Reya Machen

Reya Machen was drawn to marketing by the field's many facets and career paths. When it came time to focus her studies further, she chose digital marketing, which provided the opportunity to integrate analytics. Reya pursued minors in sociology and digital media arts & engineering to complement her studies, broadening her understanding of behavior and digital storytelling. 

As a LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College student, she applied these insights by conducting research under the guidance of Associate Professor Donald Lund. Reya and a research partner collaborated with Tone BR, a local fitness studio, to explore ways to attract more college-aged male clients. They designed a survey and tested various ad concepts only to find no significant difference in preference. While the results were unexpected, the project provided valuable hands-on experience in market research, data analysis, and client collaboration.

Her studies also position Reya to adapt to the role that AI and automation will play in the future of marketing, something she sees as an emerging challenge for the field. Her goal is to learn how to leverage automation while developing skills that cannot be easily automated. 

Beyond the classroom, Reya has gained hands-on experience through the prestigious Dr. Emmett J. Conrad Leadership Program, which helps students from the Dallas Metroplex secure internships before graduation.

In her first year of the program, 2023, Reya interned with Accenture, creating marketing materials, developing communications, and planning volunteer events. Additionally, all participants worked on a collaborative project.

"Throughout the summer, we participated in a design thinking project where we aimed to solve a problem faced by college students. We learned how to work in a group,  the design thinking process, and how to narrow down ideas."

Building on her previous experience, Reya spent the summer of 2024 with the Wilmer Economic Development Corporation. She launched and managed the organization's LinkedIn presence and helped produce economic development videos for the City of Wilmer (Texas). This role allowed her to combine her marketing expertise with community impact.

"The program helped me professionally and gave me opportunities to meet new people and serve the Dallas community. Doing community service is a great way to get to know the kind of issues that the area you're in faces and what can be done to combat those issues" 

Reya's strong focus on service can also be seen through her campus activities. As the social media coordinator for the National Association of Black Accountants at LSU, she designs promotional materials, manages social channels, and plans and leads meetings with fellow executive board members. 

Reya has also volunteered with Geaux Big, served on the MLK Week planning committee, and competed in the Shell Case Competition. Through these activities, she has become a more confident presenter and developed many other professional skills. 

"Being involved on campus has helped me develop professional skills, such as time management and communication. Before I was heavily involved on campus, I wasn't planning out my days or weeks, but adding more things to my schedule forced me to build a calendar. It helped with communication as well. I'm often working with other people, so I have to make sure I'm being collaborative to get things done."

With a strong foundation in digital marketing, analytics, and leadership, Reya is poised to apply her skills to make a lasting impact in every space she enters.