GPI - Marissa Hanson - Marketing Manager
By Sarah Parron
Staff Writer
What is your academic and professional background? I actually started my career in the medical field, which is a little bit different. So, I started my career in the medical field as a nurse, and that was during 2020, so not the best time. But I did that for a couple of years. And then [I earned] my associate’s [degree], then got licensed, and then went back to school to finish my bachelor's at Bridgewater State. I graduated with an economics and digital media degree. I've always done creative stuff on the side, so I just kind of leaned into that and was like, might as well. Then I started working for the university and then from Bridgewater, moved to Salem State. I worked in its marketing department doing video production and things like that. Then I moved here in June. I've been here for 4 or 5 months. What are some responsibilities that you have in your role? My title is marketing manager. I oversee the social media team, as well as the print services print shop on campus, as well as doing all of the digital and print marketing campaigns for outside, prospective students, alumni, family, things of that nature, just to market the University. Whether that's online presence, social media, billboards, you know, radio ads, things like that. So basically anything marketing kind of falls under this role. What would you say is your favorite part of the role? I think how creative it can be. I think it's so fun, especially with social media. Because that's like the primary team that I really work with. Just the ideas that we can do and however we can highlight certain things on campus or someone has this idea that we can do this profile or this interview. I feel like that's so fun to do and to spotlight people on campus. So the creativity is really something that I really enjoy. But yeah, I really like the creativity of it. It's really fun. What are some of your hobbies or things that you like to do outside of your job and your career? I love going to concerts, live entertainment, because I started all my creative stuff as a concert photographer. Whether it's theater, ballet, sports games, concerts, going out, doing stuff like that. I like arts and crafts, crochet, and painting. I love hosting people to come over and do a paint night or jewelry making and stuff like that. So also kind of in the creative realm of arts and crafts. [My favorite artist of] all time is Fleetwood Mac. That's what I grew up on. They’re the best, and I saw Stevie Nicks a couple years ago. … But recently, I saw 5 Seconds of Summer and I also went down to New York to see Harry [Styles]. So, that's what I've been listening to. What do you love about FSU beyond your job? I was pleasantly surprised when I came here, and didn't really realize how tight-knit of a community it is … coming on campus. I grew up in the general area and I didn't really realize that being off Route 9, it is an actual campus and it's really, like, New England-y and homey and, like, cute. So, I’ve been pleasantly surprised about how nice everybody is in the community and how tight-knit it is and very homey that it feels. Do you have any advice for FSU students? That's a good one. … There’s probably two. One, show up, actually go to class, and actually go and do all the activities you want to do, or if you can't find any that you want to do, start something. Then two would probably be, it's OK to change your mind or, like, kind of go through the trial and error process. [As] someone who changed my career after being in it for 5 years, you can. You're still young. You can change your mind. You can change your major. You can change whatever you want to do. I think it's a good time to do a lot of trial and error and figure out what you like and what you don't like. You know, that's kind of what college is about.
