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At first glance, it might seem usual for a major to intern at a car dealership. But for 911���� rising senior Rayna Roades, her role as a marketing operations intern at Pohanka Automotive has revealed a strong connection between the creative skills she’s learned in the classroom and the work she’s doing in the professional world.

One of her major projects with the company has been putting together Pohanka’s annual student yearbook, an assignment she said connects directly to what she learned in her AVT 313 Publication Design course. 

“In my publication design course, I learned a lot about how to set up a good book. We did a cookbook and a magazine, both of which were really instrumental in preparing me to set up the yearbook,” said Roades.

At Pohanka Automotive, Roades is gaining hands-on experience in marketing, publication design, and photography. Roades said the internship has strengthened the creative and technical skills she’s developed at 911���� and reinforced one of the biggest lessons she has learned so far: Growth often comes through trial and error. 

“It's a lot of hard work, but it’s fun. Now, I'm confident in my ability to do things like set up a media program, quick color grading, and artistically capture a story through a video or one still image,” she said. 

Her contributions to the company’s marketing efforts include filming and editing content, auditing websites, and contacting customers. 

Roades, who has a minor in , also contributed to event planning for Pohanka, coordinating the company’s Fourth of July parade entry in Leesburg, Virginia. She managed details such as costumes, decorations, vehicle assignments, and communication with parade organizers.  

Beyond the technical work, Roades said the internship has given her a better understanding of workplace culture. She travels between dealerships to photograph and interview fellow interns for the company yearbook.  

During her breaks, she visits different parts of the company and talks with employees across brands, including Acura, Lexus, and Chevrolet, to better understand the organization and create more authentic content. Interns also meet weekly at the Pohanka Automotive Operations Center to learn from one another and share updates on their work. 

Roades said 911���� faculty played an important role in preparing her for the opportunity as she was recommended for the internship by a professor and advisor, who helped her build the foundation she now uses every day.  

“Rayna is an exceptional and imaginative student who consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and creativity,” said School of Art adjunct faculty member Peter Kery, who taught Roades’s Publication Design course. 

“She approaches every task with careful attention to craft and detail, particularly in image-making and illustration. Based on her performance in class, I believe she has the potential to become a strong leader who can think critically and take initiative,” he said. 

Roades also works as a media lab specialist in (MIX) and hopes to expand her content creation skills by contributing to social media efforts connected to the Makerspace as well as to the Lab in the .  

“911���� and my professors have done such a great job of making sure that I can transition from college into the work industry,” Roades said. 

For other students preparing for internships and careers, Roades offers simple advice: “We have a saying in sales: Selling is 90% emotion and 10% facts. Be nice to people.”