Brittney Darcy ’21, Social Media Marketing Manager for Moore House Design x ROWEAM, turned her lifelong love of social media into a career. Throughout her time at URI, she took advantage of all opportunities, including the Social Media Agency internship and hands-on courses.
How did you get started in Social Media marketing?
I’ve always been online in a creative way, back when MySpace was a thing, then Vine, and eventually Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Creating has always come naturally to me. I was staging photoshoots with friends and family, borrowing my family’s film and digital cameras, and experimenting with how to tell and share a story through what I see.
I was in New York with my sister at the time, who was in school to become a makeup artist, so I began posting her work, marketing her to everyone I met, and naturally stepping into public relations and social media, honestly, without even realizing that’s what I was doing. As things evolved, I remember asking myself, “How do I turn this into a career? This comes naturally to me, so how can I make a living from it?” This experience gave me the confidence to go and pursue it, so I applied to URI and have been building my career in social media marketing ever since.
How did URI help prepare you for your career?
The professors I had were wonderful and very hands-on. I am naturally very curious, so I would schedule time with professors and ask as many questions as I could, whether it was about how they started their careers or what advice they would give me. I took that time seriously and applied what I learned both in my life and in the classroom.
By my last year, I got an internship working for the Harrington School on their social team, and Leah Pisari, who runs the Social Media Agency, was my mentor. I learned so much from her, and that experience really helped prepare me for what life would be like in this career once I graduated. I have a lot to thank her for, especially for her guidance and leadership.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a current URI student?
Be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Take advantage of meeting with your professors, find mentors, and use the resources around you. The more you show up, ask for feedback, and apply what you’re learning outside of the classroom, the more confident and prepared you’ll be. Also, trust and find what comes naturally to you.
What is one of your favorite memories from URI?
My internship. Leah truly made my experience at URI very special. She gave me the autonomy and freedom to explore, and she believed in both the work and my vision. That support has stayed with me ever since!
What is one of your favorite parts about your career?
One of my favorite parts of my career is getting to create and build a brand using the skills I have accumulated over the years. I love being multifaceted, and my career allows me to create content, tell stories through visuals, writing, strategy, and creative direction. Seeing how those ideas resonate with an audience and watching the results grow is incredibly fulfilling. Watching ideas start as a concept and turn into something tangible that has impact is deeply rewarding, and for me, that impact comes from helping build a brand and an entire world around it.