Lower Gwynedd Resident Interns with Notre Dame's Athletic Marketing Department

Emily Hess wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines when it came to finding a place to work after graduation.  She wound up on the sidelines at Notre Dame.

Hess is a Lower Gwynedd native who graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2009.  She was hoping to find a position related to sports management.  When one opportunity fell through for Hess, another opened with the help of her determination.

“I thought I had a job when I graduated,” said Hess.  “Things kind of fell through, though.  I spent about five months sitting at home looking for jobs.  I interviewed with about five or six different schools and Notre Dame was one of them.” 

Notre Dame called Hess back for a second interview.  Two days later, she was hired to work as an intern in the marketing and promotions department for one of the most well-known athletic institutions in the country.  Hess began working at Notre Dame in 2010 and is scheduled to remain in South Bend until June of 2012.

“It was pretty cool,” Hess said.  “Having never been out there, I didn’t really get it until I actually got on campus.  I watched “Rudy” all of my life and I have a poster of Rudy in my college dorm room.  It’s really been an amazing experience.”

Hess works with several Notre Dame athletic programs.  She spends much of her time  with volleyball, men’s basketball, football, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse.  One of Hess’s greatest thrills was working with the football team during its game at Yankee Stadium last November.  While working with Notre Dame’s sports teams seems glamorous, Hess puts in countless hours of hard work.

“The 90-hour weeks are not unusual,” said Hess.  “I learned to work my butt off this year.  People think working in sports is all fun and games, but it’s far from that.”

Hess got her first taste of the big time during one of her summers off from college.  She received a marketing internship with the Philadelphia Eagles and had the opportunity to work during training camp n 2009.

“It was great,” Hess said.  “I loved working for the Eagles.  It was one of my first big sports jobs when I was in school.  It really gave me the opportunity to see what a big organization is.  It was awesome to work with them.”

Hess gained valuable experience at UMass.  She credits the structure of the classes in her field for giving her a head start on the competition across the country.

“They have one of the best sports management programs in the country in my mind,” said Hess.  “They give you the experience that’s not just sitting in the classroom and reading a book.  You come out of there a much stronger worker.  You’re definitely poised for a job in the country in any sports field you desire.”

Hess’s desire to work in sports marketing originated in her home town.  Hess attended Gwynedd Mercy Academy and played soccer while keeping involved with other athletic events.  She also began working with another Lower Gwynedd resident and quickly determined her career path.

“I worked with Chris Tatreau Race Consulting.” Hess said.  “I started helping out with the shows when I was 12 years old.  It was definitely where I got my event management start.”

After Hess’s days at Notre Dame come to a close, she is looking to return home and go back to school for her M.B.A.  Hess is hoping it will be the next step towards landing her ideal position.

“I’m a little torn now between college and pro sports,” said Hess.  “But I’m hoping for a marketing director position at a major university on the east coast.”