Liza Danilova is a senior majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications at Wichita
State University. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Danilova came to Kansas as an international
student and has since embraced every opportunity to grow her skills and gain professional
experience in the U.S. With a strong interest in social media management, she has
taken on several roles at WSU that align with her career goals. As graduation approaches,
Danilova’s diverse internships have equipped her with the skills and confidence to
pursue her dream job in the field.
Danilova began her collegiate academic journey at Cowley County Community College,
where she was already gaining hands-on experience. There, she held the role of Social
Media Ambassador, as a full-ride scholarship, and was a Sports Videographer for her
campus job — positions that not only supported her financially but also laid the groundwork
for future opportunities at Wichita State.
“Those early experiences helped prepare me for the opportunities I now have at Wichita
State University. Since then, I have grown in both confidence and skill,” Danilova
said.
Since transferring to Wichita State, Danilova has continued to build on that momentum
through roles in multiple departments. She has served as a media intern for the Fairmount
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences since August 2024. In Spring 2025, she also worked
as a social media marketing assistant for the College of Fine Arts.
In her role with the College of Fine Arts, she contributed video production and curated
content for the college’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. She also wrote feature
stories for the College of Fine Arts, applying what she learned about AP Style in
class. One such example is herarticle profiling Dr. Irma Puškarević, assistant professor of graphic design.
When the spring semester ended, so did that role—just in time for her to begin a summer
internship with the Shocker Career Accelerator. As the Shocker Career Accelerator’s
social media intern, Danilova manages multiple platforms and creates content to promote
student career resources. The work builds on her experience but also challenges her
to engage with new audiences.
“It is important to tailor content. That has been one of the most valuable lessons
for me: even with a shared skill set, your approach must adapt to each audience,”
she said.
Each position has further affirmed her choice of major. Her first Wichita State internship
with the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences opened doors to her subsequent
roles with the College of Fine Arts and the Shocker Career Accelerator. Both of those
internships were funded through WSU’s Applied Learning Fund, which provided paid,
hands-on experiences—and solidified her passion for the field.
“There is no doubt I have chosen the right major. Thanks to these internships, I have
gained real-world marketing and communications experience, and I genuinely love what
I do. I am looking forward to building a full-time career in this field after graduation
in December 2025,” Danilova said.
Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience
with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.
For more information, contact theShocker Career Acceleratorat (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visitwichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita
State campus.
