Raegan McElmurry discovered her passion for marketing through curiosity and creativity, an interest that quickly turned into a clear career path.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas in May 2025 with a double major in Marketing and Management and a minor in Nonprofit Studies, McElmurry shifted from an initial interest in teaching to pursuing marketing after an engaging introduction to the field. Now completing her Master of Science in Marketing, she was selected as their 2026 Graduate Outstanding Program Scholar in recognition of her achievements and growth.
Below, Raegan shares more about her journey, her experience in the program, and her advice for future students.
Did you always plan on a career in marketing?
I did not always plan on a career in marketing; I had actually considered becoming a teacher. However, after taking my Intro to Marketing class, I realized how interesting marketing is. I enjoyed understanding the psychology behind why people buy the things they do, as well as the creative problem-solving that goes into it. I believe marketing provides an opportunity to connect the right people to the right products to help meet the customers’ needs and help businesses grow.
What made you choose the Master of Science in Marketing program?
I chose the Master of Science in Marketing program after talking with students from last year’s cohort. They told me about the continual growth opportunities, real-world projects and connections, and the interesting topic offerings like Retail Strategy, Consumer Behavior/Neuromarketing, and Consumer Research. I have also considered the potential of becoming a professor one day, and in talking with past professors like Dr. Molly Rapert, I decided the MSM program would be the best next step for a career in industry or in academia.
What is your current job? How are you applying what you’re learning in the program?
In my future career, I will utilize many different aspects of what I have learned in the program. Understanding the overall retail strategy of a company and joint-business planning opportunities will allow me to market products to best fit the retail landscapes, reaching target consumers and business objectives. Being able to utilize my data analysis skills learned through my marketing analytics class will help me use facts and figures to assess business growth and keep marketing initiatives rooted in the data. In my digital marketing class, we are using HubSpot to build a website, utilizing CRM automations, SEO, and AI to aid in coding a variety of elements. In learning more about the psychology of consumer decision making, I will be able to better understand what resonates with audiences to influence purchase patterns. All in all, every class I have taken has provided valuable skills that will set me up for a successful career in marketing. Additionally, I have just accepted a position as an Account Executive at Soapbox Influence + Retail Media, where I look forward to applying many of the things I have learned in the program, upon my graduation.
What are your favorite moments or memories from the program?
My favorite memory from the program was when we had a cohort bonfire last semester. We went to Chris Medenwald’s house and had a potluck, watched Elf, and stayed warm by the fire on a cold night. It was one of the first times we spent time together as a group outside of class or our lunch break. I’ve formed friendships in this program that will extend beyond my time here, and I will definitely miss seeing them every other day!
As you approach graduation, what advice would you give to prospective or current students?
My advice for current students would be to take advantage of every opportunity that the classroom provides. Get to know your professors. Invest time and energy into each project to make it the best you can. Be present. Ask questions. Talk to guest speakers. Make friends with your classmates. It is a great education, so take the time to truly learn from it, and get as much out of it as possible.
How has the program prepared you for future success?
The MSM program has set me up for success in the future through skills gained from real-world projects working with a variety of companies. My strategic thinking skills were strengthened through working on a joint-business planning marketing strategy for Kenvue and Walmart on the Neutrogena brand. I also had the opportunity to conduct research through focus groups and surveys to understand brand perceptions of Liquid I.V. among college students and provide recommendations, growing my ability to use data in storytelling. Additionally, we had the opportunity to work with four different companies in our brand management class, proposing solutions for various problems they were facing. Lastly, my communication and presentation skills have grown in the past nine months, as we have had over 15 project presentations, including an individual 45-minute presentation. I am grateful for the MSM program, and I am confident the course learnings, connections, and real-world experience I have gained will set me up for success in the future!
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Are you interested in building a career in marketing? Click here for more information about the program, including admission information, application deadlines, and how to schedule a time to talk to an enrollment advisor.
