A group of Meredith students built connections in the retail industry by participating in the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation Student Program.
The NRF Student Program is meant to be a launching pad for college students interested in the retail industry. Participants hear from executives in all aspects of the field, from merchandising and marketing to design and technology.
Meredith has an NRF chapter through its Fashion Merchandising and Design program. Luna Testa Gimenez, ’26, serves as the current NRF ambassador at Meredith, supporting students and sharing NRF opportunities.
Kinley Copeland, ’27, a graphic design and communication major, appreciated the networking opportunities the program offered.
“While attending NRF, I was able to network with students from all across the country who had similar interests in the retail industry. I was able to meet with job recruiters for potential internship opportunities in a learning space that made me feel comfortable yet confident,” Copeland said. “We also had the opportunity to tour and talk to different companies, such as Kohl’s and Nordstrom, where we met different retail consultants and learned the stories of CEOs.”
Copeland feels the NRF Student Program helped her prepare for the job market.
“This experience helped me become more prepared for what recruiters want and need to hear, as well as learn how to find and apply to new opportunities,” Copeland said.
Business major Keona Pattak, ’27, said participating changed her perspective on potential career opportunities.
“I chose to participate because I’ve always been passionate about fashion and shopping, but I couldn’t find a way to marry it into my professional life. NRF changed everything and opened doors I didn’t even know existed,” Pattak said. “This experience helped me find my niche and something I’m genuinely passionate about to brand and market. The insights I gained and the connections I made are going to directly shape how I approach internships and my career decisions moving forward.”
Connecting with a variety of corporations was a highlight.
“I attended sessions with executives from Walmart, PwC, Uniqlo, and Zara, participated in an executive mentor experience with American Express, connected with recruiters from Under Armour and TJX at a career fair, and explored the entire NRF Big Show floor to see how AI is transforming everything in retail,” Pattak said. “We visited Kohl’s and I got to see firsthand how they use customer data to drive their entire strategy from ideation to the end user.”
Fashion major Gopanandini Arun, ’27, also appreciated the career connections the event provided.
“My favorite part was the career fair. We were tasked with pitching ourselves to different companies offering a variety of internships,” Arun said. “This experience gave me the chance to make once-in-a-lifetime connections with people in the industry. I was able to show my work to many different employers and learn from them what the job is really like.”
The students were accompanied by Meredith fashion merchandising and design faculty members Associate Professor Jessica Palmer and Assistant Professor Hyojung Cho.
Melyssa Allen – News Director
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