The Art of Keeping It Real

Students who register for one of MacSween’s courses aren’t signing up for the textbook version of a classroom experience. From creating marketing plans for actual businesses to learning dining etiquette, MacSween immerses her students into the real world of marketing and business through experiential learning.

“When I create my assignments, I try to replicate what I had to figure out on my own, so students have the opportunity to learn all the skills they’re going to need in the workplace,” MacSween says.

Right now, she teaches Principles of Marketing, Professional Selling, Consumer Behavior, and Advanced Marketing Management. Each course has standard learning objectives, but MacSween teaches in a style that is all her own, striving to instill lessons that go beyond the subject matter.

Students in her Principles of Marketing class don’t just learn how to develop marketing content for a company they’re passionate about, they learn how to turn their interests into results. Those who take Professional Selling don’t just learn how to deliver a sales pitch without verbal fillers such as “like” and “um,” they learn how to communicate effectively.

“Early in the semester, my Professional Selling students are quiet, but by the end, I can’t get them to stop talking. They build confidence and relationships,” MacSween says.