Clemson’s 10-month Master of Science in Marketing program equips students with hands-on experience, advanced marketing skills, and meaningful professional development. Below, hear directly from two recent graduates, Grace Gabaldon and Payton Griffin, about their journeys, their time in the program, and where they are now.
Grace Gabaldon
When Grace started at Clemson, she already knew she’d be graduating early. During her freshman year, she met Professor Cauley, who became a mentor to her, and was introduced to the accelerated MSM program. With a long-standing passion for marketing and a desire to stay at Clemson for four full years, the program felt like the perfect fit. It also gave her the chance to strengthen her résumé, build real experience, and stay competitive in the job market.
Grace says nearly every course helped prepare her for the real world thanks to the program’s emphasis on real clients and projects. The Practicum course, in particular, helped tie everything together by giving her long-term client exposure and team-based experience.
One major benefit was the flexible schedule, which allowed her to work two jobs; one as a Graduate Assistant for Clemson’s Graduate School Marketing and Communications team, and another as an Apprentice/Junior Strategist at Team One advertising agency. These roles taught her essential skills in time management, prioritization, and teamwork.
Grace also served on the Student Leadership Committee, organizing events and collaborating with program leaders to help shape the MSM experience alongside her engaged cohort.
Grace is now a Consumer Insights & Research Associate at the NFL, a role she once considered her “dream job.” She uses skills gained in consumer behavior, marketing research, and analytics every day. The CI team acts as the voice of the fans, and Grace spends her time uncovering insights that guide major business decisions.
She credits the MSM program for helping her stand out among candidates who typically need 2–3 years of experience. Her advice to current Clemson students: trust your path, don’t compare yourself to others, and be patient in the job search. “The hours are long, but the payoff is worth it,” she says. “I didn’t have a job lined up at graduation, but now I’m at NFL HQ in NYC, doing what I love.”
Payton Griffin
After completing an internship post-undergrad, Payton realized he wanted a deeper understanding of the strategies behind marketing tactics. While researching graduate opportunities, he discovered the MSM program and quickly realized it offered more than résumé enhancement. The experience helped him discover the areas he was truly drawn to, including market research, marketing statistics, promotional strategy, and digital media planning. He describes the program as “a telescope, zooming in on the details that create value for consumers and audiences.”
Payton found that courses like Marketing Practicum, Promotional Strategy, and Digital Marketing prepared him especially well for his career. Their hands-on, collaborative approach pushed him to test new strategies, work closely with peers, and proactively think through the insights clients would find most important. He notes that while these courses stood out, the curriculum as a whole worked together to build a comprehensive foundation; a “tool belt” of marketing skills.
Today, Payton works in creative project management within advertising, collaborating with strategists, client service teams, coders, proofreaders, creative talent, and clients to bring campaigns to life. His Clemson experience taught him that value is subjective, and that understanding what audiences care about most is essential—in both marketing and everyday life.
