March 31, 2026
Contact: Sara Diedrich, diedrichs@missouri.edu
Photo by Joey Yancey and Michaela Chittakhone
If you’ve ever wondered who the creative minds are behind the University of Missouri’s Instagram stories, TikTok videos and Facebook posts, here’s a hint: They’re homegrown Tigers. These student interns work with full-time digital communications professionals to help put the “social” into Mizzou’s social media, capturing the energy of campus through “man on the street” reels featuring fellow students. From brainstorming fresh ideas to designing eye-catching graphics, they help grow Mizzou’s online community while showcasing the spirit of campus life.
These students serve as an official “face” for Mizzou’s primary social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok. Here’s an overview of their responsibilities:
- Assisting in creating and scheduling content across social media platforms.
- Ideating and creating short-form videos such as “man-on-the-street” content.
- Designing graphics and writing captions for social posts.
- Monitoring social media trends and suggesting relevant content ideas.
- Brainstorming creative concepts to support growth and engagement.
- Collaborating with different teams on content initiatives.
- Maintaining a consistent brand voice.
Joey Yancey
What is your hometown and major?
I’m from Chesterfield, Missouri, and my major is journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication and minors in sociology and digital storytelling.
What’s something you’ve learned through this experience that you didn’t expect?
I’ve learned to embrace the awkwardness of life. Approaching people to be interviewed and filming scripted content in front of hundreds of people in the Student Center can be uncomfortable sometimes. Serving in this role requires us to work through those awkward moments, which has made me a more confident and open-minded person. Mizzou social media has given me the ability to approach almost anyone.
What’s your favorite part about being on the social media team at Mizzou?
There are many aspects of this role that I absolutely love, but my favorite part is the opportunity to amplify the voices of others at Mizzou. Even if only for a brief moment, the microphone we carry can be a powerful tool for bringing out the best in others and showcasing the spirit of our institution. Mizzou is strengthened by its multifaceted student body. Serving as a face of the Mizzou brand and its students is a privilege and an incredible opportunity that is never lost on me. I will miss this role — and all the fun opportunities that come with it — when I graduate from Mizzou in May.
Michaela Chittakhone
What is your hometown and major?
I am from St. Louis, and my major is business administration with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in journalism.
What’s something you’ve learned through this experience that you didn’t expect?
One thing I’ve learned through this internship that I didn’t expect is just how powerful social media can be for a large institution such as Mizzou. Before this role, I managed social media for several organizations, but nothing on the scale of Mizzou’s platforms. Those accounts primarily reached current members, and their audiences rarely extended beyond that community. Now, working with Mizzou’s accounts — which have more than 181,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok alone — I’ve seen firsthand how content can shape perception, build community and even influence prospective students. With an audience that large, every post carries weight. It has made me much more thoughtful and strategic about what we share, knowing that our content reflects the university as a whole and reaches far beyond current students.
What’s your favorite part about being on the social media team at Mizzou?
I have been blessed with such a great team to work with, which I believe is at the root of why my job as a social media intern is so fun. Whenever I come into work, it doesn’t actually feel like work —– it feels like something I get to do, not something I have to do. Everyone is so supportive, creative and genuinely passionate about what we’re producing, and that energy makes a huge difference. We’re constantly bouncing ideas off each other, laughing in between deadlines and pushing one another to make our content better. It never feels competitive; it feels collaborative and motivating. Knowing I’m surrounded by people who trust me, challenge me and celebrate the wins with me makes this role so much more meaningful. My job wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable without them.
