Public Relations & Social Media Internship Program
The Minnesota Zoo’s public relations and social media department is responsible for working with all areas of the Zoo, the media, and community partners to increase public awareness, generate an understanding of, and excitement for the Minnesota Zoo and its programs. Internships in this area work with the marketing team on keeping positive Zoo stories in the news and disseminating key messages that reflect the Zoo’s overall mission and vision.
Year-Round Internship Opportunities:
Approximately 10 -14 weeks, up to 40 hours per week; weekdays with some evening and weekend work required. Start and end dates are flexible.
The marketing and public relations department is very diverse and fast-paced. This is hands-on position includes:
- Writing news releases, public service announcements and other media-related assignments
- Coordinating media events
- Researching and writing copy for the Minnesota Zoo website
- Coordinating publicity for various Zoo programs
- Assisting with onsite media as requested
- Assisting with photography needs
- Assisting with offsite media or Zoo events
- Organizing media hits from print, broadcast, web, etc.
- Assisting with social media efforts, including daily posts, blogs and promotions
- Assisting with guest surveys
- Other duties as assigned
You will also have the opportunity to cross-train with the sales departments as well as perform additional general office duties.
To be considered for an interview, please include the following:
- Resume
- 2 -3 writing samples
- Cover letter that answers the following questions:
- What are your career goals, and how would this internship help you achieve them?
- What do you hope to gain from this internship?
- What kind of coursework and/or experience do you have that would make you a valuable Zoo PR/Social media intern?
For more information, please contact:
Internship Coordinator Jill Wallin, Human Resources
13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124
E-mail: jill.wallin@state.mn.us
Phone: 952.431.9219
Toll-free: 800.366.7811 ext. 219
Fax: 952.431.9211
TTY: 800.627.3529
Tags: classes, College, course, Dakota County, DCTC, education, internship, marketing, Minnesota, Minnesota zoo, MN, position, public relations, sales, social media, Technical College, training, Twin Cities, zoo
Carie Statz is a marketing and sales instructor. She began teaching at DCTC in 1998.
Carie is pursuing her doctorate in business administration (DBA), has a master's degree in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has a bachelor's degree in from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she minored in Spanish and majored in mass communications with an emphasis on advertising and public relations.
At the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, she pursued general studies in Spanish and anthropology. She also attended the Grantsmanship Training Program at Marquette University.
Carie continues her education through software upgrades and Web applications. She also attends seminars, courses, and conferences covering new trends in marketing and graphic design.
Her nonprofit marketing experience includes supervisory positions at DCTC, UWM, and the Community Action Program of Janesville, Wisconsin. Her for-profit experience includes work for Walt Disney World, Oscar Mayer Foods, and TCF Bank of Wisconsin.
Carie published "How the News Media Affects the Public's Perception of Crime" as her thesis.
In 2003 and 2007, Carie was nominated as "DCTC Instructor of the Year." As DCTC's marketing director, she won several awards for marketing materials, including radio and television commercials as well as viewbooks and catalogs. In 2003, she won the Silver IABC Award for designing the college's 2002-2003 viewbook.
Regarding her teaching philosophy, Carie strives to "bring the real world into the classroom as much as possible so students are prepared for work upon graduation."
The best part of her job as a DCTC instructor is hearing from internship supervisors about how they would rather hire a prepared student from DCTC than another student from a four-year college.
Carie is a member of the American Marketing Association and does volunteer work for Treasurers of the Heart and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
