Marketing with a Mission

The advertising and public relations industry is about more than just promotion—it’s about connection, creativity, and strategy. For sophomore Gia Perry, discovering how storytelling and analytics shape the way we interact with brands has been the start of an exciting journey into the digital marketing world. 

“When I came into The University of Texas at Austin, I was not 100% sure what facet of marketing I wanted to go into,” Gia says. “But I knew that that was what I was interested in. UT Austin is a little quirky in how it sets up its various marketing disciplines—actual marketing is in McCombs and is more business and math-focused, while advertising and PR are in Moody.” Gia landed in the Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO) major, where she could explore advertising and PR courses through Moody, while also diving into entrepreneurship, psychology, and even data analysis. “I knew I wanted to be able to take a broad spectrum of classes,” she adds. 

What really drew Gia to digital marketing was its unique combination of creativity and strategy. “The thing that piques my interest is really the creativity of it—and honestly, the analytics and psychology of it all is really interesting to me,” she explains. “You can really make a career off the business side of social media without having to be the influencer yourself. That blend of creativity and psychology is what ultimately led her to digital marketing—and to launching her own student organization, Longhorn Digital Marketing. “When I got to UT, I didn’t see a student org that reflected this new side of marketing—the business side of social media, branding, and analytics. So I decided to start one.” 

Through her coursework, internships, and leadership experience, Gia is building a strong foundation in branding, campaign strategy, and digital content. She’s also gaining hands-on experience in social media, event planning, and creative direction. 

Whether you are set on a career in advertising and public relations or just curious about the creative world behind the content you scroll past every day, advertising and public relations courses in the Moody College of Communication open the door. From crafting campaigns to decoding audience behavior, these classes give students like Gia a chance to turn creative instincts into real-world skills and discover just how many paths the advertising and public relations field has to offer.