The Atlas Lab hosts a visit from the United Services Automobile Association
Last month, the UF College of Journalism and Communications’ Atlas Lab hosted the United Services Automobile Association’s (USAA) reputation management team, bringing together students and industry leaders for a collaborative exchange about social listening strategies, digital analytics and brand perception.
The visit gave Atlas Lab students the opportunity to present their research and insights directly to professionals, with projects focused on competitive benchmarking, crisis detection and brand sentiment analysis. By analyzing USAA alongside key competitors, students offered data-driven insights into how the company is positioned within the financial services industry.
USAA’s team was given a tour of CJC and an overview of the Atlas Lab’s research and capabilities before transitioning into student presentations and discussion. In addition to sharing their work, students gained a behind-the-scenes look at how USAA approaches reputation management and incorporates social listening into its broader communications strategy. The event allowed for a two-way conversation, where students could engage with industry professionals and receive feedback on their analyses.
This collaboration highlighted broader university efforts to connect students with real-world career pathways. Erika Cooper, director of the Office of Careers and Corporate Partnerships, shared how the university is working to create clearer pipelines between students and industry partners. Her presentation to USAA’s team during the visit emphasized initiatives that are designed to help students explore career opportunities, including speaker series, webinars featuring recent graduates and mentoring programs such as Gator-to-Gator matching. Cooper also discussed the importance of collaboration with industry partners like USAA in shaping these efforts, encouraging feedback on how universities can better prepare students for the workforce and help them navigate different professional pathways.
Faculty and staff note that engagements with industry professionals provide students with meaningful opportunities to apply data analytics skills in real-world contexts while strengthening connections between academic learning and professional practice. The visit also supports ongoing efforts to expand partnerships that enhance experiential learning and career preparation opportunities for students.
Category: College News, Student Author
Tagged: Atlas Lab Erika Cooper USAA
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