Graduate Finds Success by Embracing Her Own Identity
- Bellevue University graduate Marissa Decker transformed her passion for storytelling and creativity into award-winning marketing work by embracing her authentic self.
- Decker earned an AMA Omaha Pinnacle Award while a student in the Bachelor of Marketing program.
- Decker balanced full-time work, homeownership, and academic excellence while using empathy-driven marketing to help others feel seen, heard, and connected.
For Marissa Decker, a volunteer gig became a defining lesson
Spend a few minutes talking with Marissa Decker and one thing becomes clear: she knows exactly who she is.
She describes herself as sensitive, high-energy, bold, occasionally edgy and, above all, a storyteller. For years, she questioned whether those qualities belonged in a corporate environment. Today, those very qualities are driving her success.
Working for Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) since 2015, Decker collaborates with contractors and engineers to improve customer satisfaction in her position as Business Development Builders Clerk. While the role is firmly rooted in a professional, service-driven environment, she has stretched beyond traditional boundaries, especially while completing her Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree at Bellevue University.
In addition to her full-time role, she took on an internal volunteer role within the organization in late 2025 as a creative content marketing lead for the Cultural Employee Resource Group (CERG). However, what began as a simple volunteer gig became a defining lesson.
"You have to be unapologetically yourself and push outside of the box," she said. "That's where the magic happens."
Turning Passion into Credibility
Decker has always been drawn to storytelling, graphic design, and content marketing. What she sought from Bellevue University was the structure behind that passion.
“I have experience. I have knowledge. I have the creative human touch. But I wanted those advanced skills and a deeper understanding of marketing,” she said. “Now I have credibility because I earned my degree.”
Through her coursework, she learned to pair creative instinct with strategic thinking—analyzing audiences, building campaigns and measuring impact. That combination proved transformative.
While working with the ERG, Decker began creating content designed to connect employees, educate the workforce and strengthen culture. Her work aligns with organizational branding standards while bringing warmth, personality and humanity into corporate communications.
"I can physically see people engaging with my work and how it makes them feel valued. I found my purpose."
Marketing with Empathy
At the core of Decker’s approach is a simple belief: good marketing starts with understanding people.
"You can't be a marketer if you don't ask questions and genuinely care," she said. "You can't serve your audience if you don't understand them."
That mindset shapes everything she creates.
Her newsletters don’t simply share information—they tell stories. When launching a new internal publication, she invited employees to help name it. The final choice, Culture Connect, reflected a shared vision. For an engagement initiative, she developed a global travel-themed campaign that tied into the current “passport program,” which employees collect stamps and points for participation. Decker designs personalized stamps for each event and colorful promotional materials to engage members with intentionality.
In fact, one profile in the program highlighted a colleague from Nigeria and included guidance on how to pronounce his name. It was a small but meaningful detail rooted in respect and inclusion while still being modern, fun, and educational.
"I can physically see people engaging with my work and how it makes them feel valued," she said. "I found my purpose."
That purpose was further recognized when Decker earned a Pinnacle Award from the American Marketing Association Omaha Chapter. Her winning project was one she completed during her time at Bellevue, and it focused on a social media strategy targeting an untapped audience: men interested in skincare. The project combined research, audience analysis, risk assessment, strategic planning and graphic design.
Decker credits Bellevue University faculty member Dr. Randa Zalman for helping elevate her work and being a mentor who saw her talents and encouraged her to put her work out there.
"I've never had a teacher personally reach out and say, 'Marissa, I want you to know you have a gift,'" Decker said. “It's really motivating to have a professor who sees your talents and provides detailed feedback on how to improve. But also provides the tools to be successful and genuinely cares about your wellbeing.”
An Academic and Career Journey to Be Proud Of
Decker’s journey extends beyond awards.
She is a first-generation college graduate who worked full-time while earning her degree. During that time, she also purchased her own home, maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned Dean’s List honors.
"I went from being a college dropout to being recognized as the winner of the Pinnacle Award," she said.
"I felt like a failure at one point in life, constantly comparing myself to others," she said. "Now I'm very confident in so many aspects of my life, seeing what I am capable of and so blessed I went back to school, met amazing people, secured my degree, and chose myself."
That confidence has created momentum beyond the workplace. Her work at MUD and involvement with the ERG have led to freelance opportunities and new ways to apply her skills.
But for Decker, success isn’t defined by recognition. It’s defined by connection.
"I help people feel seen and heard," she said.
And in a field often driven by metrics and dashboards, she’s found something equally powerful. "I am authentically me in everything I do," she said.
Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit university with more than 70,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military and accessible institutions, the University serves residential students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online with more than 85 degree programs uniquely designed for working adults. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).