Alise Crittendon named AAF Most Promising Multicultural Student

Alise Crittendon, an advertising student from Mableton, Ga., has been selected to the American Advertising Federation (AAF) 2022 class of Most Promising Multicultural Students.

“This is one of the biggest honors I’ve received thus far because it represents everything I have been striving for: increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the media industry,” said Crittendon. “I even wrote about this in my Grady statement of interest two years ago!”

The AAF’s Most Promising Multicultural Student program is part of an initiative to promote diversity in the advertising workplaces. Crittendon will participate in a four-day workshop that will help advance skills, enhance professional development and provide exclusive networking opportunities.

Crittendon and her fellow 49 honorees from around the country were selected by a judging panel featuring representatives from Amazon, The Coca-Cola Company, TikTok, and many more leading advertising organizations.

“We are so proud to add Alise to the UGA Department of Advertising and Public Relations alumni who have been selected to participate in the highly competitive American Advertising Federation Most Promising Students program,” said Bryan Reber, Advertising and Public Relations Department Head.

Crittendon was also selected as a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies  Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP) earlier this year.

Crittendon credits Women in Media and Talking Dog as organizations that have helped her grow during her time at Grady College.

Reber says Crittendon has become a superstar student and has grown through mentoring with faculty.

“Special thanks go to faculty who teach and mentor these students as they prepare their portfolios for the competitions,” Reber said. “Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh has been a special mentor to Alise.”

After graduation, Crittendon plans to join an advertising agency as a copywriter where she would develop campaigns and powerful messaging for brands. She says she found a love for storytelling at Grady College and wants to use that passion to help brands execute strategy with creativity. She also credits her extra-curricular activities with helping her grow into a young professional.

“Women in Media and Talking Dog Agency are both special to me for different reasons, but my involvement in these gave me the confidence and experience I needed to continue working towards my goals,” said Crittendon.

See the full release from the American Advertising Federation here.

You can learn more about Crittendon in this InternViews piece published earlier in 2021.

Grady InternViews: Alise Crittendon

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their summer internship experience.

Briefly describe your internship and responsibilities.

As a Copywriter intern at FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding) Chicago, I am responsible for bringing campaign ideas to life with strong, quick and concise messaging. I am on the Walmart account at my agency, specifically under their Sustainability sector, where I pitch ideas for marketing Walmart’s efforts to preserve our planet. I make presentations, write content such as taglines and TV scripts, and develop campaigns for Walmart and other brands like Allstate, Cottonelle and more. Each day is different, but one thing is consistent: meetings, meetings, meetings! It’s completely remote, but I find ways to get variety in my day by working at my local library or coffee shops.

Explain the MAIP program in your own words and your involvement in it.

MAIP is the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Internship Program where diverse talent is connected with agencies all over the country in 15+ disciplines. It includes professional development training, summer campaign projects and a full-time internship at top agencies in the advertising industry. In my experience so far, I’ve met so many amazing peers with similar interests and passions, gotten hands-on creative experience and have had access to a supportive family-like community. 

What has been the biggest growth you’ve experienced so far?

The biggest growth I’ve experienced this summer is confidence. From coming up with original ideas to pitching them in front of high-level executives, this has been a major transition for me, and has allowed me to discover what my strengths and weaknesses are and how to capitalize off those. I feel 10x more prepared to go into the industry after my experience with MAIP and FCB Chicago. 

How do you feel that Grady has prepared you for tackling the job?
Crittendon says she's staying busy with remote meetings this summer. (Photo: submitted)
Crittendon says she’s staying busy with remote meetings this summer. (Photo: submitted)

My experience in Grady has prepared me for my role immensely, specifically my involvement in Women in Media at UGA and my Brand Storytelling class I took with Dr. Strausbaugh. A lot of the lessons I learned through these two experiences has helped me form accurate expectations for my job and allowed me to navigate difficult situations.

What is your advice for other students looking to take on a similar role?

Going into a creative role (or any role) can involve major imposter syndrome. It helps me to remember that I’m only an intern, not an expert, so everything I do is an opportunity for a learning experience. Also, reaching out to people for help is a major key! It helps you gain more understanding and allows you to network and build relationships with your fellow interns, managers, and other co-workers.

Grady students recognized as 2021 Multicultural Advertising Internship Program fellows

Every year, the American Association of Advertising Agencies selects college students from across the country to be chosen as fellows for the Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP). 

This summer, nine Grady College advertising and public relations students will build necessary skills, develop a portfolio and intern with a variety of agencies in social, account strategy and public relations.

“Being a MAIP fellow means I get to be a part of an amazing cohort that not only provides a support system, but also actively celebrates diversity,” said Amari Tillman, a graduate student in integrated advertising and public relations. “My worth is being seen and advocated for in professional spaces and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”

Over 90 companies participated in MAIP’s 12-week virtual program last year. The program is committed to bringing students from diverse backgrounds into the advertising industry. 

“I am proud to be a part of a program that strives to make diversity, equity and inclusion an integral piece in the future of advertising, so that when we see ads featuring people of color, they are ads that undermine rather than perpetuate stereotypes.”

– Fourth-year advertising and sociology double major Morgan Jackson said. 

Grady students will have the opportunity to network with their 2021 cohort, learn from industry professionals and gain the skills and experience that will prepare them for their post-graduate endeavors. 

The fellows are also excited to create meaningful work with their host agencies, including FCB Chicago, Weber Shandwick, Pavone Marketing Group and Rodgers Townsend.

“To me, it means I have been given a unique opportunity to not only get experience with real clients, but to also start making an impact in the media industry by contributing my diverse perspective,” third-year advertising major Alise Crittendon said.

For third-year advertising and marketing double major Shruti Muruganandan, she realized early on she didn’t know anyone in either field. Being a fellow will help Muruganandan grow her network and give her a sense of community within the fellowship program, she said.

“We love to say the industry’s all about the people you know, and I feel so grateful to say that I get to know and learn from the MAIP community,” she said.

The eight students participating in the program are Alise Crittendon (FCB Chicago, copywriting), Morgan Jackson (Pavone Marketing Group, Inc, account and strategy), Amari Tillman (Weber Shandwick, public relations), Camryn Williams (Weber Shandwick, public relations), Camden Dukes (LGA Agency, media), Isabel Weber (Entree Health, social strategy), Grace Yeo (Rodgers Townsend), Shruti Muruganandan (Doe-Anderson, strategy) and Nhilynn Nguyen.