By Laine Brennan, Marketing Major, UPIC Intern for the Department of Marketing, Class of 2026
Even in just one academic year at Clemson, Gail Green made a lasting impact by fully embracing opportunities to connect, lead, and grow within the university community. As a graduate student in the M.S. Marketing program, she stepped beyond the classroom to serve as a Senator in the Graduate Student Government, building relationships with fellow students and local leaders while contributing to meaningful campus initiatives. From hands-on coursework with community partners to pursuing her passion for research, Gail’s experience reflects a strong sense of purpose and curiosity. Learn more about her Clemson journey, the experiences that shaped her, and her advice for future students below.
1. What have you been involved in on campus during your time at Clemson?
I was only here for one academic school year, yet I found myself wanting to get involved somehow, to feel a bit more connected, especially as someone who did not attend Clemson for my undergrad. I was not sure how I would get involved initially, until one day in class when Professor Cauley shared information about the Graduate Student Government. I was intrigued by the opportunity to have an impact on campus while also connecting with other graduate students outside the marketing department. As a member of GSG, I served as a Senator representing M.S. Marketing graduate students. During my time, I voted on legislation, had opportunities to meet local leaders, including the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Clemson and the Assistant City Administrator, and served on the Marketing and Communications Committee.
2. What’s one experience at Clemson that has had the biggest impact on you?
Working with Clemson Community Care through the M.S. Marketing program’s Consumer Behavior course, taught by Professor Papenfus, has had the biggest impact on me. For this project, we were challenged with creating marketing strategies to increase the volunteer efforts and donations from Gen Z. The project we completed during the semester was incredibly impactful, not only for Karen Carter, the executive director of the CCC, but also for students, who now better understand the local resources in Clemson that support the community in times of need. This project has inspired me to dedicate more time to important causes and to be an advocate for those in need, even if that means volunteering an hour of my time. The project also gave me a stronger understanding of marketing research across different contexts. In previous classes, we normally do market research for a business, big or small, but changing the perspective to a non-profit was challenging but incredibly rewarding.
3. How has the MS in Marketing program prepared you for life after graduation?
The M.S. Marketing program has provided me with a very strong research assistantship and advice from professors in the field I aspire to be a part of. Coming into the program, I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in Marketing with a focus on consumer behavior and psychology. Knowing this, I reached out to Danny Weathers and Scott Swain to see if there were any opportunities for support research on campus. They were able to provide me with a research assistantship supporting Sayan Gupta in the Department of Marketing, as well as Darren Linvill and Camille Saucier as a Knight Fellow at the Media Forensics. This opportunity shaped the start of the program for me, allowing me to pursue research early on and eventually leverage that as I applied to Ph.D. programs. While I already had a strong background in research processes, this research opportunity further developed my skill set, leading to my acceptance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to start my Ph.D. this spring. The marketing department is full of very strong mentors and advocates for higher education who have offered me great advice; to name a few who have helped me along the way: Lisa Beeler, Annette Tower, and Angeline Scheinbaum were incredibly helpful and insightful.
4. What advice would you give to undergrad marketing students?
I would tell undergrad marketing students to find their niche and pursue their dreams. One of the things I have learned in this program is how important it is for businesses, as well as students, to really differentiate themselves from the competition. The job market is tough, and master’s programs are getting increasingly more competitive. The best thing to do is to build up your skills, find what you are passionate about, and really understand your unique selling proposition! Also, believe in yourself, you can truly do anything you put your mind to. I had no idea I would be pursuing my doctorate just two years ago. I thought I would be an economist or market researcher in a big city, but now I know academia is the path for me. And even if you are not sure what you want to do, just put yourself out there and connect and surround yourself with those you aspire to be like.
