Penn State student connects psychology, art and marketing through internship

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Sonia Lloyd first came to Penn State, she didn’t expect psychology, art and marketing to become part of the same career path. But as she explored new classes, joined organizations and gained professional experience, she began to see how her interests could work together.

Now, Lloyd, a fourth-year student double majoring in psychology and art, is preparing to graduate a semester early in December. She has also found a career path that brings those interests together: marketing.

This past summer, Lloyd put that combination into practice as a marketing and operations intern with Strong Tower Associates, a State College retirement and financial planning firm. Lloyd connected with Strong Tower Associates at the University’s Spring Career Days and received enrichment funding through the College of the Liberal Arts’ Victors Internship Fund to help support her summer experience. She was among 45 Liberal Arts students to benefit from the fund this past summer.

“The job fair last spring and the enrichment funding have had the biggest impact on my career direction,” Lloyd said. “At the job fair, I connected with Strong Tower Associates and got my summer internship.”

Because Strong Tower Associates has fewer than 10 employees, Lloyd took on responsibilities across both marketing and operations. She created a brand kit and marketing materials, managed social media, assisted with event planning and developed training resources and standard operating procedures to help make internal processes more efficient.

One project in particular gave Lloyd the chance to see the impact of her work when she was responsible for planning and creating a year’s worth of marketing materials for clients and prospective clients.

“It required a tremendous amount of work for one person to complete, but I found efficient workflows that suited me and allowed me to produce quality work,” Lloyd said. “The idea that my work will directly contribute to the growth and prosperity of Strong Tower Associates, as well as provide accessible financial education to hundreds of people, is something that I take great pride in.”

Her internship ultimately led to an offer to return to Strong Tower Associates after graduation as a full-time marketing and operations coordinator.

While Lloyd now sees marketing as a natural fit, it was not always part of her plan. She entered Penn State studying art education before switching to art and added psychology after taking PSYCH 100 Introductory Psychology with Clinical Professor of Psychology Brian Crosby during her first year.

“I fell in love with the subject and its interdisciplinary nature,” Lloyd said.

She has continued exploring psychology as a research assistant in the Personnel Evaluations and Assessments for Retention and Learning (PEARL) Lab in Penn State’s Department of Psychology, where her work focuses on industrial and organizational psychology and how psychology can be applied in professional settings.

As Lloyd gained experience in different areas, she began to see connections among her interests rather than viewing them as separate paths.

“Marketing seems to be the perfect intersection for these subsets of experience,” Lloyd said. “The relationship between art and psychology creates the visual and tactical appeal of marketing materials. At the same time, the knowledge I’ve acquired in economics and entrepreneurship contributes to the business aspects and goals of marketing campaigns and initiatives.”

Lloyd has intentionally sought opportunities outside her majors to build those additional skills. Through professional development opportunities and her involvement with Phi Sigma Pi, she completed certifications related to marketing, social media, content creation and design thinking.

“I saw this as a chance to learn about topics and areas of interest beyond my majors,” Lloyd said. “When it came to selecting courses, I was seeking skills that I believed would benefit me professionally and apply to marketing in a corporate setting.”

Some of Lloyd’s most meaningful experiences at Penn State have also come through student organizations. During the 2025-26 academic year, she served as president of Penn State’s chapter of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, also known as the Arts & Education Club.

Because the organization had only recently been reinstated after a long hiatus, Lloyd helped rebuild its executive board, promote the club and develop programming that included collaborations with other student organizations, guest speakers and an alumni question-and-answer event. In February, the Arts & Education Club was named Penn State’s Student Organization of the Month.

Lloyd also explored the entrepreneurship by getting involved with the Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society. Earlier in her college career, she developed Sölle, a concept for a small business selling durable and affordable handmade climbing gear. Inspired by her family’s longtime involvement in rock climbing, the concept won Penn State’s Arts Business Idea Competition.

“When developing my business idea, it really opened my eyes to all of the aspects of starting your own business and the dedication required for success,” Lloyd said.

As Lloyd prepares to graduate in December and begin her full-time role with Strong Tower Associates, she said some of the most valuable parts of her Penn State experience have come from the willingness to try new things. Those choices helped her figure out what she wants from her future.

“I have changed so much as a person, and the College of the Liberal Arts has really helped me become a more well-rounded person,” Lloyd said. “By expanding my horizons and stepping out of my comfort zone, I have found a host of new people and passions that have supported my professional growth and personal exploration during my time at Penn State.”