Monique Barron: taking on the Titans
Chris Pepple |
Lipscomb senior Monique Barron didn’t back down from a challenge. She knew that an internship with a nationally recognized firm would give her excellent experience in her field before her graduation. As a journalism major with a minor in political science, Barron wanted to move outside of her comfort zone and tackle an internship that would broaden her knowledge of her field and add depth to her portfolio. She applied for and was accepted into an internship with the Tennessee Titans although she has no sports work experience and isn’t considered a sports enthusiast.
“That’s what is so wonderful about an internship,” said Barron. “You can get experience in a new area. When I applied for the position, I didn’t know anything about the Titans. The people I interviewed with, however, saw that I had a great portfolio. They gave me books about the history of the Titans and gave me a chance to learn. This internship is more than getting a grade or getting class credit. I want to do well because I know this is an opportunity to gain great experience in an area that will make me a stronger journalist.”
Barron, originally from Memphis, hopes to become a news anchor after completing undergraduate and graduate school. While with the Titans, she will work with Gary Glenn, who oversees the team’s official web site and publications. He spent four years with the Atlanta Falcons as a public relations assistant before coming to Nashville to work with the Titans. As his assistant, Barron will aid in the production of the team’s media guide and yearbook and contribute news articles for the web site, yearbook and media guide. She will assist with the collection and archiving of press conference transcripts and help archive materials from the web site as the site transitions between seasons. She will also learn about and assist with the NFL draft coverage and football minicamps.
“When Monique started coming into the Career Development Center, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She took the initiative and did all of the work. We helped her build her portfolio and gave her access to internship listings we keep in our database. She was persistent in applying for open positions. She stepped out of her comfort zone to build skills and gain experience with a nationally known team,” said Leslie Ellis Shelby, assistant director of career development at Lipscomb.
“We can work with students on building skills required to locate opportunities and take advantage of those opportunities. Some students don’t realize what all we have to offer in our center. This internship will help Monique be a well-rounded candidate for future positions. It will give her additional skills to reach her ultimate career goal,” added Shelby.
Along with seeking off-campus internships, Barron also uses many opportunities on campus to strengthen her skills and help her create a strong portfolio. She served as a news editor and as the office manager for the Babbler. She was recently elected historian for the Society of Professional Journalists and has been a member of the Student Alumni Association.
“I am pursuing a career as a news anchor to convey news in a way that portrays truth, accuracy and compassion for situations that seem to challenge my faith. I hope to present media to the world in such a way that allows people to watch the news and feel confident in how that news is presented,” said Barron.