders at Disney in January. Members of the club will also travel to New York City in February for an extensive two-day visit with marketing experts in a wide range of fields. “Being part of the Marketing Club in an area brimming with companies and non-profit organizations feels like great luck—it’s an opportunity to gain real-world experience and learn in a place where the opportunities are endless,” said Kira Zaitsava, who exemplifies the open membership of the club as a student majoring in Business Systems and Analytics while also participating in the Bonner and Honor Scholar programs at Stetson.

Members of the club have also developed working groups focused on soliciting consulting proposals, which may be worked on by the club or passed along to faculty teaching other marketing courses infused with real-world projects and consulting experiences. Other members of the club have formed a competition team to prepare for Marketing case competitions, while a third working group in the club consists of volunteers providing consulting support for the Hatter Angel Network.

As noted by club member and digital arts major Isabela Colombo, “The Marketing Club provides an incredible opportunity for hands-on learning in marketing. We collaborate with real clients, connect with industry professionals, and use our skills to support Stetson by taking on projects that benefit the campus and local community. I’m thrilled to be part of this experience and to make a meaningful impact through our work.

If you want to know more about the club or join it, contact Dr. Scott Jones at [email protected].