Today I spent the afternoon in Dempsey Hall at UW Oshkosh interviewing seniors in the Journalism Department for a mock interview session. It was extremely interesting for me to chat with them about their thoughts on social media, how they use it to help brand themeselves and what they're doing to network in the community.
Surprisingly, only one out of the four students really utilized Twitter to benefit her personal brand. Overall, I'm learning that not many students use Twitter. Most don't understand what it is or what the point of it even is. My goal is to help change that on campus. 
I think Twitter is a great networking tool and much more effective than email. Since you only have 140 characters to work with, your message is strategic, short and to the point. It's great! 
I'm looking forward to seeing what the Journalism Department will bring to the table to aid students in social networking etiquette and the basics on how to use networking sites.
I also noticed that each of them were knowledgeable in graphic design, photography, writing and marketing. I was impressed by this because it definitely will give them a cutting edge against their competitor who only knows how to write. 
My goal in my job is to become a trusted resource for current students and help them get answers, critique resumes and educate them on the proper ways to use social media for professional purposes. I'm looking forward to meeting new students and collaborating with others on campus to help make this happen.

This week started out with tough deadlines, long hours and ear infections and ended with an amazing day spent with new friends, my intern and experts in my field.
Today I was lucky enough to attend the Public Relations + Social Media Summit put on by Comet Branding and Big Shoes Network at Marquette University. It was filled with amazing speakers, local and regional professionals and, of course, lots of tweeting. I learned so much and was extremely happy that I decided to make the trip down to Milwaukee - even if I had to white-knuckle it the whole way through this morning's wonderful April snow shower.
One reoccuring thought I had throughout the day was, "How the hell do they have time for all this!?" As a fairly new mom of two daughters under the age of 3, I find it a huge accomplishment if I can get to work on time each day let alone tend to my daily duties AND tweet AND stay current with new trends and current events. What's a girl to do?
Amber Naslund (@ambercadabra) from Radian 6 told us that between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. she turns her phone and computer off so her daughter has her undivided attention. She even mentioned that she puts availability hours in her Twitter handlebar to show her Twitter hours. I thought that was pretty smart. I love staying up-to-date and in the fray with what my social networks are doing but let's be real, I have a job and students to tend to during the day. I can't be updating Hootsuite every five minutes!
Sarah Evans (@prsarahevans) from Sevans Strategy told us that she sometimes checks Twitter only two to three times a day if she has a deadline or client meetings. It was such a relief to know that the Twilebrities are human, too. 
So, as a result to all this craziness today, I'd like to pose a question to all the successful Public Relations/Social Media experts out there (ehem...Lisa Cruz, Jess Dennis and TommyTRC):
How do you make time for your children and become so successful in your career without driving your spouse crazy? I know there have been plenty of times where my husband has begged me to put the electronic devices down and just watch Open Season with him and the girls. Fill me in! In the meantime, I'll keep the work I do at home to a minimum and heed your advice when it comes in.

As you may know, I am the marketing manager for Reeve Union, the student Union at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. I am also a 2006 alum from the Department of Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising.

Although I've had some pretty amazing jobs in my career, I'd have to say that this position is by far a diamond in the rough - and I love diamonds.
I run a small marketing department that consists of two marketing assistants, four graphic designers and three social media interns. I also work closely with two web developers to ensure our web site is always looking fresh, clean and up-to-date.

Not many people can say that they actually do what they were taught in college on a daily basis. On any given day you'll find me writing ad copy, editing press releases and articles, proofing posters, shooting videos and planning major community events. It's crazy and chaotic but I love it and it's exactly what I went to school for.

My student employees are a huge part of what makes my job so enjoyable. From playing in the local orchestra to winning national running championships, my students are diverse, intelligent and extremely talented.
 
This morning I met with one of my social media interns as he wanted to interview me for an alumni blog he is helping out with in the Journalism Department. He texted me later asking for some pictures of me that he could post to the blog. Apparently I didn't have a million other things to do because my marketing assistant and I grabbed some random things in my office and had a little fun. I also included photos of some of my students.

Check them out and give me a shout if you ever want to talk about social media, marketing, Reeve Union or the like. Cheers!