A little bit late, but here is my tale of my AEF VPP 2024 experience! I’ve been thinking about this for a few months now!

When I first heard about the AEF Visiting Professor Program, I had just started my assistant professor journey. I remember bookmarking it and thinking, One day…. Finally, after a couple of application attempts, I got accepted into the AEF VPP and in June 2024, I traveled to New York City, stayed at Fordham University and hung out for a week with a cohort of amazing professors from across the country. We visited top agencies (Edelman, McCann & Ogilvy), brands (Lego, NFL, Mastercard, Disney), and media organizations (NYT) to get an inside look at how digital marketing work on the ground. Some highlights? Visiting The New York Times, getting a peek into the creative process at Ogilvy, and hearing how LEGO brings its storytelling to life (I even bought my first LEGO set after that talk!)

Staying current in our field is always a challenge, especially when technology changes so fast. But programs like AEF’s make it a little easier. Since coming back, I’ve been bringing these real-world examples into my public relations classes. You can check out more from the program here, including a few snapshots of our NYC adventures.

To the AEF team and everyone who made this experience possible: thank you 🌸🌸🌸!