Alumni on the Move Cody Schauman

From discovering a passion for videography to creating impactful marketing campaigns, Cody shares how his experiences at WVU helped him grow as a digital storyteller and marketer. Now working in higher education marketing while also pursuing creative projects in music and media, he reflects on the mentors, skills, and opportunities that influenced his career and offers advice for current and prospective DMC students.

What motivated you to pursue the Digital Marketing Communications master’s program at WVU?

I had previously considered joining the WVU DMC program in 2021, but didn’t end up applying until 2023.  I felt there were avenues for learning that I wasn’t fully aware of, and I wanted to make the most out of my experiences as a digital marketer.  Also, I wanted to pursue higher education as proof to myself that I am capable of doing hard things.

What part of the program helped you the most in your current career?

At the tail end of my time in the accelerated DMC program, I had a videography course.  It was one from which I didn’t expect to glean a great deal, and I couldn’t have been more incorrect.  Almost immediately, I fell in love with capturing and telling stories through video.  It has become integral to my current role, where I’ve scripted, filmed, and edited about 50 unique video campaigns for Davis & Elkins College.  My initial video campaign for the College, called “Once a Senator” debuted as an admission and recruiting tool across three separate countries.

Were there any courses, projects, or faculty mentors that had a significant impact on your professional development?

My videography course was, of course, paramount to what I’m doing now, but I felt incredibly supported in nearly every class in this program.  Having Keith Quesenberry as my Intro and Capstone instructor proved to be an incredible luxury.  His ability to tactfully break down criticisms of work while also highlighting what is done correctly might sound routine, but is so useful to someone trying to build their confidence in their marketing efforts.  He expects a lot from his students, and I feel it pushed me to understand myself in the process.

I’d also like to thank Bob Bentz, who provided an exceptional amount of support in my mobile marketing course and beyond.  His kindness, encouragement, and determination to get students to understand their power as digital marketers is something that deserves recognition.  I am incredibly grateful for his help. 

RJ Thompson also had an incredible impact on my understanding of my work.  His role in influencing students’ ability to truly tell creative stories pushed me to take a general concept, flesh it out with extreme honesty and vulnerability, and build it into what would eventually become my project in my videography course.  Without his help, I would’ve never had the confidence to move forward with that idea, and might’ve never fallen in love with videography. 

I’d also like to give a great deal of credit to Associate Professor of Marketing at WVU, Laurel Cook.  Her help during my undergraduate education set the stage for everything that has happened since.  In everyone listed above, there is always an element of kindness and empathy that drives connection, and Dr. Cook is no exception to that.  She inspired me to become passionate about marketing in the first place, and that inspiration continued as I found my way to the DMC program at WVU.  If I can have half the impact she’s had in my own research and career, I’d be ecstatic.

Can you share a bit about your career path since graduating?

I graduated from the accelerated DMC program in the winter of 2023.  By April of 2024, I’d joined the Marketing Department at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia.  Here, I’ve had the remarkable opportunity to create video projects, assist in paid media and rebranding efforts for Graceland Inn & Restaurant on the College campus, capture photography and assist in the writing efforts for the College’s Forward Magazine, and provide copywriting efforts to news outlets in the area. 

In 2025, I was hired as a freelance remote copywriter for hire at Story Bird Ads, where I learned more about the unique art/science of writing great copy for clients in a remote setting. 

I’ve also provided photography efforts for organizations across North Central West Virginia like the Tucker Community Foundation.

Which skills learned from the program do you use most in your current role?

Videography skills in camera usage, lighting, staging equipment; editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro; creative writing/storytelling. 

Social Media and Mobile Marketing skills in developing and scheduling content; SEO auditing for the new Graceland Inn & Restaurant website. 

Also, I utilize a lot of the time management and organizational skills that I developed through the program in my everyday work.

What accomplishments or milestones are you most proud of since completing the program?

I am proud to continue to play a part in developing rich storytelling opportunities at D&E and surrounding areas!  I’ve helped to revamp the College’s web series (previously “The Real Deal” and now “Real Deal X”) that has seen an uptick in viewership and engagement across our social media platforms.  Helping to photograph and video content for organizations like Tucker Community Foundation is exceptionally rewarding to me, as it allows me to highlight the impact that organizations can have on smaller communities.  I’m also proud to have traveled more since graduating.  I’ve seen more of the U.S. (New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, etc.) than I ever thought possible!

What advice would you give to someone considering the Digital Marketing Communications program?

Give yourself time to consider which avenue within the program is right for you, and, when you’re ready, jump in with both feet.  Participate fully in your discussions and read those introductory posts about your classmates to get to know them.  Consider that the power and influence you can have as a digital marketer can do a lot of good for those whose stories should be told, and then help those people to tell their stories to an audience who will listen.

What tips would you offer to current students who want to stand out in the digital marketing world?

The world of digital marketing is changing with the landscape of the rest of the world, and we can’t remain stagnant.  More and more often, consumers want real content from real people.  Be as educated as possible on a topic and read from lots of credible sources, and it’s important to revisit best practices often and consider how they might change over time.  Find ways to tell the stories that resonate with you as an individual, and make sure to always remain authentic.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love to travel with my girlfriend!  We’ve visited so many unique and fun places together, and it means the world to get to travel with my best friend.  Also, I play music!  Last year, I had the opportunity to join Nashville/West Virginia-based Americana artist Cassidy Dickens as a full band, opening the Déjà Vu Music Festival for headliner Smash Mouth!  We’ve continued to play shows as a full band and hope to get out to new venues in 2026. Our new single “Lanterns” is out now wherever you stream music.

Could you share any fun facts, hobbies, or personal interests?

In addition to playing music, I am also a music teacher!  In 2025, I stepped away to pursue some personal interests, but I’ve been teaching drums at Elkins High School for the better part of the last decade.  I love working with students to develop their confidence and learn new skills.  It’s an amazing feeling watching someone learn to like and then love something, and seeing the process by which students go from all ranges of interest to locked in on a common goal is something I wish everyone could experience.  Each student I’ve interacted with has truly changed my life for the better.