Dr. Zahay at DM days.
Since 1993, the NIU Department of Marketing and the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing Education Foundation (CADMEF) have partnered to develop and implement the Interactive Marketing Area of Study as an internet marketing course area that covers search engine optimization, techniques of internet marketing and other aspects of e-business. The Chicago Association has witnessed tremendous growth in the Interactive Marketing industry in the past decade, and the availability of qualified human resources to serve this growth has not met demand. The NIU-CADMEF partnership was developed to foster Interactive Marketing education at NIU to prepare students for careers in the Interactive Marketing industry. CADMEF provides student scholarships, seed money for program needs (such as brochures, resume books), faculty internship support, student internship opportunities, and curriculum development grant funding. CADMEF has helped to find a corporate sponsor for a named professorship in Interactive Marketing. Dr. Debra L. Zahay currently holds the title "Acxiom Corporation Professor of Interactive Marketing".
To date, 75 students have completed this area of study and over 400 students have been exposed to Interactive Marketing through the Interactive Marketing class. Program alumni find their exposure to Interactive Marketing rewarding--personally and professionally. The students learn search marketing (SEM0, Search engine optimization (SEO), techniques of internet marketing such as email marketing, and learn other e-business concepts. There is no comparable program in the Chicago area for those seeking an internet marketing program at the undergraduate level.
"The background in internet marketing, particularly search engine optimization
(SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) really provided me with a background
to obtain a job in internet marketing. Without the internet marketing program,
I would not have been as well prepared.."
-Mike Stanczak, Performics.
“The Interactive Marketing program gave me the foundation of knowledge I needed to pursue my interest in the field of Internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and search engine marketing (SEM).”
-Courtney Danner, eClick Performance.
"The Direct Marketing class gave me another option in the marketing field to pursue. I learned a lot about direct marketing, and I feel that the class gave me a competitive edge over other graduates seeking a career in Direct and Internet Marketing."
-Jeffrey Hoffman, Experian
"Dr. Zahay’s class significantly increased my job prospects
for graduation by providing me with valuable online marketing skills gained
through, in
particular, project work for companies like Microsoft as well as by active
participation in specially hosted industry events and symposiums."
-George Jones, Performics
"From a small business owner perspective we are juggling so many
responsibilities that employee training is very difficult to manage. One
of the best
assets of a new graduate is the ability to come in day 1 and be productive.
I think this program gives the students the tools to contribute the first day
on the job giving them a competitive edge in the marketplace."
-Cary Chessick, Restaurant.com
"Integrated marketing, primarily in the B to B arena, is a relatively
new and extremely critical concept in doing business in this millennium.
Identifying
markets, as well as participating in an integrated program, puts these students
years ahead of both their peers, as well as people already established
in the business world. In addition, this application thought process being
taught, is the foundation to a long and successful career."
-Rob Reichstien, eDoc Communications
"The courses in the Interactive Marketing program gave me the skills
and confidence to compete successfully for internships and jobs in this area.
The project allowed me to put a direct marketing plan together from scratch
for an actual not-for profit firm. I used that experience to obtain an internship
with a direct and interactive agency and then a full-time job with The Bradford
Group. I would not have stood out from the crowd if I did not have the skills
and competencies I developed in NIU's Interactive Marketing area of study."
-Nicole Gonzales, The Bradford Group
For more information: CADMEF website