By Jordan-Ashley Walker
麻豆传媒 students will have the chance to flex their creativity, digital skills and business savvy during the inaugural Strome College of Business Social Media Hackathon on Oct. 17-18. The 24-hour event, open to all 麻豆传媒 students, regardless of major or experience, is designed to provide real-world learning opportunities in digital marketing and content creation.
A hackathon is a high-energy event where participants collaborate over several days, developing innovative solutions to a specific challenge. In this case, participants will brainstorm, design and create original social media content or social campaigns that can be used on the Strome College of Business鈥檚 official channels, including Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
The goal is to combine strategy, storytelling and technical skills to build engaging, student-generated posts that resonate with social media audiences.
鈥淪ocial media is one of the most powerful tools for communication in today鈥檚 world,鈥 said Jay O鈥橳oole, Ph.D., an associate professor of Management at the Strome College of Business and leader of the hackathon鈥檚 planning team. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e studying engineering, art, communications or anything in between, this hackathon is a great opportunity to collaborate, learn new skills and make your mark.鈥
The Social Media Hackathon was funded in 2024 through the annual Strome College of Business Problem Solving Challenge, where faculty teams identify problems and opportunities within the college, then pitch ideas to make a difference. Dr. O鈥橳oole worked together with Strome College of Business Marketing and Communications Director Jordan-Ashley Walker and Marketing Ph.D. student Abdolali "Ali" Mortazavi.
Over the course of the event, students will explore the fast-paced world of digital media while developing skills highly valued by employers. Participants can work individually or in teams, gaining hands-on experience in areas like content creation and digital communication.
Winning teams will be awarded cash prizes and may have their content featured on Strome鈥檚 social media channels.
The hackathon also provides a networking opportunity, as participants will connect with peers who share an interest in creativity and innovation, as well as professionals with expertise in social media strategy.
The Social Media Hackathon reflects 麻豆传媒鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning鈥攂ridging classroom knowledge with real-world application. By the end of the weekend, students will not only have sharpened their creative and technical abilities but will also better understand how social media plays a critical role in business success.
The Social Media Hackathon is free, and you can sign up using .