Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

When you think of student employees working in Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration, it’s easy to imagine future accountants, marketers, or financial analysts gaining relevant experience. But Grawn Hall is home to a broader mix of talent—and students outside the college are discovering just how much they can grow by stepping into a business-focused environment.

Take graphic design majors Skky Lawrence of Detroit, Mich., and Amy Adams of Three Rivers, Mich., for example. Both seniors, they joined the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship’s student team early in their college careers—and both credit the experience with expanding their design skills and career confidence.

“Being part of this team gave me so many unexpected skills,” Lawrence said. “I thought I was signing up to help with some marketing projects and get experience for my résumé. I didn’t know I’d come out of it learning how to lead, how to work under pressure, how to communicate when things are stressful, or how to present professionally. The growth has been crazy.”

For Adams, being part of a fast-paced creative team taught her how to manage projects, respond to feedback, and work collaboratively.

“We get to design for real events and programs, and they really trust us,” Adams said. “It’s not like we’re just practicing—it’s real work.”

Izabella Rumbel, a freshman elementary education major from Gaylord, Mich., has found her niche in writing long-form articles for the college.

“I’ve always loved writing, but this job has shown me how to write professionally,” Rumbel said. “It’s helping me grow my voice and be more confident communicating with others.”

Cinema arts major Matt Wright of Grandville, Mich., supported the team through video editing and visual storytelling—skills that enhanced the College of Business Administration’s digital outreach and strengthened his creative portfolio.

Liv O’Toole, an English major from Saginaw, Mich., contributed to storytelling efforts, blending her writing experience with hands-on collaboration and promotional strategy.

Integrative public relations major Megan Mearnic from River Rouge, Mich., collaborated with social media team members to develop engaging Instagram campaigns and supported event reporting within the College of Business.

Alexandra Tucker, a graphic design major from Mount Pleasant, Mich., joined the CBA design team just before her junior year. “Before I even interviewed, I was asking people, 'Do I actually have a chance in design?’” she said. “Working here gave me confidence. I could see my work go from a flyer to a banner to a T-shirt—and it made me feel light years ahead of my classmates.”

Tucker said the experience helped her build technical skills and discover her voice as a designer. “I learned how to make design decisions, think critically about what matters, and find creative solutions,” she said. “That translated directly to my capstone project, where I felt ready to step up and help guide the direction of the work.”

Each of these students brings something unique to the team—and each has gained something in return: a deeper understanding of how business works, how communication happens across departments, and how to advocate for their own ideas.

“At first, I wasn’t sure I’d fit in,” Lawrence said. “But there are all kinds of personalities here. I learned how to communicate with people who think differently than I do, and how to explain what I need from them to do my best work.”

For students considering applying to roles within the college, Lawrence offers simple advice:

“You don’t have to be a business major. If you’re willing to learn and work hard, you’ll fit right in.”