Aniya Davis

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Aniya Davis is a Class of 2024 advertising major. 

What’s your involvement like with the American Advertising Federation at Illinois?
I heard about AAF when I was a freshman, and I had no clue what it was. My friend brought me to the first meeting, and immediately, I loved it. AAF emphasizes that you can gain more experience in the advertising industry, which I had zero of, and it grew from there. I began in one of the agencies called Midnight Oil and eventually became the account director of CTRL+V, a video production agency. I’m currently the chief diversity officer, which means I help people get into internship programs; we run weekly meetings, plan events throughout the semester, and work with local clients to encourage brand awareness.

You recently received the Most Promising Multicultural Award from AAF. Can you tell me about this award and what it means to you? 
My heart dropped when I found out. Only 50 students nationwide are selected, and it’s a very rigorous application process, with several writing prompts, a video, and a recommendation letter. I received the email in November during the break. Then, in February, all 50 of us traveled to New York for a four-day industry immersion program, where there were workshops, award ceremonies, and more to connect us with each other, as we were the top performers and achievers in our colleges nationwide. It was an amazing experience, and I loved every second of it. I felt so blessed and honored by my hard work paying off.

What are you most proud of after four years of attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
I’m most proud of the connections I’ve made and the relationships I’ve built, even my ability to help other people—all of that is such a rewarding experience. I know how it feels to feel lost or like everybody has all these internships and is so far ahead with their lives, but it’s all about your path and what you do with it. You get out of college what you put into it, and being able to help people has been one of my favorite things. I’ve tried to go into as many roles as possible where I help people and truly speak to them because I love to connect with others. At times, it can be overwhelming, with taking 21 credit hours, working two jobs, and being involved in all these extracurriculars, but it’s made my experience—that’s the college experience.

What’s one piece of advice you have for students?
Take advantage of the resources that are provided to you. It is the most cliche thing I can say, but it is the most true, and students may not always realize it. People are here to help you; they want to help. Every opportunity I have had is because someone was like, “Hey, do you want to do this? I think you’d be great for it,” because I’m always looking for the next thing to do. But also network with those people and resources, even your peers. I wouldn’t have even become an advertising major if it weren’t for my friend. Ask questions, put in effort, wonder, be curious, and have a passion for something.

—Interview by Chloe Barbarise, New Voices Intern