SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 — An affinity for creativity and an interest in business sparked Angela Otuokere’s plans to pursue a B.B.A. in Marketing at the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at UTSA. She furthered her passions this summer by working as an intern for the National Football League (NFL).
Otuokere discovered the opportunity through Handshake, UTSA’s student career platform. She applied, was interviewed and was chosen to be a club marketing intern for the NFL’s summer internship program in New York City. She was shocked and thrilled to be chosen for the job.
“I got an email saying that I landed the NFL intern position, and I swear everyone thought I was insane in the (UTSA) Main Building,” said Otuokere, a San Antonio native and first-generation UTSA student whose parents are from Nigeria. “I was crying and screaming and running around in disbelief, and the gravity of it didn’t really sink in until I arrived in New York City.
Otuokere’s experience is an example of UTSA’s commitment to providing students with experiential learning opportunities before they graduate. Through the UTSA Classroom to Career initiative, UTSA is broadening these hands-on learning opportunities for students including internships, service learning, undergraduate research and study-abroad programs that provide them with the hard and soft skills that are in demand by employers.
As part of its strategic plan, UTSA aims for 75% of its undergraduate students to participate in some type of experiential learning by the time they graduate.
Otuokere’s duties included supporting marketing campaigns and initiatives with internal marketing stakeholders across all NFL club marketing programs and driving strong collaboration and communications among all 32 teams of the league.
She participated in daily conference calls with various NFL teams, meetings with marketing managers and learned from NFL leadership about other corporate positions and their roles in making the NFL what we know it to be today.
“It was cool to see how unique each of the clubs is because before coming here. I just thought that all clubs operated the same,” said Otuokere, who is president of the American Marketing Association at UTSA and historian for the university’s African Student Association. “I came to realize how unique each of their marketing strategies was based on where they were located and their different fan bases.”
Additionally, Otuokere was named an Emma Bowen Fellow through the NFL’s partnership with the Emma Bowen Foundation. The organization provides young students of color opportunities in the nation’s leading entertainment, media and tech companies. Selected among a nationwide applicant pool, she was able to network with other fellows and program alumni and network with partnering companies.
“Emma Bowen was a trailblazer in advocating for representation in the broadcasting and journalism world for minorities, which is something I value,” Otuokere said. “Having the chance to be a part of this foundation means everything in the journey that I am on. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people makes a world of difference in both your college and life experiences.”
Entering the last semester of her undergraduate degree this fall, she is grateful to have spent her summer in New York City with the National Football League and the Emma Bowen Foundation, taking with her skills that she will carry throughout her career. Whether pursuing her M.B.A. or going straight into the marketing field, she hopes to align her destiny with her passions and core values.
Knowing that high risk often leads to high reward, Otuokere encourages her fellow Roadrunners to take all the risks possible.
“Joining everything and getting exposure and networking with people is one of the greatest assets you can have,” she said. “I strongly believe that my time and experiences at UTSA are the reason why I landed a position in the NFL. So, I would say just go for it, you are always on time for your life.”
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