Digital marketing internship develops creativity, data analysis, and empathy for one Costello senior

When an email from AARP pops into your inbox, a Gen-Z rising senior at George Mason University is probably not who you first think is on the other side of that send. But Jack Sorenson, a marketing major in the Costello College of Business, is one of the faces behind the digital newsletters.

Sorenson knew he wanted an internship this summer, "ideally at a large, well-known business-to-consumer and mission-driven organization in the DC area." Costello's Career Services helped him find opportunities based on his criteria, skills, and goals. AARP was one of the options. And when AARP tabled at one of George Mason's career fairs, he made sure to introduce himself to a recruiter.

As a digital marketing intern, Sorenson works on a few projects, including supporting several of AARP's newsletters in both content creation and engagement analysis. "I love marketing because it sits at the intersection of creativity and analytics," he said, "and this role really exemplifies that."

From content selection through performance analysis, Sorenson is part of a newsletter's full lifecycle. That comes with hands-on experience with leading industry tools like Adobe, Microsoft Office, Tableau, and Palantir. His colleagues at AARP are proof that knowing the tools is an advantage in the job market.

"I met a former intern who got a great job at another organization because of his experience with digital tools while at AARP," Sorenson said. "Experiential learning is probably one of the biggest benefits of any internship."

Soft skills are important, too. AARP's audience is, primarily, those 50 and older: a much different demographic than Sorenson, a rising senior, is used to interfacing with. But adapting to the audience is a key skill he's developing that will serve him well in future positions. "It's definitely taught me a lot about how to think beyond my own little echo chamber," he said. "We might be inclined to think that people within a demographic might all be similar but seeing how their audience interacts with marketing shows that's just not the case. It's actually a huge audience with varied needs and wants."

That empathy extends beyond audience dashboards. "I'm more conscious now of how I interact with older demographics. I'm more curious about their lives and what they need."

AARP extended Sorenson's internship through the fall semester, with potential for further extension through spring 2027. Sorenson notes that, while AARP is developing critical skills for his future career, it's the strong foundation from George Mason and Costello that makes his growth possible.

"I think one of the biggest advantages of Costello is that you're not just learning concepts through an exam, you're developing skills you can take into the workplace," he said. "I came into the internship already understanding a lot of the concepts and terminology, as well as knowing things like executive control, active listening, and collaboration: skills that are just as important in a professional environment."