Emily Rodriguez

After being born and raised in Bronx, New York, Emily Rodriguez found herself in Houston, Texas, when her mom relocated the family just as Rodriguez was entering high school. So how did a student who had never set foot in Connecticut end up at Western Connecticut State University? Because of her cousins.

“I have twin cousins in Torrington, Alexander and Christopher Rodriguez, and they wanted to attend WestConn,” she explained. “We stayed in touch when I was in Texas, and we decided that we all wanted to go to college together.”

All three enrolled as Computer Science majors, having researched computing careers and determining that a high-paying job would likely be the outcome after graduation. Emily soon realized her learning style wasn’t compatible with her course work, and considered changing her major to Psychology. Further research revealed that a prosperous career in that field would most likely require a graduate degree, so she tried to think of a major that would always be needed, no matter the location or economy, and she pinpointed Business and specifically, Marketing.

“I’m a good communicator with artistic skills and it fits perfectly with Marketing,” Rodriguez said. “I had changed my major to Psychology, but then made it my minor with a Marketing major, because learning about consumer behavior is the intersection of marketing and psychology. You have to think about how you would want a product or service marketed to yourself in order to come up with ideas on how to market to others.”

Despite changing her major, she continued her involvement in Psychology by participating in the Simulated Patient Program. “This program allows students to roleplay as a client with mental health issues or a child in grade school, helping graduate clinical mental health counseling students and graduate school counselors practice their counseling skills and techniques,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been involved in this ever since I changed my Psychology major to a minor as a way to continue applying what I learned in Psychology.”

Rodriguez had arrived on campus with almost two semesters’ worth of credits from Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes in high school, so she entered WestConn a year ahead.  She said her cousins have been her closest friends and have provided the support she needed to allow her to feel comfortable while discovering her true interests. They discovered theirs as well, both becoming Cybersecurity majors.

She joined the African-Caribbean Student Association (ACSA) and rose to the position of eBoard Treasurer. She also learned she had an interest in fashion when she participated in the club’s Fashion Show. “I didn’t even know I liked fashion until I got here and joined ACSA,” she said. “The clubs at WestConn really give you a community and a sense of involvement. I have learned about other cultures and their way of life, which lets me appreciate them and also appreciate my Dominican culture more as well.”

Emily Rodriguez with her peers in the Western Marketing Association at the AMA Conference in New Orleans.

She also joined WestConn’s award-winning American Marketing Association student chapter, the Western Marketing Club (WMA), where she now serves as an eBoard director of DEI and Social Impact. “The club has really made me feel comfortable with my decision to major in Marketing,” she said. “Last year, I went to the AMA Conference in New Orleans and it was amazing. I was shocked at how many marketers were in the same room. It was incredible to meet people, learn their skills and stories, and make future connections through networking. The competitions were also very eye-opening to the fact that what I’m learning in my college marketing classes, I’m going to use again. I will definitely get to apply what I’ve learned in my courses and by the time I graduate, I’ll have some experience under my belt.”

Rodriguez also fine-tuned her marketing skills as a Fizz Lead Ambassador. “Alongside my cousins, I played a key role in launching and promoting Fizz at WCSU, a social platform designed to foster student connections. Together, we developed and executed marketing strategies to create awareness, organized and managed the launch campaign, and engaged students through various promotional efforts. By leveraging social media, digital marketing, and word-of-mouth outreach, we helped expand the app’s presence on campus. Working as a team, we led a group of ambassadors, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to maximize engagement. This experience allowed us to strengthen our marketing, leadership, and communication skills while gaining hands-on experience in brand promotion and campaign execution.”

Emily Rodriguez leading her first group as an Orientation Leader.

In addition to building her resume and confidence in student clubs, Rodriguez also has taken advantage of several work-study internship experiences. She has worked in the Career Success Center, been a clubs office assistant for the Center for Student Involvement; a marketing intern for the university’s campus dining services; and a summer orientation leader, where she loved connecting with new students. This semester, she has a marketing internship at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, where she helps promote, staff and set up for events.

Rodriguez expects to graduate in December 2025, after which she wants to work at a marketing agency to see how they run, or start her own business offering both drawing and creative services. She hopes to dive more into videography and filmmaking to supplement her already impressive credentials.

“I’ve learned a lot at WestConn,” Rodriguez said. I’ve really found my place. I’ve had a chance to travel and learn about different cultures, meet other people and network, and develop job skills. I’ve learned how to explore, and this school has taught me that there’s so much more.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.