{"id":10238,"date":"2024-08-08T08:06:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T13:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/becomeatexan\/?p=10238"},"modified":"2025-04-22T16:45:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T21:45:49","slug":"alumni-series-emily-castillion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/becomeatexan\/alumni-series-emily-castillion\/","title":{"rendered":"First Gen Files: Emily Castillion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cFully embrace and actively participate in the vibrant campus life and community at Tarleton. While I focused on academics and gained valuable experience in the agriculture program, I now realize the importance of getting involved in clubs and events beyond my immediate circle of friends. Engaging more deeply in campus activities and seizing opportunities to network and collaborate with peers would have enriched my overall college experience even further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Castillion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarleton State Alumna, Class of 2019 | First Generation Graduate<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Earning your degree, whether it’s a Bachelors or Masters, is no small feat. Applying said degree post-grad is an even greater accomplishment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though scary, having the necessary tools to expand your knowledge post-grad can make for a world of opportunities and possibilities, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For first generation Tarleton State alumna, Emily Castillion, life post-grad has been nothing short of an amazing adventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emily earned her Bachelor\u2019s in Agriculture Services and Development with a double minor in Animal Science and Psychology in 2019. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Her passion for the agriculture industry made choosing Tarleton State feel like a no brainer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI chose to attend Tarleton State because I wanted a college with a strong agriculture program. Having worked in a vet’s office for seven years, I initially wanted to become a veterinarian. Tarleton offers fantastic programs within agriculture, and earning my degree in Agricultural Services and Development provided me with a broad range of classes. This allowed me to explore various career opportunities and interests within the field, making Tarleton the perfect fit for my goals,\u201d Castillion shared.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find Your Major<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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After crossing the stage, Emily began working as a Marketing intern, and later a Program Specialist and Social Media Manager, for the Texas Department of Agriculture. In her role, Castillion was responsible for managing and curating content for multiple social media channels, creating and managing email marketing campaigns and conducting comprehensive analysis of promotional material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until 2021, that Castillon accepted a full-time position at her current job as the Social Media Manager for Justin Brands.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIn this role, I develop and execute comprehensive organic and paid social media strategies for Justin Boots, Tony Lama Boots, Chippewa Boots, and Nocona Boots. My responsibilities include creating compelling and visually appealing content, such as photos, videos, and written posts, to showcase our products, company culture, and heritage. This work drives brand awareness and engagement across platforms like Facebook, Instagram\/Threads, Pinterest, TikTok, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn,\u201d Castillion shared. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Aside from juggling the work of driving brand awareness across eight platforms, Castillion\u2019s role also calls for coming up with innovative methods to keep audiences engaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProfessionally, my greatest accomplishment thus far has been working as the sole Social Media Manager at Justin Brands, Inc., running 17 accounts for four brands. I have also created and managed our influencer program, created our paid social program, and have gotten to work with other prominent brands in the western industry, as well as country artists Reba McEntire and George Strait,\u201d Castillion shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another key component to Emily\u2019s job is community brand management. This includes responding to comments, inquiries and direct messages as well as utilizing data and analytics to report the success of all social media campaigns. Castillion is also responsible for managing influencer and brand advocates that can be used to expand the brand\u2019s online presence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy favorite part of my job is the people I work with. We have team members who have been here for over 50 years, and their extensive knowledge about our brands and the Western industry is invaluable,\u201d Castillion shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she did not earn a degree in marketing or social media management, Castillion\u2019s time at Tarleton State aptly prepared her for life post-grad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy time at Tarleton State University significantly helped prepare me for this role. Although I only took Agricultural Communications classes in my senior year, they were incredibly beneficial for my career in marketing. Moreover, my experience as the Alternative Media Director at Tarleton’s radio station gave me my first exposure to social media marketing, laying a solid foundation for my current position,\u201d Castillion said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For students like Emily, who are looking to further their knowledge and truly prepare for life post-grad, Tarleton State is the place to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cTarleton’s agriculture program is exceptional. The combination of hands-on learning and cutting-edge research provides invaluable experience, preparing you for a successful career in agriculture. The professors are incredible, bringing extensive industry experience and genuinely investing in your success. Tarleton’s strong industry connections open doors to internships and job opportunities, paving a clear pathway to professional success. Beyond academics, Tarleton offers a vibrant campus life in the welcoming community of Stephenville. The town has an incredible sense of community with numerous agriculture-related activities and clubs. It’s the perfect place to live and study. If you’re passionate about agriculture, Tarleton is the place to be,\u201d Castillion shared. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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For more information on how to tour campus, please visit https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/visit\/campustours\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n