Thinking about joining DEC? Here are some wise words from our alumni…
“My advice would be to know what you’re getting yourself into. DEC is a lot of hard work, but the work really pays off at the end of the semester. This agency builds relationships with people unlike any other class because you’re very dependent on all your group members. Aside from just being aware of how much work you have to do I will always tell incoming DEC students that they must stay organized above all things.”
Rachel Delconte
“Use the resources at hand and treat DEC like a real job or internship. DEC, like any other position is what you make of it. If you want to leave DEC with a great portfolio, resume, or letter of recommendation then all you have to do is make it happen. By communicating with the exec members, interacting with the other agency members, and engaging with Dr. Marra, DEC can be one of the best academic experiences you’ll have at Temple. Overall, success won’t be handed to you in DEC, it must be earned.”
Sarah Glose
I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was good to have the “internship” like experience since I didn’t participate in one at that point. Working with real world clients and such gave me some insight into the agency experience. Becoming the Research Director has also helped develop my leadership skills and has allowed me the chance to manage a team.
Theon Freedman
DEC gave me confidence in my leadership and team-building skills. It made me feel like my creative input had some impact in the whole scheme of things. The opportunity to work with real, local-area clients made the experience somewhat bigger than just a college course or an extra-curricular activity. It also gave me first-hand experience on how to be diplomatic with team members and clients – an invaluable asset
Sharon Cherian Sidell
“DEC is basically learning through working. Being in constant contact with clients and team members really taught me how the advertising industry operates. The experience was invaluable.”
Ian Downey
I am currently working for The Johns Hopkins University and am pursuing a Masters in Information Systems at The University of Maryland, Baltimore County. My involvement in Diamond Edge Communications has helped me in various aspects of my career. Participating in DEC as Account Manager was an excellent experience for me. I learned many lessons about advertising, working with clients, managing team members, and completing tasks. Being a member of DEC allowed me to practice the concepts that I learned in classes. I applied my academic lessons to real situations with clients. Likewise, DEC taught me how to recognize and solve problems effectively. This skill is invaluable in any career. Overall, DEC afforded me the opportunity to work well with classmates and clients while applying my education to real world experiences.
Joseph Havrey
“Participating in DEC was a great experience in that it taught me how to work with others on a common goal. Luckily, creative differences were rarely a problem because we were so focused on creating solutions.”
David Auspitz
“DEC was one of the most rewarding experiences I had while working towards my advertising degree at Temple. Not only did it help land me my first marketing internship, but through DEC I was able to work through the pressures of REAL client deadlines and got to feel the rush of successfully delivering.”
Alumni
Thinking about joining DEC? Here are some wise words from our alumni…
“Use the resources at hand and treat DEC like a real job or internship. DEC, like any other position is what you make of it. If you want to leave DEC with a great portfolio, resume, or letter of recommendation then all you have to do is make it happen. By communicating with the exec members, interacting with the other agency members, and engaging with Dr. Marra, DEC can be one of the best academic experiences you’ll have at Temple. Overall, success won’t be handed to you in DEC, it must be earned.”
I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was good to have the “internship” like experience since I didn’t participate in one at that point. Working with real world clients and such gave me some insight into the agency experience. Becoming the Research Director has also helped develop my leadership skills and has allowed me the chance to manage a team.