Dylan Evangelista-Encarnacion '16

Advertising and Promotions, Music Millenium

Master of Arts (MA) in Advertising, Academy of Art University

Major: Communication Studies

My time at UP was significant in choosing my career path. I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do when I started out, and the university gave me a chance to really test a few things and discover what excited me.  When I discovered the Communication major, I found that there were topics that really caught my interest. As I dove into my studies, I realized that I was at a good starting point for a career in marketing.

As a designer and marketer, I understand what it takes to persuade a consumer. However, those skills didn’t always translate to recruiters - and more importantly, to recruiting software. The Career Center helped me learn to articulate my skills to get me through the application process and land a job.

I have spent the bulk of my career working as a Social Media Manager and Content Creator in the craft beer industry. My first job after graduation was the Marketing Assassin at Rogue Ales & Spirits. (Yes, that’s really the name of the position!) That role really tested my limits as a marketer and creative. It showed me where I could improve and where I needed even further guidance on my career path. It gave me a dip into the many paths of marketing and really helped me figure out my niche in the industry.

I chose to go to graduate school  because I had some solid experience, but felt I was missing some key fundamentals of marketing and advertising. When looking for a Master’s program I was seeking convenience, quality, and community. I attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco as an online student. I started out in Graphic Design, but ultimately chose Advertising, specializing in Art Direction and Creative Strategy. What made it special was that – because I was already working in the field I was studying - I could apply my studies to real world situations. Some things worked, some didn’t, but I always learned from it.

For current students, my #1 tip is this: Don’t just find a job. Find a brand than aligns with your values or shares your interests. These days, I work in Promotions and Marketing at Music Millennium. This comes full circle for me as I worked with Music Millennium when I helped launch the owner’s signature beer during the summer of 2019. Going forward, I am excited to take all my experiences and make them my own in this position.