Ava Smith

Moody College Dean’s Ambassador | Radio-Television-Film Student with a Minor in Russian and Eastern European Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, United States

About

I’m a junior Radio-Television-Film student at The University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication who loves visual storytelling, video production, and creative brand content. I’m especially interested in the ways media can connect people with culture, travel, fashion, and beauty brands through thoughtful and engaging storytelling. Through my work with The Daily Texan and PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, I’ve had the chance to produce and edit video and audio stories while learning how to collaborate with a team and bring ideas to life through multimedia production. I currently work as a Marketing Intern at The Lash Lounge Austin, where I help support marketing across several salon locations through content creation, campaign support, local SEO work, and tracking engagement and growth. It’s been a great way to learn how creative content and strategy come together to build a brand. Outside of that, I serve as a Moody College Dean’s Ambassador, where I connect with prospective students and represent the college. I also studied abroad in Dublin through a Pro-Social Public Relations program, where I worked on campaign strategy and gained hands-on experience in professional communications. Alongside my major, I’m pursuing a minor in Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies, which has expanded my interest in global storytelling, culture, and language.

Experience

  • Marketing Intern at The Lash Lounge Austin
    Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    Support marketing strategy and campaign execution across multiple salon locations to increase brand visibility and drive membership growth. Create digital content, assist with email marketing and local SEO, and track campaign performance to optimize engagement and revenue. Collaborate with leadership to test and scale marketing initiatives across Austin-area studios.

  • Barista at Tiny's Milk & Cookies
    Nov 2025 - Present · 8 mos

    Provide friendly, high-quality customer service in a fast-paced café environment while preparing coffee and specialty drinks. Manage high-volume orders, maintain a welcoming guest experience, and support daily operations including food service, register transactions, and team collaboration.

  • Dean’s Ambassador at Moody College of Communication
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    Responsible for representing Moody College as a tour guide and ambassador to various community stakeholders.

  • Public Relations Intern at Tailteann Games
    Jun 2025 - Jul 2025 · 2 mos

    Created a campaign along with peers for the revival of Ireland's historic Tailteann Games.

  • The Daily Texan (1 yr 10 mos)
    • Associative Video Editor
      Jan 2025 - May 2025 · 5 mos

    • Senior Videographer - Permanent Staff
      Aug 2024 - Jan 2025 · 6 mos

      Made decisions about what content The Daily Texan video department produced along with other members of the staff and the video editor. Helped organize and plan videos made by general staffers.

    • Video Reporter
      Aug 2023 - Aug 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Worked with other members to produce, film, and edit stories that highlighted the UT Austin campus and the surrounding Austin area.