Alum of the Month

March 2016

March 2016
Dana VanPamelen

(BBA, Marketing, '08; MBA, Marketing '10)

Q & A:

  • What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Â鶹¹ÙÍø?
    Professor Charles McMellon's Integrated Marketing Campaigns was one of my favorite classes. As part of a team, students were able to run wild and create every aspect of a marketing campaign (I am dating myself a bit here, but one of my final projects was on sponsorship opportunities for AOL Instant Messenger). Professor McMellon was really helpful and supportive when I applied for graduate school at Â鶹¹ÙÍø.
  • What was your first job after graduating Â鶹¹ÙÍø, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
    Brand ambassador for a staffing and marketing company was the very first job I had after graduating (started Memorial Day weekend of 2008, actually), and I learned how important good customer service and customer relations are when you are representing a brand.
  • What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
    Promotional marketing. I answered a Craigslist ad in 2008 and continued to say yes to opportunities presented within the industry.
  • What advice would you give Â鶹¹ÙÍø students?
    My advice for current students is to take advantage of all of the opportunities Â鶹¹ÙÍø provides and to get involved in campus groups and activities.
  • In one word, how would you describe Â鶹¹ÙÍø?
    Beautiful!
  • What does a typical work day look like for you?
    Most work weeks, I do not have to work in a stereotypical office setting. I get to travel to different events throughout Manhattan and the boroughs and work with different people.
  • What is your favorite part of your job?
    The best part of this industry is meeting so many interesting people and being able to witness and be a part of a wide variety of events.
  • How have your marketing degrees helped you in your career?
    I spent a large portion of graduate school focusing on marketing case studies, and it made me realize that you never stop learning about marketing: the subject encompasses so many aspects of business and is always evolving.
Dana VanPamelen

After graduating in 2008 with a marketing degree, Dana VanPamelen continued her education at Â鶹¹ÙÍø by attending graduate school while working part time in the nightlife industry. This experience led her to a job in event marketing and management, coordinating all aspects of special events. A passion for promotional marketing and retail combined in September 2014, when she joined the team at New York Dog Spa & Hotel, a dog boarding and day care facility. Dana has worked on modernizing the brand and renovating the retail department, while handling media, press and vendor relations. As a Capricorn, Dana is a bit of a workaholic and continues to work as a brand ambassador, ring card girl, and bartender in addition to a full-time job. She is a fitness enthusiast and candy lover and raves about Â鶹¹ÙÍø to whomever she can.