Marketing Club Brings Classroom Concepts to Life Through Hands-On Experience
Members of the Marketing Club connect about upcoming projects. Photo by Zoey Bochicchio '27.
Marketing Club combines local projects, professional connections and flexible participation opportunities
by Diana Zeppos '28
Marketing is a field that combines creativity, communication and business strategy. At Dickinson, the Dickinson Marketing Club is giving students the opportunity to explore these areas beyond the classroom through hands-on projects, professional connections and collaborations with local businesses.
What makes the Marketing Club different?
What makes the Marketing Club unique is its emphasis on experiential learning. Rather than limiting students to discussions about marketing concepts, the organization allows members to put those ideas into practice. Students can gain experience working with local clients, contributing to social media strategies, creating promotional content and helping plan events.
Through these experiences, members see how marketing decisions translate into real business outcomes while developing skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Why is hands-on experience important?
Working directly with clients gives students experience understanding different audiences, communicating ideas professionally, collaborating with others and developing creative solutions to business needs. It also allows members to build a portfolio of work and gain practical experience they can discuss in future internships and job interviews.
For students interested in pursuing careers in marketing, communications or business, this hands-on experience provides valuable insight into what working in the industry actually looks like. Members can explore different areas of marketing while discovering where their individual interests and strengths align.
Who is the Marketing Club for?
The Marketing Club currently has 15 active members representing a variety of academic backgrounds, from biology and chemistry to international business & management and anthropology. The club is open to students of all majors, not just those interested in pursuing marketing careers. Its focus extends beyond marketing to developing leadership skills, encouraging the exchange of ideas and building relationships within the Dickinson and Carlisle communities. Members also work with their respective clients to organize events, including campus pop-ups, Dickinson student-exclusive events at local shops and other promotional activities.
What inspired the club's president?
For club president Melina Gregory ’28 (international business & management), creating these experiences is a major part of what inspired her to take on a leadership role.
“I'm very passionate about making marketing my career, and Dickinson has facilitated that,” she says.
Gregory brings experience in social media and content creation through her work with C-Luv Thrift. Her background includes creating posts, planning events and developing her proficiency in Canva. She is particularly interested in the fashion industry and appreciates ways to get involved in the creative side of business through marketing.
How can students get involved?
The club also recognizes that members have different schedules, interests and levels of availability. Students can determine their level of commitment while still having opportunities to participate, gain experience and connect with others who share similar interests.
What's next for the Dickinson Marketing Club?
Beyond its local projects, the club's new affiliation with the American Marketing Association (AMA) offers members access to professional development, including conferences and networking with students and marketing professionals from other institutions. The organization hopes to introduce a case competition next semester, bringing students from different colleges together to collaborate on marketing challenges and develop solutions.
To become eligible for the collegiate AMA chapter, students must first become active members of the Dickinson Marketing Club and participate for at least one semester before receiving an invitation.
The Marketing Club welcomes students from all majors and backgrounds who are interested in learning more about marketing. The club also recognizes that students have different schedules and interests, allowing members to choose their level of involvement while still being part of the organization.
Students interested in joining can attend a club meeting to learn more about upcoming projects and ways to participate.
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Published November 11, 2026