Alumni Spotlight

1. Name (First and Last)
Betsy Drazner


2. Twitter


3. LinkedIn



Employment Info




4. Employer
Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation


5. Title/Occupation
Communications associate



Academic Info




6. Graduation Year (list as "Month Year")
May 2012


7. Major
News-editorial journalism


8. Minor and/or Certificates



Other Stuff




9. Hometown
Deerfield, IL


10. Hobbies
Reading, dance, learning Spanish



Career Information & Advice


11. What are your job responsibilities/duties?
Writing, editing, taking photos, page design


12. What does a typical day look like?
I work at a nonprofit that sends students in financial need to college on full tuition and housing scholarships. I work on the communications team, and we put our message out in an informative, professional, and eye-catching way. Every day I help create brochures, emails, webpages, handouts, magazines, donors reports, etc. to get information out to donors, students on scholarship and potential donors/scholars.


13. What do you most enjoy about your job?
I get to do a little bit of everything! I also love working for a nonprofit - it's a great working environment - all my co-workers are there for a good cause, which inspires a lot of comradery among us.


14. What is the most difficult aspect of the job?
Learning how a business runs - this was my first job out of college and it took a long time to see how every department and every employee fits together.


15. What on-campus activities were you involved with? Where did you gain relevant experience?
Daily Illini, JAMS, College of Media internship, Office of Admissions internship. These all helped me learn to work meticulously, independently and on a deadline. 

I was also involved in the Illini Swing Society all four years and did Marching Illini for one year.


16. How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your professional life? For this specific position?
I learned everything that was important in writing, editing and page design. I learned how to write well and the difference between writing for print and web (which is important since I probably send out more emails than print items). I also learned how to us InDesign, which is a program I now use every day.


17. What advice do you have for students interested in this field?
Get experience outside the classroom. Figure out what you want to do and find a job, internship or volunteer experience that will help you get related experience. Don't follow the crowd - do what you think will help make you a desirable hiree for the job you want.


18. What is one thing that you know now that you wish you had known when you started in the field? When you graduated from the College?
Keep up with the news - read the paper, listen to the radio or watch TV. It's good to be educated and in the know. It will allow you to be aware of the world around you and participate in conversations on current events. 

Also - get personal with those who you work close with. Wish people happy birthday and get them little gifts if they have a baby!