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Understanding the Sustainability Phenomenon

Combining her love of nature with her interest in marketing, Rebecca Miller is researching how people view the sustainability phenomenon.

Rebecca Miller kayaking and enjoying the great outdoors.
About Me

I am a rising junior at the College of William & Mary, and  I have loved my time here so far! Williamsburg is my kind of town. I love to drive the Colonial Parkway, visit the Governor's Palace gardens or people watch on DoG Street. And, of course, seeing colonially-dressed people in the grocery store always brings a smile to my face.

In my free time, I love to camp, hike, and fill my lungs with fresh air. Every summer, I find an excuse to explore the trails in the surrounding area and to travel to national parks for some quality time with the mosquitoes.

I fell in love with Marketing in high school, during an English project focused on the power of advertising.  Since then, I have known that Marketing is the major for me.  History, my second love and minor, gives me a great excuse to fully explore Williamsburg. Finally, my Finance concentration gives me some analytical tools for the business world.

My parents and friends like to make fun of my major, because all throughout high school I planned to be an engineer. I even went to a high school specifically for science and math. When I announced that I wanted to go into business, everyone was a little shocked. I think they have come around to the idea though, especially after seeing all the amazing opportunities I've been exposed to at William & Mary.

Rebecca Miller enjoys being part of the William & Mary Pep Band!Impact & Engagement

William & Mary makes it very easy to get involved. My most engaging activity at the College is playing in the pep band. My favorite part is traveling to away football games, especially the one where we beat UVA!

This past year, I was also the Director of Marketing for William & Mary Consulting.  Since we restructured last summer, it has been a great learning experience about how to run a fledgling organization.  I was able to gain experience planning various events, such as the Consulting Symposium, and to expand my network extensively. We had a great time with our members, learning about the field of consulting and networking with companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and Deloitte.

Rebecca Miller served as leadership for William & Mary Consulting.Highlights

My favorite part of my Individual Program of Study (IPS) is my independent research. After the foundation semester, I asked my marketing professor, Prof. Michael Luchs, to advise me on a research topic. I have ended up putting endless hours into a question that involves two of my great passions: marketing and sustainability.  Through this research, I can understand how people view the sustainability phenomenon. I hope to get the research published, so that it will reach a wide variety of individuals and prove to be useful in the world outside of the Mason School.

Speakers from the "real world" have definitely enriched my experience at Mason. Most notably, Adam Werbach of Saatchi and Saatchi S sparked my interest about the connections between sustainability and business and marketing.  Since his energetic and evocative speech to a full Brinkley Hall, I have become very passionate about this subject, and it has become the focus for my research.

I also enjoyed a luncheon and ethics seminar with the Peace Corps Director, Aaron Williams.  As I plan to join the Peace Corps after graduation, Director Williams' hopes for the future of this organization have made me very excited about the change volunteers will making in the world.  It is always great to have networking and interviewing opportunities with such important people, not only in the world of business, but in many fields.

Rebecca Miller is passionate about traveling and embracing nature.Next Steps

I lived overseas in high school, and, since then, have set my mind on working internationally.  Mason offers great opportunities to explore the field of international business through study abroad opportunities and William & Mary courses. This fall, I will be living and studying in Sevilla, Spain. I am very excited to gain some exposure to different cultures and to learn about how other countries view business and consumerism.

After I graduate, I plan on joining the Peace Corps, working in business development.  I think that this is a great way to use my knowledge to help people, to travel, and to learn more about the way business functions throughout different communities.