New FTPP marketing intern happy to gain real-world experience
“I feel like I’m receiving real-world experience that I know will prepare me for when I graduate and go on to my career,” says Rebecca Anderson, the new summer intern in marketing for Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP), a National Science Foundation grant that’s managed at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
A senior at Alabama A&M University majoring in business administration with a concentration in management information systems, Anderson was born and reared in Dallas, Texas. She plans to graduate this fall.
“I’m enjoying everything about this internship so far,” says Anderson, noting that her supervisor, FTPP Education Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Laura Provenzani, “has been extremely helpful and kind throughout this whole process.”
“We are thrilled that Rebecca has joined us for the summer internship,” Provenzani says. “She has been very enthusiastic, and I look forward to working together with her on several important projects.”
Provenzani put her to work “from day one,” Anderson says. She has already completed a booklet for the International Space Weather Camp later this month.
“This was not a small task whatsoever, and I faced many challenges being in charge of something so significant. Besides the booklet, I’ve written an article, sent out many emails, created surveys – the list goes on.”
passion for technology
Her interest in the internship sprang from a passion for technology and seeing how the world works with it in daily life.
“Marketing, business and research have always been passions of mine,” Anderson says. “Having the opportunity to get hands-on experience with professionals in these fields is what interested me the most.”
Anderson says words can’t describe her emotions when she received the acceptance email after interviewing with Provenzani and Veronica Belser, who assists FTPP with research administration.
“I was at the bank on the phone with my mom when the congratulations letter popped up. If it weren’t for the location, I would have screamed in excitement.”
At FTPP, she feels like she is included in the marketing process every step of the way. One of her first experiences was a tour of the UAH campus.
“I was so shocked by how big and beautiful everything was,” Anderson says.
“Being that Laura attended UAH, hearing all the fun facts about the buildings from a past alumna made the tour even more informative for me. It’s funny because out of the three years of living in Huntsville, this was my first time looking at the campus.”
Her summertime experience will help Anderson as she works toward her career goal.
“My future career plans are to contribute to the fields of marketing and business management by increasing my knowledge, strengthening my leadership and deepening my understanding of innovative business strategies.”