» T op Dog
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This year’s firm director, Allison Dininger ’27 (Public Relations), says the opportunity to work with Top Dog is one of the main reasons she chose UIndy. “UIndy is smaller and much more hands-on than other programs I considered,” said Dininger. “Knowing that there were real-world opportunities, getting one-on-one help from people and being able to do work that I will be doing after I graduate was a huge selling point for me.” Among the clients for the fall semester, Top Dog is working with the non-profit Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County and a UIndy alum who is looking to build a brand for her photography business. Depending on the project, students may write press releases, design websites, do a brand analysis or create social media posts—whatever the client needs. Jordan Nussear ’20 (Public Relations) is a Top Dog alum as well as the faculty advisor for the class. She credits the program with creating lifelong friendships and tapping into an engaged alumni network in addition to preparing her for her first job. She now works as a communications project coordinator for Cummins, Inc. “I tell my students on the first day of class, Top Dog made my college experience,” said Nussear. “It set me up so well for life after graduation by teaching me the skills that would be asked of me in the workplace. Compared to a traditional lecture- based class, it gives students the opportunity to be more hands-on, to interact with each other and build leadership skills in a way that is really valuable.”
ANGLES-UP Innovation Studio
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The first project is already complete and almost a dozen more are in various stages of development. Newton is encouraged by how many businesses are willing to partner with UIndy to meet their own needs and provide Greyhound students with valuable project experiences. “Candidates with real experience on their resume stuck out head and shoulders above others like a red flashing bolt,” said Newton. “If we say that we’re giving our students experience, then we really have to deliver that—and I think we’re doing just that. They’re getting the ticket to play and we’re also giving them opportunities they need to stand out in the real world.”
Students work as project managers and work directly with companies and organizations that rely on their ideas. “The Innovation Studio will help our students be ready for the workforce and stand out from the pack,” said Carissa Newton, director of Innovation Studio, assistant professor of practice, and director of the Stephen F. Fry Scholars Program. “When I was hiring for an open position and would get a stack of résumés, I would see a lot of people who had the ticket to play—the degree—but far too many candidates had merely an academic marketing degree with no real experience.”
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MAGAZINE // WINTER 2025
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