Halfway through her junior year at Clemson, when she was serving as director of public relations for her business fraternity, Casey Jason realized that accounting was not the path she wanted to pursue. She actually was in love with marketing. “I loved the creativity and connections I was able to develop in marketing,” she says, “so I switched my major.”

To gain the additional knowledge and experience she knew she would need for a career, Casey explored graduate programs. Right away, the MMark at Vanderbilt stood out—not least, she says, because Nashville’s “amazing food and drink scene” presented natural advantages to someone who hopes to build a career in the food and beverage industry. She was also drawn to the school’s reputation, course offerings that aligned with her interests, and a program that “allowed for students to really be involved in its development and growth.”

One of the program’s other unique attributes—the emphasis on experiential learning—became a highlight of Casey’s year in the program. “I really enjoyed Brand Week and getting a taste of real-life marketing,” she says. “Getting to further the connections I was developing with my cohort while helping companies tackle marketing problems was one of my favorite experiences.”

The program’s built-in internship enabled Casey to gain even more real-world experience—tailored to her interests. During her work as an intern with Island Brands USA, she led a successful remote initiative promoting the company’s new beer.

She was also excited about one other opportunity—to work as a student admissions coordinator. “Getting the opportunity to work with potential students and support the growth of the program was important for me when I was choosing a program,” she says, “so I was particularly grateful for this experience."

Fun Fact: Casey looks to cook, experimenting with recipes and even developing her own.

Getting to further the connections I was developing with my cohort while helping companies tackle marketing problems was one of my favorite experiences.