By Sue McMurray
Before meeting former Fortune 500 marketing executive and author Deb Miller, marketing students Julianna Topper and Kylie Moore, who aspire to have marketing careers in professional sports, had never considered doing an internship in the publishing industry. Neither had Evin Harvey, a marketing/entrepreneurship major, who dreams of becoming a marketing director for a large-scale business.
But sometimes opportunities that seem unrelatable at first glance carry unforeseen rewards.
As an adjunct professor who teaches MBA marketing courses for the Carson College, Miller was already familiar with the creativity and digital agility of Carson students. She had a clear vision for the promotion of her new book Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness but needed hands-on help setting up accounts, creating graphics, and mastering the mechanics of social media.
“I saw WSU students as the perfect fit—not only to assist with execution but also to bring innovative perspectives to the process,” she says.
Miller worked with Michelle Chapman, retired assistant directorfor student engagement and career development in the Carson Center, to create six short-term “micro” internships focusing on the book’s digital strategy, content creation and pre-sale engagement, launch day execution, and assessment.
When Topper, Moore, and Harvey learned about micro internships, they were intrigued. The internships would not only allow them to hone their marketing skills in an unfamiliar industry but also fulfill the Carson Career Amplifier program high impact learning experience requirement. Amplifier supplements classroom learning with career experiences such as internships, global learning, and hands-on projects.
Marketing majors Amanda Roskelley, Lucinda Wing, and Gurleen Kaur held the other three internships. All of the interns’ work was staggered over the fall, winter, and spring terms and aligned with different phases of the book’s pre-launch marketing strategy. The book is now available anywhere books are sold.
“Students’ responsibilities were tailored to their individual strengths and interests,” Miller says. “Each brought a unique perspective, and I loved hearing their insights after reading my book. Their interpretations and creative input have been invaluable to shaping the marketing strategy.”
Interns reflect on the value of the experience
“As a senior I was looking for ways to build my résumé and professional skills,” Harvey says. “I thought this internship was a great way to develop and apply my marketing skills in a real-world setting.” She and Miller worked together to create a detailed foundation for the overall internship experience.
Harvey worked on strategic digital planning and early promotion, developing Google documents to track deadlines, internship activities, and onboarding of other interns. She also shadowed with Miller’s daughter, a Google marketing researcher. Harvey says the best thing about the internship was learning the ins and outs of Google, working with business professionals, and networking.
Topper worked as a content creation and pre-sale engagement intern to create appealing, branded posts primarily for Instagram and other social media platforms, including TikTok. She assisted in official branding concepts for the book, building book playlist templates, and designing pre-order giveaways. She says she took time to research the industry and how analytics and engagement would differ from other social media accounts and industries she’s worked in.
“Working in an industry I had not considered previously was challenging,” Topper says. “I aspire to be a social media and branding manager for an NFL team, and this experience allows me to prove I not only know how to design for social media but also develop engagement metrics as well.”
Moore applied for the internship to build career connections and develop her interest in marketing. She says her dream job is to work as a marketing professional for the Seattle Mariners.
Moore’s duties focused on outreach to local libraries, bookstores, and book clubs. She says one thing that surprised her was the value of AI technology in developing lists of libraries and contact information in cities where Miller has lived so she could reach out to them about carrying the book. Moore also helped build and manage a Facebook profile for the book.
“The most valuable skill I gained was knowing the importance of clear and professional email communication,” Moore says. “As a freshman, I hadn’t had much experience using Outlook, but this internship allowed me to develop essential communication skills that are crucial in the business world.”
Collaborative partnership facilitates long-term benefits
Miller worked to create a mentoring environment where students felt comfortable sharing ideas, and they rose to the occasion. She was amazed at how much they juggled—full-time coursework, part-time jobs, extracurriculars, and this internship—yet showed up fully engaged and ready to contribute.
“This collaboration has been a true partnership, and I deeply appreciate the energy, enthusiasm, and fresh thinking they brought to the table,” Miller says.
She says she would be happy to support students beyond the internships, whether through career advice, professional connections, or as a professional reference.
“Beyond networking, students gained hands-on marketing experience they can add to their résumés,” Miller says. “They also took away some life lessons—several interns have left reviews on Goodreads saying, ‘Every woman should read this book.’ That, to me, is incredibly meaningful.”
