Alumni Spotlight
Lindsey Eubanks

by: Spencer Smith, PR student intern
 
Lindsey Eubanks received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Theatre in 2009 from Mississippi State University.

Eubanks grew up in New Orleans. After receiving her degree, she accepted a marketing position at THINK Creative Intelligence Agency in Ridgeland, Miss. In this position, Eubanks ran social media content for statewide brands, optimized Google Ad Campaigns, and managed up to 13 separate clients.

After deciding to try contract labor, Eubanks founded Startorix Media Solutions. With this new job, she develops local, regional, and national brands for industries including, medical clinics, hospital recruiters, restaurants, law firms, manufacturers, and telecommunications. Daily responsibilities for Eubanks consist of, running and optimizing Google Ad Campaigns, brand account management for up to 11 separate clients, search engine optimization, scheduling commercial production for clients, booking billboards for advertisers, blog writing, crafting press releases, media buying and placement, auditing media buys, and social media content creation, both graphics and copy writing.

Eubanks shares that when preparing for the job search, students should develop their understanding of what a “good fit” means for them and the company they plan to work for.

“The fit should happen on both sides simultaneously. If the company is good for you, but you're not good for the company, keep exploring, and vice versa. Get on LinkedIn, develop the job experiences on your profile, turn on "Open to Opportunities" and let the games begin.”

An important piece of advice Eubanks has for students considering graduate school is to make the most fiscally responsible decision for your career.

“If the move to graduate school creates more debt and doesn't significantly change your ability to move up in your industry of choice or enhance your salary significantly, it may not be for you. Many people still have a fruitful career with just a bachelor’s degree.”

Favorite memory as a communication student?
Using Napster to sound design “The Mineola Twins” for the downstairs lab theater. 

Favorite communication class you took and why?
Photographic Communication with Wendy Roussin. She once told the class that “there is no greater lie than a photograph, it only captures a brief instance of time. It is the truth, but only for a moment.” 

Most valuable lesson learned from the communication department?
You are not bound to a singular profession with a Communications degree - even with a concentration in Theatre. This idea that Theatre majors can only perform and can’t transfer these skills into other industries…It's a farce! For my experience, Theatre translated into branding for businesses, and while they may seem unrelated, each show we ever produced in college was practically its own brand.

Any funny stories from your time in McComas?
I created a social media profile for McComas Hall and then put that I was "married" to it on Facebook. A few people who weren't from MSU and didn't know it was a joke congratulated me on my recent "nuptials". But, in all seriousness, if you're a Theatre major, you're all married to McComas Hall. 

Favorite communication professor and why?
Robert Wayne Durst. He was the king of re-purposing and ingenuity. The man would take scraps of wood and show young adults how to recycle and Macguyver the previously-used material into magnificent sets for Theatre MSU shows.

What are you passionate about?
Rare Disease Advocacy--in my spare time, I’m a hobby lobbyist. My son was diagnosed with a rare terminal illness, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, in 2018. My extensive training in Theatre carved my path to become a rare disease legislative advocate and one of Biogen’s ambassadors for Spinraza, one of the only existing treatments for SMA. I achieved first-time success lobbying to add Spinal Muscular Atrophy to newborn screenings in the state of Mississippi. While SMA was added to the federal RUSP, adding the condition to the existing panel is determined by state legislation. Meetings took place with the genetic advisory committee, the Mississippi Department of Health, and our congresspeople in Washington D.C.