From the Classroom: Emma Lemler
Emma Lemler
For Emma Lemler, Absolute Communication (COMM 3630) offered a direct window into what a career in strategic communication can look like beyond the classroom—complete with real clients, real expectations, and real deliverables.
Lemler, a junior majoring in strategic communication with a minor in business administration, served as the account executive for her team in the Department of Communication’s signature capstone course. Taught by Associate Adjunct Professor Kevin Bischoff, Absolute Communication operates as a full-service, student-run advertising and public relations agency, pairing upper-division students with real-world clients to develop professional-level campaigns.
Lemler said she chose to enroll in Absolute Communication after taking Bischoff’s Media Writing course during her sophomore year, where he encouraged her to pursue the class for its hands-on, applied approach. She credits the course with delivering exactly what she hoped for: practical experience that translates directly to post-graduate work.
Her team’s client was The Alta Club, a private business and social club founded in 1883 that has evolved into a space for dining, networking, events, meetings, and lodging. The client’s goal was to connect leaders across generations by honoring tradition while inspiring innovation and strengthening the Salt Lake community.
As account executive, Lemler helped lead the development of a comprehensive strategic deck presented to The Alta Club and its board. The team’s work included target audience analysis, a refined mission statement, a content calendar, newsletter concepts, an email campaign, a digital advertising strategy, and social media examples designed to support the club’s long-term vision.
One of the team’s key contributions was developing the tagline “Connecting leaders across generations,” which has since been adopted by The Alta Club as its official tagline. The club plans to use it across its social media, website, and external correspondence, giving the students’ work a lasting presence beyond the course.
One of Lemler’s biggest takeaways from the course was how closely it mirrored professional marketing environments. She currently works as a marketing coordinator for NuTrail, a nuts-and-seeds-based granola brand, and said the challenges she encounters on the job were directly reflected in her work for Absolute Communication. Rather than quizzes or exams, the course centered on solving real problems through branding and marketing strategy—skills she plans to carry throughout her career.
Looking ahead, Lemler hopes to build a career in marketing, with a long-term goal of growing into a chief marketing officer role in retail, consumer packaged goods, or another industry where strategy and storytelling intersect.
Outside of the classroom, Lemler swam for the University of Utah for two years as a backstroker and freestyler. She also enjoys music, snowboarding, and spending time with friends. Balancing coursework with her role as a marketing coordinator, she says, has been demanding but deeply valuable, reinforcing the connection between her academic work and professional growth.
Students interested in learning more about communication courses can contact the Department of Communication’s academic advisors at comm-advisor@utah.edu