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Andrea Castrejon took an active approach to her education, building and refining her skills through coursework, campus leadership roles and hands-on client work before graduating from ���������ƽ��’s Bachelor of Digital Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising program in 2026. As a RISE intern, she translated that preparation into tangible impact, working directly with small businesses and discovering how strategy and creativity meet in real time.

“My interest in digital marketing and public relations really started with my parents being entrepreneurial,” Castrejon says. “Growing up around business, I later realized I also loved the creative side. That’s what led me to digital marketing and PR.”

That dual perspective shaped her experience at ���������ƽ��, where she sought programs that emphasized hands-on learning. “When applying to college, I was really looking for hands-on opportunities,” she says. “Once I saw that ���������ƽ�� offered a student programming board and strong internship connections, I knew it was a good fit for me.”

Inside the classroom, Castrejon found a program that pushed her to develop both technical and interpersonal skills. “The digital marketing major or program is very accessible,” she says. “There’s a lot of both opportunities to either be in person or online.” Her coursework emphasized communication and confidence as much as content creation. “My favorite professor was definitely Journalism professor John Fountain,” she says. “He taught media writing. He really pushed me to interview strangers. I feel like that made me a little bit more confident.”

Faculty and staff mentorship were central to her growth beyond academics as well. “My favorite thing about ���������ƽ�� has definitely been the people from the marketing department through the RISE department and the student involvement as well,” Castrejon says. “I feel like they’ve all really fostered a great support system.” She also highlights mentors who shaped her leadership development. Director of Student Engagement and Orientation Kayla Linsner “gave me a lot of creative freedom,” she says, adding that her colleague Social Media Communications Specialist Nisa Theard “made it easier for me and just more fun” when she joined the social media team. Here’s what Nisa had to say about her time working with Andrea: 

“Working with Andrea was an absolute joy! She consistently applied what she learned in the classroom to the content she created for ���������ƽ��’s social media channels. She wasn’t afraid to ask questions, voice her ideas and showcase her creativity. Those qualities made her a valuable addition to the team and helped us strengthen our connection with the RU community.” 

Castrejon’s experience extended across campuses and communities. “My favorite thing about the Chicago campus is definitely the location. There’re so many opportunities that it offers,” she says. Through RISE, she also built connections with businesses connected to the Schaumburg area. Reflecting on a networking event tied to that community, she says, “Getting to know everyone that is part of the RISE program was really nice. I got to meet a lot of people.”

The RISE internship became the bridge between theory and execution. “RISE pairs interns with small businesses, giving you the opportunity to work with them directly throughout the semester.”

Castrejon worked with both an apparel brand and a bakery (often at the same time), developing marketing strategies and content that reflected each brand’s voice.

Her ���������ƽ�� education proved essential in that environment. “I feel like my capstone class really prepared me,” she says. “I already knew kind of how to go on about creating content and a marketing plan.” She also gained new technical skills. “I did learn a lot about working with websites, and also communication skills, like actually outreaching to people.”

Most importantly, the experience sharpened her professional instincts. “The biggest thing I learned was definitely being able to balance everything out,” she says. “Strategy came a lot with it as well.”

Looking ahead, Castrejon is ready to bring that balance of creativity and strategy into the industry. “I really want to work with different kinds of clients and businesses,” she says. With a foundation built on mentorship, real-world experience and initiative, she leaves ���������ƽ�� prepared to do exactly that.