I will be teaching my two traditional classes during the fall semester (Introduction to Strategic Communication and Public Relations and Crisis Communication). This is usually the time where I do most of my research and getting ready for my teaching semester in the spring with my two social media classes. Even though I have been at the University of Louisville for eight years, I have traditionally not done independent studies. I have done a few over the years mostly for graduate students, but I had not done an independent study for an undergraduate student.
Until this upcoming fall semester.
This fall, I will be doing an independent study focused on influencer marketing and campaign execution with one of my former #FrebergAlum students, Candice Champlin.
Each student who has come into my social media classes over the years have been remarkable and very hard working. However, I think Candice does set the bar pretty high for not only working hard, but also taking the time to go the extra effort.
Just to give you all an idea of the work ethic Candice has:
- She was taking about 24 units during the Fall 2018 semester (which included my PR class with the Breeders’ Cup);
- She was a group leader for The Breeders’ Cup and was interviewed by the media and with Adobe for our work on Adobe Rush;
- She owns her own agency called Speckled Social and has her own clients in the US and around world (she was in Milan earlier this year helping out a conference there with their social media);
- She works and volunteers at various small businesses and and vet hospitals in Kentucky.
- She’s done several internships in social, including being part of the Kentucky Derby social media team this year.
- She is just starting her senior year in college.
So, you can see here – Candice is definitely setting the bar pretty high as far as work experience and ethic. You may be asking yourself – why the independent study? First, Candice has taken three of my classes already and this will her fourth with me. She has expressed an interest in learning more about influencer marketing, but there is not an official class for that at UofL (*yet*). Second, she has already taking my PR class this fall, and we will be working with Facebook as our class client.
So, Candice will be not only the TA for the class, but will also have specific projects focusing on creating influencer marketing initiatives, ideas, and proposals related for the client. This will give her an incredible opportunity to be able to work on a project in influencer marketing as well as be able to list she’s been able to work with Facebook as a client. In my world, that’s a big win on the job market!
I’ve been designing the influencer independent study format, structure, and list of expectations, and even though it’s not a 30+ page syllabus (which my social media class has been rumored to have!), this independent study has given me some ideas of how to structure a course that brings together research, creative strategy, and innovative execution in an area that is very prominent in our industry.
With a mixture of case studies, guides, videos, Cannes Lions materials, industry reports, documentaries, and readings – it’s a comprehensive overview of influencer marketing from start to finish for the course of the semester.
Stay tuned for more updates and fellow professionals in the industry – keep you eye out for Candice – she’s going to be changing the game for our industry with her work ethic, creative insights, and global work experience.
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
