Promoting a professional disc golf tournament
Aud Dodge ’27 is learning what it takes to promote and run a national tournament as a summer intern. She is a member of the marketing and public relations team at Maple Hill Disc Golf Course in Leicester, Mass.—the top-ranked course in the U.S.—which will host a Disc Golf Pro Tour event in late September.
“I’m working on content creation for our social media platforms, learning HTML to create our email newsletter and helping update the website,” said Dodge. “Every week I’m responsible for making the graphics for nine posts—three each for Instagram, Facebook and short-form videos.”
A marketing and neuroscience double major, she will graduate next spring after completing her degrees in three years. “I’ve always been a STEM kid and neuroscience was my first love in learning,” Dodge said. “I think there is a lot of value in seeing such a broad range of fields, and my opportunities in STEM and business will definitely make navigating the job market a little bit easier.”
At Maple Hill, a course owned by her father, Dodge is also handling some community engagement efforts and developing promotional ideas for the tournament. She serves the primary point of contact with Second Flight Disc Golf, a tournament partner that is helping to make the annual event more sustainable.
“Our food vendors will be composting, we’ll be focusing on recycling and ensuring that more potable water is available,” she said. “I’m learning how to coordinate several tasks and make sure they can be completed to meet deadlines.”
A business ethics course she took at Wheaton was particularly helpful in navigating her current role, Dodge says. “The Business Management and Responsibility course gave me a deep appreciation for how difficult it can be to run a business ethically. I’ve done so much research into this area and developed a passion for the environment.”
Ultimately, she’d love to work for a business with an acute commitment to environmental awareness. Dodge said, “I’d want the business to respect its customers, not as simply consumers, but as people who believe in their business model.”