While majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Corporate Strategy as an undergraduate at Vanderbilt, Jocelin Clayton realized that her career interest was where those two disciplines intersected: Marketing. She also knew that she had a passion for the beauty industry.

There was just one problem. Since Vanderbilt does not offer an undergraduate business degree, “I felt as though I lacked knowledge and experience that could really propel me in the right direction,” she says.

Then, during her junior year, she heard about the MMark at Owen – and attended an information session about the program before it was even launched. Right away, she knew it was “the perfect post-grad step” for her. And she found the idea of having two Vanderbilt degrees in less than two years extremely appealing.

The “team-building atmosphere” at Owen, as Jocelin describes it, was a major plus. “No matter who you talk to – faculty, students, alumni – you get the sense that everyone genuinely wants you to succeed,” she says.

She found that to be especially true of the people in the Career Management Center, who helped connect her to the right people in her chosen field. “Since the day I was admitted,” she says, Read McNamara served as a constant help about the beauty industry and the opportunities within it. He introduced me to an Owen alum who was extremely helpful with my networking process. The Marketing CMC coach, Megan Nichols, recognized my passion for the beauty industry early on and has gone above and beyond for me, like getting me a seat at the table for a luncheon with the Executive Vice President of Estée Lauder.”

By the spring of 2016, Jocelin was completing an internship in New York that involved participating in Fashion Week. And within several weeks of graduation, she was back in NYC – with a permanent job in the industry in which she hopes to make a career.

Fun Fact: During her internship with Kelly Cutrone, best known for her reality TV show Kellon Earth and appearances on America’s Top Model, Jocelin had the opportunity to fulfill a dream of working New York City’s Fashion Week.”

“No matter who you talk to – faculty, students, alumni – you get the sense that everyone genuinely wants you to succeed.”