Alumni Profile

Cheryl Liu

Assistant Media Planner: Rubin Postaer and Associates

What do you feel the marketing department best prepared you for in your professional career?
The variety of classes offered by the marketing department gave me a strong foundation for the job I am currently in right now.

What experience(s) as a college student helped you pick the career path you are in?

I joined the American Advertising Federation on campus as a freshman and was a part of the organization throughout my 4.5 years at The University of Arizona. The club exposed me to not only the ins and outs of the industry, but it also gave me opportunities to meet with advertising agencies in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tucson. The National Student Advertising Competition taught me things that I could not normally learn in a classroom. In addition, I was fortunate enough to have been a part of Arizona Daily Wildcat’s advertising staff which gave me a strong understanding of what it is like to be working in the “real world.” These experiences in addition to my love of all things advertising contributed to my decision of entering into the advertising industry post graduation.

Any words of advice for future Eller Marketing majors?

Take advantage of everything that is offered to you…join the AMA, AAF or SMA. Internships are extremely important – they help you figure out whether or not you really want to be working in marketing/advertising/pr etc. Call up a company that you are interested and see if they have informational interviews – this way, they get to know you and you get to ask them questions about their company. Don’t be shy! Your professors and advisors are there to help you. As long as you are enthusiastic, they are more than willing to help you out.

Can you describe a positive experience that you may have had with the faculty of the Marketing department?

I was fortunate to have met a number of extremely supportive faculty in the marketing department. Michal Strahilevitz helped me get in touch with a former student who was working at Deutsch LA which led to my first advertising internship. She was also there by my side throughout my entire junior and senior years, always offering advice and being critical of my work so that I could learn and improve. Jan Hardesty was my advisor for the entrepreneurship program and was an immense help with the developing of our marketing plan for the program. She was patient and more than willing to dedicate her nights and weekends to my partner and I. Other professors that I have had a first hand experience with (Alan Malter, Lance Erickson, Vic Piscitello, Jennifer Escalas and others have all helped to make my experience with the marketing department truly unique.

For more information contact us.