JANS – Darien Raymore, an integrated marketing communications senior at Jackson State University, interned as a social media manager at the Philmore Academy of Science and Arts this summer in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Raymore was thrilled to know that his education in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies was paying off.
“The best part about it, for me, was learning about the field that I’m interested in. It’s different being in the classroom and applying it to the real world,” said Raymore, an Atlanta, Georgia, native. “It was pretty cool to see that a lot of stuff that I did learn actually helped me in my internship.”
Philmore Academy is the first African-American private school for STEM and performing arts in Georgia. The school was founded by Sherrie Philon, Ed.S., in 2017. Philon is also the current principal and head of the academy.
Raymore was tasked with managing the academy’s Facebook and Instagram and even created a Twitter, now X, account. He also developed posts, monitored engagement and analytics, and tended to any questions from the students and parents online. By the end of the internship, Raymore gathered enough content to present a commercial for the advisement and enrollment areas at the academy.
“I would ask questions like, ‘What’s our target goal for the next post, and what can we do to get more engagement?’” said Raymore.
Following the debut of the commercial and other efforts to build a strong social media presence, enrollment at Philmore Academy increased by 50%. He also filmed and led a video production announcing the school’s move into a new building as his internship came to a close.
“I was amazed at the turnout because I saw him working on it, taking pictures, and gathering information throughout his time at the internship, but to see that finished product blew me away,” said Philon. “He is definitely a talented young man destined for greatness.”
As an integrated marketing major, Raymore is equipped with business to business marketing strategies. However, he admits that creating social media marketing while catering to academia was challenging. Following the internship, he sees himself further exploring social media marketing and merging his business marketing skills to cater to larger businesses.
“The first time I met Darien, he wanted to know more about opportunities to strengthen his skill set through application. I knew then that he was the type of student to take advantage of opportunities, just like he did here,” said Jessica Love, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. “Ask any student, and they’ll probably say my courses are extremely challenging, but to Darien, my courses are an opportunity to grow in new areas. That attitude is what separates him from his peers.”
Raymore describes himself as an ambitious person who’s all about gaining new experiences. He’s interested in launching his own marketing business and established an LLC named NEIRAD Marketing. The LLC stems from Raymore’s middle name, which means strength and courage.
“Darien is a very intelligent young man who is disciplined and destined to be successful as he continues his matriculation at Jackson State. One of our focuses in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies is to be intentional when it comes to preparing our students for learning, so they will be knowledgeable for internships and job placements when those opportunities are presented,” said Don Spann, assistant professor and faculty director in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies.
Raymore says he’s walking away with a newfound sense of perseverance and leadership.
“All of the things that I learned from Dr. Love and Professor Spann with cameras, deadlines, how to understand marketing, networking, and more, gave me what I needed for my internships. If it wasn’t for them, I probably would have been stuck,” said Raymore. “I call them my guardian angels, but it’s really thanks to them and the department. It’s amazing. I’m truly going to miss it, but I’m ready to graduate.”
Raymore previously worked with Walt Disney Studios via the company’s collegiate internship program. There, he developed skills in marketing and how to bolster engagement via Disney’s various platforms.
Raymore plays the saxophone and is a member and section leader in the Sonic Boom of the South. He is also a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
