UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As a self-proclaimed indecisive person, Penn State Smeal College of Business student marshal Elaina Jowdy was surprised she knew she wanted to study marketing when she started at Penn State.
“As I went along, I wanted to focus more on sports marketing,” Jowdy said. “I love being creative and I love that each brand has its own personality — it’s fun to me.”
Jowdy will graduate Saturday with a 4.0 GPA, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and a minor in digital media trends and analytics.
From Lewiston, New York, Jowdy has involved herself in various organizations throughout her time on campus. She held positions as Penn State Sports and Business Club director of club logistics, Penn State Sports Business Conference marketing and content coordinator, Penn State Prime treasurer, Phi Gamma Nu professional development chair, THON Entertainment Committee and Crowd Focus Group leader and operations assistant.
“I would say the biggest two things Smeal has helped me with are clubs and connections,” Jowdy said. “I definitely took advantage of all of the clubs Smeal offers for students, whether that’s business fraternities or smaller educational clubs. And just being able to network and talk and learn from so many people is so powerful. That’s definitely something I’m grateful Smeal provided me with.”
Through the Smeal Alumni Mentoring Program, the college’s Business Career Center and her professors, Jowdy said she developed professionally.
“The passion that professors and classmates have shown throughout Smeal makes me excited for what I’m learning and the future as well,” Jowdy said.
One of Jowdy’s favorite classes at Smeal was Marketing 95A - Penn State Prime. The class is split into brands and agencies to research and present a pitch at the end of the semester. Jowdy said she enjoyed the hands-on, experiential learning that made her feel like she was in the real workforce.
The class is taught by Jennifer Chang Coupland, clinical professor of marketing, who Jowdy selected as her faculty marshal.
“In carrying the Smeal banner, the student marshal represents all Smeal graduates and the culmination of their achievements and hard work,” Coupland said. “Elaina is the perfect representation — she personifies academic success and dedication to Smeal and Penn State in her various student leadership roles. I was so thrilled to hear that Elaina was selected to be student marshal. She is so deserving of this title, and I can’t wait to see her very bright future unfold.”
In addition to Jowdy’s extensive involvement at Penn State, her qualifications are further demonstrated through various awards she has received:
- Scholar Athlete Award
- George Eastman Young Leaders Award
- RIT Innovation and Creativity Award
After graduation, Jowdy will work as a media analyst for Overtime, a sports media company based in Brooklyn, New York.
Jowdy shared a favorite memory of the Smeal experience was just walking through the Business Building.
“If that’s you studying at the high-top tables or in office hours, just walking through the Business Building and seeing your friends and professors,” Jowdy said. “It’s very much a community and everyone’s there to help each other grow. Everyone there is so driven and passionate about what they do — and once you’re surrounded by that energy, it’s really empowering and motivating. It’s inspiring.”