{"id":1096,"date":"2019-03-26T00:00:31","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T00:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/?p=1096"},"modified":"2020-04-21T23:52:42","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T23:52:42","slug":"massey20190326","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/2019\/03\/26\/massey20190326\/","title":{"rendered":"Lauren Massey"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_1100\" style=\"width: 211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1100\" class=\"wp-image-1100\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/LaurenMasseyHeadshot-e1551134904340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"210\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1100\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lauren Massey (2018).<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Lauren Massey is an Account Supervisor at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intouchsol.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Intouch Solutions<\/a>, a digital marketing agency in Kansas City, where she has been the last 4 years. In this role she has helped plan, implement and manage social media campaigns, website updates, video development, and email and media campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys attempting to do DIY house projects, listening to podcasts, baking, and spending time outside.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What year did you graduate and what was your concentration?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I graduated in May 2012 with a concentration in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truman.edu\/majors-programs\/majors-minors\/communication-major\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Public Communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What extra-\/co-curricular activities did you do?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I was involved in Greek life as a member of <a href=\"http:\/\/alphasigmaalpha.truman.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alpha Sigma Alpha<\/a> social sorority, holding a chair on the <a href=\"http:\/\/nphc.truman.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Panhellenic Council<\/a> and was elected VP of External Communications for Order of Omega, the Greek Honors fraternity. I also served as Communication Director for <a href=\"http:\/\/senate.truman.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Student Senate<\/a> and was a member of <a href=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/LPHTSU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lambda Pi Eta<\/a>, the Communication honor society.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1101\" style=\"width: 609px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1101\" class=\"wp-image-1101\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Alpha-Sigma-Alpha-100-Years-2014-e1551135069343.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"599\" height=\"318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Alpha-Sigma-Alpha-100-Years-2014-e1551135069343.jpg 871w, https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Alpha-Sigma-Alpha-100-Years-2014-e1551135069343-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Alpha-Sigma-Alpha-100-Years-2014-e1551135069343-768x408.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1101\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lauren (front left) celebrating 100 years of \u0391\u03a3\u0391 with her sorority sisters (2014).<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">Did you go to grad school? If so, where?\u00a0 Was it immediately after you left Truman or did you wait?\u00a0 Why?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No, but I haven\u2019t completely ruled it out.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What was your first job after graduation?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I was hired towards the end of my senior year as a Delivery Consultant for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cerner.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cerner Corporation<\/a>, a healthcare technology company in Kansas City. In that role I served as the primary contact with clients during their design, development and implementation of healthcare EMR systems.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What work do you do\/What are you doing now?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1103\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1103\" class=\"wp-image-1103\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-at-Intouch.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-at-Intouch.jpg 960w, https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-at-Intouch-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-at-Intouch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-at-Intouch-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1103\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lauren (far left) and some Intouch coworkers &#8220;adulting&#8221; by competing in their own Hot Dog Derby during the 2015 World Series.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After a couple years of \u201cadulting,\u201d I craved a career change, looking for a creative role where I could leverage my client-facing and technical skills. I joined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intouchsol.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Intouch Solutions<\/a>, a digital marketing agency, in the fall of 2014 and have been there ever since. I\u2019m currently an Account Supervisor where I plan, help execute and manage our clients\u2019 digital marketing campaigns. I love that I get to collaborate with different internal departments to ensure projects are on-strategy, because I get to learn a little bit of everything digital as I go.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">How has your Liberal Arts\/COMM education helped you?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My liberal arts education taught me how to think critically which is a skill that has helped me while problem solving, brainstorming, and analyzing in the workplace. My Communication degree taught me different ways to express a thought\/idea which has been invaluable in my career and life in general.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">Which class did you dislike at the time you took it, but now you\u2019re grateful you took it?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I thoroughly enjoyed my Comm classes; however,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/catalog.truman.edu\/content.php?filter%5B27%5D=COMM&amp;filter%5B29%5D=382&amp;filter%5Bcourse_type%5D=-1&amp;filter%5Bkeyword%5D=&amp;filter%5B32%5D=1&amp;filter%5Bcpage%5D=1&amp;cur_cat_oid=14&amp;expand=&amp;navoid=681&amp;search_database=Filter#acalog_template_course_filter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Communication Theory<\/a> seemed pretty intimidating at first (sorry, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truman.edu\/faculty-staff\/selfjw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dr. Self<\/a>).\u00a0 As soon as I got the hang of it, though, I found it tremendously useful in life.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What was your greatest accomplishment at Truman?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1104\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1104\" class=\"wp-image-1104 \" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-PR-Department-Headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"338\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1104\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lauren&#8217;s headshot from the Truman PR Department (2011).<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In the fall of my senior year I interned at <a href=\"http:\/\/newsletter.truman.edu\/article.asp?id=6402\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Truman\u2019s Public Relations department<\/a>. This was an incredible opportunity where I was able to earn credit hours and work the majority of my days in the office. I wrote and produced the <a href=\"http:\/\/newsletter.truman.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Truman Today <\/em><\/a>newsletters, drafted press releases, and was involved in a couple of fun side projects in the office.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll always be grateful for my time at the PR department. It helped me prepare to work in the industry.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">Why is Truman a good place for a student to study?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Truman\u2019s liberal arts education provides students the opportunity to dip their toes in subjects beyond their majors. I took a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truman.edu\/majors-programs\/majors-minors\/justice-systems-major\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justice Systems<\/a> classes, water coloring, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/catalog.truman.edu\/content.php?filter%5B27%5D=MUSI&amp;filter%5B29%5D=202&amp;filter%5Bcourse_type%5D=-1&amp;filter%5Bkeyword%5D=&amp;filter%5B32%5D=1&amp;filter%5Bcpage%5D=1&amp;cur_cat_oid=14&amp;expand=&amp;navoid=681&amp;search_database=Filter#acalog_template_course_filter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">history of jazz<\/a> to name a few. I picked up quite a few interests throughout my years at Truman.<\/p>\n<p>I also loved that all students were eager to learn. I always felt comfortable asking questions and having open dialogue in my classes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What would you say a COMM student should <u>absolutely<\/u> do while at Truman?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Check out all of the opportunities the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truman.edu\/majors-programs\/majors-minors\/communication-major\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">COMM department<\/a> has to offer!<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What advice would you give someone who wants to go into the same line of work as you?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s okay if you don\u2019t end up immediately right where you planned. Just work hard, build relationships and keep learning and you\u2019ll do great things. Always be prepared and stay organized.<\/p>\n<p>Find an organization where you feel comfortable being yourself and feel set up to succeed. There are times where you work long hours and it\u2019s important that you feel good in your environment.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1105\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1105\" class=\"wp-image-1105 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-Homecoming-2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-Homecoming-2011.jpg 206w, https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/files\/2019\/02\/Lauren-Homecoming-2011-145x300.jpg 145w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1105\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lauren and a friend after being crowned Homecoming Queen (2011).<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What do you miss most about campus\/Kirksville?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I miss how close everything was in proximity and the tight-knit community. Campus always felt like home and it was great seeing familiar faces everywhere I went.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I miss exam treats. Those were the best.\u00a0 (<em>Editor&#8217;s note:<\/em> What are exam treats and how can I get some?)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What tag line would you create for the COMM department at Truman?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Welcome to the COMMuniverse.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">If you could come back to Truman and teach a class for a semester, what would be its title and what would it be about?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Microsoft Excel for COMM:\u00a0 This class is for students who have <strong>no<\/strong> interest in taking a business class, but will inevitably have to use this dang software in the future.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399\">What did we not ask that you think is important for people to know?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think it\u2019s important to note that your Communication degree can take you <strong><em>so <\/em><\/strong>many different directions. Don\u2019t be afraid to look for unique opportunities.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #000080\">If you would like to learn more of Lauren&#8217;s story, or if\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"color: #000080\">you want to learn more about the Department of Communication, contact us!<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lauren Massey is an Account Supervisor at Intouch Solutions, a digital marketing agency in Kansas City, where she has been the last 4 years. In this role she has helped plan, implement and manage social media campaigns, website updates, video development, and email and media campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys attempting to do &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/2019\/03\/26\/massey20190326\/\">Read More <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":497,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50608],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-watdn"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/497"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1096"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1859,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1096\/revisions\/1859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.truman.edu\/commspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}