Alum Combines Passions in Award-Winning Education Experience
“While most programs teach the how's and the what's, this program taught about the why’s."
Zip De Long is an all-around creative – digital marketer, graphic designer, photographer, and artist. Taking her creativity and love of social media one step further, the 2024 Master of Science in Strategic Marketing alumnus ultimately won a prestigious American Marketing Association Pinnacle Award while earning her graduate degree.
All Roads Lead to Bellevue University
De Long wanted to attend Bellevue University based on her mother’s experience at the school. “I wanted to be like my mom and graduate with my master's as a Bruin,” she said. “I remember how much she genuinely enjoyed the program and always expressed positive things about her experience.”
As De Long began researching further, she learned that Bellevue University offered the perfect program for her. “I also felt this program suited my needs the most out of all the programs I stumbled upon, as I wanted to dive deep into social media and online marketing,” she said.
Digging Deeper Into Marketing
Though De Long lives in the Omaha area, she chose to study online for more flexibility in her busy life. “Balance between life and work came down to me thoroughly planning my days out. I did a little bit of work each day so I did not overwhelm myself.” she said.
Overall, the program challenged De Long to approach marketing in a new, more comprehensive way. “While most programs teach the how's and the what's, this program taught about the why’s. It taught me about my power and impact as a marketer and how each decision I make as a marketer traces back to the question of ethics,” she said.
As a social media manager at a local advertising agency, De Long was able to directly apply her creative background to the program. “My knowledge of graphic design and creative tools enhanced my ability to think outside of the box and get more experimental with my projects,” she said.
In turn, De Long’s applied her learnings to her professional role. “My degree equipped me with the knowledge of ethics and social media that I needed to be able to manage the client accounts that I have on the daily at work, as well as the knowledge I needed to promote myself as an independent live music photographer.”
My degree equipped me with the knowledge of ethics and social media that I needed to be able to manage the client accounts that I have on the daily at work, as well as the knowledge I needed to promote myself as an independent live music photographer.
Blending Marketing and Music for Success
With her creative talents, it’s no surprise that music has always been a love for De Long. As she became more interested in photography as an adult, the two became an obvious fit. “When live music came back after a hiatus during the 2020 pandemic, I knew it was something I needed to pursue professionally,” she said. “I look at the world as a giant canvas, so I am always looking for something to capture. Live music takes it to a whole new level. Following the action gives me a rush of energy that can’t be felt anywhere else.”
During one of the classes in her program, Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis, De Long was able to combine this passion with marketing in her award-winning project on music distribution trends and how they impact the modern music industry and consumer behavior.
“I enjoyed doing the research and the public participation that I had to generate to complete the project,” she said. “I built a survey that over 200 participants filled out and enjoyed the interview I conducted with the music industry professionals I chose.”
The Option for Busy Adults
Based on her own positive experiences at Bellevue University, De Long said she recommends the school as the right fit for working individuals.
“Each of its programs can cater to those students in a way that allows them to learn valuable information without feeling overwhelmed,” she said. “Its faculty is incredible and dedicates their time to ensure each student graduates successfully.”