What is it like to be an ICS Graduate Assistant
Nilufer wearing a white jacket in a forest.
Nilufer Isler | ICS GA: Fall 2025
My time working with ICS gave me practical experience in digital communication and marketing while I completed my graduate studies. I was able to work on a wide range of projects, including social media management, content planning, and creating branded materials in Canva. ICS also provided the opportunity to work with Adobe AEM to maintain the institute’s website, which helped me develop a clearer understanding of communication workflows within a university setting. The role offered a structured but flexible environment where I could learn new tools, take on responsibilities, and collaborate with interns and staff on ongoing projects. Overall, my experience at ICS helped me strengthen both my technical skills and my understanding of digital marketing in an academic context.
Sarah wearing a shirt and jeans in a forest.
Sarah Urbank | ICS GA: AY 2024 - 2025
Working as a graduate assistant at ICS gave me the unique opportunity to build my professional skills while completing my MA. I learned more about the behind-the-scenes of higher education and strengthened my clerical skills through serving as an assistant to the ICS Executive Board. Mentoring interns and working with the team was a great way for me to grow in a supportive environment. Producing the BG Ideas podcast gave me experience in writing and editing, working with a team, and coordinating a larger project. My favorite moment was working on a podcast interview for entertainer, artist, and writer Arigon Starr and then getting to meet and chat with her about her work! ICS allowed me to see how the public humanities connect a state institution like BGSU to the community, and prepared me for a career in higher education.
Ally wearing a red shirt and tan baseball hat in front of a brick wall.
Allyson Spoering | ICS GA: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
I really enjoyed my time working with ICS. I was able to gain a lot of hands on experience in different professional skills that I had not had the opportunity to learn about before starting my graduate career at BGSU. ICS provided me with a semi-controlled enviroment for where I was able to gain real world experience in event programming and managment, grant research, and public communications. I was also lucky enough to work with a wonderful team of interns and GA's that believed in the importance of collaboration which made working on some of the larger programs less daunting than they would have been had I been working alone. Overall my time with ICS encouraged me to grow both personally and professionally and I am grateful for the opportunities I experienced over the year!
Ahmad is wearing navy blue shirt with a yellow background
Ahmad Bilal | ICS GA: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
I truly enjoyed my experience working with ICS. It helped me gain a better understanding of the public humanities domain. Working with research scholars was a valuable opportunity that provided me with extensive exposure to potential research opportunities. Additionally, my role included creating podcast scripts, planning and managing events, communicating with various individuals, networking, and fostering team collaboration. All of these experiences contributed to my personal growth and development, and have prompted me to consider alternative career paths within academia beyond teaching. Overall, my time with ICS was invaluable, and I highly recommend it to anyone within the university community who wants to work in public humanities.
Updated: 12/03/2025 12:46AM