April 2, 2025
Contact: Sara Diedrich, diedrichs@missouri.edu
Mary Clare Lacke attributes her smooth transition into a successful career to the invaluable internships and hands-on learning experiences she gained at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. During her time at Mizzou, Lacke had several internships, including one at Kendra Scott, where she now works full time as a content creator specialist.
“Interning at my company allowed me to familiarize myself with the culture, understand the team dynamics and get a strong grasp of the work environment before stepping into a full-time role,” she said.
While not every internship leads directly to a job offer, it’s a valuable opportunity to showcase skills, work ethic and the unique qualities one can bring to the job.
Lacke also said her experience in MOJO Ad, which serves as a capstone course for seniors studying strategic communications, provided her with the opportunity to develop a full ad campaign for a real client before graduation.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the guidance and experience I gained during my four years at Mizzou,” Lacke said. “I can’t express enough how well-prepared Mizzou made me feel for the workforce.”
Read on for a Q&A with Lacke.
What made you choose Mizzou?
I chose Mizzou because of all the outstanding things I heard about the Missouri School of Journalism. In high school, I had a passion and knack for writing, and I figured pursuing journalism would be a great fit for me. They also offered a great out-of-state academic scholarship — the Mark Twain Scholarship — making the decision even easier for me.
Were you involved in any clubs or activities on campus? If so, what were they, and how did they impact your experience?
I participated in Greek life through my sorority, Alpha Phi, where I served as vice president of membership and recruitment as well as director of social media, which directly aligned with my career aspirations. I loved being a member of my sorority because it gave me an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging on campus and the ability to meet lifelong friends. Serving as a leader in Alpha Phi allowed me to strengthen my leadership skills while gaining valuable experiences and insights that have become key talking points in job interviews. I was also a dancer on Mizzou Club Dance team and became the organization’s social media manager. I enjoyed being a part of the team because it allowed me to continue my lifelong passion for dancing and to meet some of my best friends.
Tell us about your career and what you do as a content creator specialist.
As a content creator specialist for Kendra Scott, I help run their social media accounts alongside my amazing social team. My days consist of planning, ideating, shooting and editing content that will appear on social media and other marketing avenues such as email and retail signage. I also capture content at various events, such as influencer events, brand activations and more. Every day looks a bit different, but it’s always fun. I love the company I work for, the people I work alongside, and constantly learning and growing within my role every day.
How did Mizzou help you achieve your career goals?
I had the pleasure of learning from some of the best professors. From Professor Brad Best’s insightful digital strategy courses — where I learned the power of key words, search engine optimization and digital positioning — to Professor Jon Stemmle’s public relations courses — which taught me how to leverage media and communicate brand goals creatively — my education has been rich with invaluable lessons. But the highlight was MOJO Ad, what is (in my humble opinion) the best collegiate capstone program for strategic communication in the country. There, I had the opportunity to develop a full campaign for a real client, gaining a fully immersive agency experience before graduation and getting the opportunity to present our work on a large scale. Jim and Jamie Flink were also amazing professors. Jamie was an amazing leader to look up to in the MOJO Ad program. In my senior year, I challenged myself by taking Jim’s video production and editing course, which pushed me to diversify my video capturing and editing skills.
What advice would you give to students pursuing or considering a degree in journalism at Mizzou?
I highly encourage getting involved in as many clubs, organizations, internships and extracurricular activities as you can. My experience with Mizzou clubs and organizations was so positive and enriching, leading to great experiences and friendships.
However, my biggest recommendation is to seek out internships and professional experiences as they offer invaluable hands-on learning that’s difficult to replicate in a classroom. During my time at Mizzou, I completed two summer internships, both of which were extended into part-time roles during the following school year. One of those internships — with Kendra Scott — led to the full-time job I have today.
My first internship as a social media intern with Claire’s provided incredible insight into the world of corporate social media. It allowed me to tap into my creative side, contribute ideas that were not only valued but implemented by my team, and even led to an unexpected highlight — being featured in The New York Times and appearing on NYC’s ABC7 news to discuss Gen Z and TikTok in the corporate world. Claire’s extended my role into my junior year, further deepening my real-world experience and strengthening my skills in the field.
That experience led to my current position with at Kendra Scott — a job I don’t think I would have landed without my internship experience at Claire’s. I recommend searching for internships and professional experiences as soon as you can — sooner than you may think you’re even “qualified” for one. To those experiencing self-doubt in the internship process, I encourage you to remember that these companies aren’t expecting you to come in knowing everything. Rather, they’re expecting you to come in eager and willing to learn. So, do everything in your power to communicate your enthusiasm for the role and your readiness to take on anything they throw at you.
Although I secured both positions through LinkedIn postings, I highly recommend making connections wherever possible. Leverage Mizzou alumni, professors and LinkedIn. People are far more likely to vouch for you when they can put a face to a name and see your potential firsthand. Most importantly, put yourself out there! Seek experiences that will strengthen your resume and give you meaningful talking points for interviews. Eventually, you’ll discover your strengths and weaknesses and learn what you like and don’t like.
