Through the Student Lens–Erika Fenton ’25
Please tell us about yourself
Hi! My name is Erika Fenton and I am a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in marketing. I am from Hartford, Conn., and I am a proud Hartford Promise scholar. With their help I am able to attend Wheaton. During my time here I have had many amazing experiences. This past spring I spent the semester abroad in Cusco, Peru, where I studied indigenous peoples and the effects of globalization. It was truly an amazing experience that has inspired me to travel all over South America.
Outside of academics I am a member of Paraiso Latino, Wheaton’s Latinx dance group. Paraiso has played a big role during my time at Wheaton as it has allowed me a safe space to express myself while creating a family for me on campus. I am also the marketing intern for the Life and Career Design Institute.
What role did Wheaton play in securing your internship with the JFK Today podcast?
I’ve taken digital marketing and marketing courses that have provided me with unique experiences and resources. Through my digital marketing course I learned the necessary skills and gained certifications in content marketing and social media marketing through HubSpot, a marketing software company. These courses aided me with outside the classroom experiences that I have incorporated into my everyday work.
How did the Life and Career Design Institute (LCDI) support your internship?
I heard about the JFK Today internship through my Life and Career Design Institute internship. Chelsea Lenhart, Career Navigator at the LCDI, heard about the internship through the Film and New Media Studies department and recommended that I apply. Although I was hesitant I was encouraged by the LCDI’s enthusiasm and support to pursue this opportunity. Throughout my time there I have learned many useful skills such as “how to make a good résumé” and tips for interviews such as the S.T.A.R. method (Situation, Task, Action and Result—a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action and result of the situation you are describing)! My experience as an LCDI marketing intern prepared me with the necessary skills to thrive in my new internship. The LCDI has been very supportive of my internship with the podcast which has made it easier to balance both internships.
Tell us about your role as a social media manager for the JFK podcast. What do you love about the internship and role? How does it relate to your academic career at Wheaton?
Some of my day-to-day responsibilities as a social media intern include editing daily podcast videos, researching and implementing strategies such as local trends and creating and managing a consistent content schedule. I’ve loved my experience working for the podcast and I’ve learned a lot. It’s amazing to watch the passion that JFK Today podcast host, Janaya “Future” Khan has when speaking and learning from them and their experiences. I think that when it comes to political podcasts, it’s always a toss of the coin, but the JFK podcast has allowed me to become more politically aware and updated with current events. I also think it’s important to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices, especially in the news. Working on the podcast has taught me much about social activism and I’ve applied the things I’ve learned through my everyday classes. As a psychology major with an interest in multicultural psychology it’s crucial to be aware of current events.
The JFK podcast focuses on political and pop-culture moments with episodes released every four days. How do you stay on top of political or pop-culture trends, news, as a professional marketer and manage a fast-moving podcast as a social media manager?
A lot of reading. News moves so fast and it’s a difficult thing to stay on top of. I have alerts on for many publishing newspapers and try my best to digest at least one form of media in my morning routine. I would say TikTok has also been very helpful throughout the process. It’s helped me stay on top of news, keep tabs on current trends and learn how to reach a wider audience.
Is this your only internship that you’ve completed or have you had other experiential learning opportunities at Wheaton?
Wheaton has provided me with many opportunities for experiential learning. In addition to my LCDI internship, I have worked with the Wheaton orientation team as a coordinator. It was a fun experience where I learned the ins and outs of programming while welcoming a new class of students to Wheaton. These past two summers I worked as the programming assistant for Wheaton’s Pre-College Program. That experience taught me a lot about navigating professional work settings and I learned a lot about program advertising/promotion.
In 2022, you were a Semester in the City Fellow (SITC), what did you do during that program and how did that shape your pursuit of additional experiential learning?
As a SITC fellow, I interned as a student wellness fellow at the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology. I explored my interest in public health while helping students who attended the technical college. It was rewarding to help students with similar backgrounds as me and give back to my community. It’s inspired me to continue social justice work and advocacy for underserved communities. My time with SITC was one of the reasons why I applied to the JFK podcast, as I believed in its mission to advocate for people of color everywhere and the work that both Future and KR, JFK Today podcast producer, have done throughout their careers.
How did you navigate any challenges you encountered?
A surprise challenge for me was learning to edit videos in under an hour. It may seem like a long time but when it comes to podcast videos, there are just so many good clips to choose from that it becomes really hard.
Do you know what you wish to pursue for a career?
I am not entirely sure. I really want to continue working in radio/podcast. It’s such an interesting field but I want to incorporate some type of advocacy work with it or work for an organization that provides affordable mental health care. With all my different jobs that I’ve had there are many possibilities for me to follow.
What podcasts are on repeat for you?
I’ve recently found out my favorite scifi series, Case63, has a season 2, so I’ve been catching up on that. It’s so good! It’s like listening to a TV show and you create the images in your head.
Any tips for students looking to work in social media or marketing, or pursue an internship?
It’s all about how you market yourself to others. It’s not just about the past jobs you’ve had, employers want to know about your accomplishments inside and outside the classroom experiences. LinkedIn is a great place to build connections and see what opportunities may be available to you. Don’t be afraid to stop in to the LCDI because they can help with so many things, plus they’re a free resource to students.
Do you have any final thoughts or advice to share?
Apply to jobs that are outside of your field if you find them interesting! It may seem daunting but it opens up so many opportunities. This was my first time working for a podcast and I never really thought I’d be working beside such amazing people.