Inspire 2026 Faculty on Digital Marketing Summer Course
"I'm always energized by the creativity and enthusiasm of students. I love seeing how each person interprets a marketing challenge and applies what they’ve learned in innovative ways." - Christine Wilson
Digital Marketing explores the core concepts of social media, branding, and audience engagement through interactive projects and real-world challenges. Students will gain hands-on experience with the strategies and tools businesses use to captivate audiences, build strong brands, and drive measurable results. This year’s course also introduces the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing; covering how AI enhances personalization, automates content creation, improves targeting, and transforms the customer experience. Below, meet Christine Wilson, the instructor for Summer 2026!
Meet Professor Christine Wilson:
Q: Tell us about your journey into the world of marketing/business and how you developed your expertise in the field?
A: My path into marketing was somewhat unconventional. I began my career in sales, where I quickly realized how closely sales and marketing are connected. When I started my own business after having children, I was drawn to the flexibility of entrepreneurship and the emerging world of social media marketing. At the time, very few people had formal training or experience in this area, which gave me the opportunity to learn, experiment, and grow alongside the platforms themselves. What began as a one-person consultancy has evolved over the past 14 years into a full-service digital agency working with Fortune 100 and 500 companies, universities, and nonprofits. The constant evolution of digital marketing—and now AI—has made this an incredibly dynamic and rewarding field.
Q: What knowledge and skills can students expect to learn in Digital Marketing this summer?
A: Students will be introduced to the essential pillars of digital marketing, including social media strategy, influencer marketing, digital content creation, website optimization, digital advertising, and email marketing. We’ll also explore analytics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and search engine optimization (SEO). A new focus area this year is AI in marketing—students will learn how AI tools are used to personalize customer experiences, analyze data, generate content, and improve marketing efficiency. The class is highly hands-on, culminating in an individual case study that integrates all of these elements.
Q: Do students need a background in marketing or general business to be successful in this class?
A: Not at all. We’ll start with the fundamentals of digital marketing and build from there. Each day includes hands-on activities that reinforce key concepts. While familiarity with social media platforms or basic design tools like Canva is helpful, no prior experience is required. The course is designed to meet students where they are and help them gain practical, real-world skills by the end of the week.
Q: What advice do you have for students interested in taking Digital Marketing this summer?
A: Spend some time exploring how your favorite brands show up online. Look at how they use different platforms—LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X—and notice how their messaging or visuals change across channels. Ask yourself: What makes their content effective? What could be improved? I’d also recommend experimenting with tools like Canva to get comfortable with basic design and content creation. You don’t need advanced software like Adobe for this class—just curiosity and creativity.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about Inspire this summer?
A: I’m always energized by the creativity and enthusiasm of students. I love seeing how each person interprets a marketing challenge and applies what they’ve learned in innovative ways. This generation is growing up in the middle of a digital and AI-driven transformation, and I’m excited to see how they approach marketing with fresh ideas and perspectives. I have no doubt they’ll surprise me with some incredible work!