Faith, Football and the Future of Digital Marketing

Motivation to Apply

Libby Vernon, MSDM ’26, grew up in Central New Jersey as the oldest of six siblings. At Fordham University, she studied business administration with concentrations in management and sports business while serving as a manager for the Division I Patriot League football program. After graduation, Vernon took on a role with the Arizona Cardinals in premium experiences, moving to Phoenix without friends or family in order to pursue her goal of working in the NFL. During her time with the team, she helped host the Super Bowl, NFL Honors, and “Faith in Football” events, and managed hospitality staff for the opening nights of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. While the experiences were high profile, the most meaningful moments were those rooted in connection. “The ones that shaped me most were the ones I got to share with family (having my Dad and brother come to the Super Bowl when the Eagles played) and faith,”  Vernon said. She later accepted a promotional opportunity at the University of Notre Dame as Assistant Director of Premium Experiences, a role that allowed her to bring faith and football together. “I wanted to align faith and football in a way that I felt I could represent Notre Dame authentically,”  she said.

Personal Growth

While working at Notre Dame, Vernon began discerning her next steps with the help of mentors across campus. Graduate school emerged as the natural next stage of her journey. “When I was informed of Mendoza’s new Digital Marketing Program, I knew this was the program for me due to the modern material, such as up-to-date AI integration and of course brand management,”  she said. The decision also aligned with Vernon’s personal goals. She plans to join her family’s property management company while incorporating philanthropic initiatives in youth sports and faith-based efforts in her community.

Career Transformation

Vernon’s career has given her firsthand insight into brand management and its impact. “Working for the NFL and Notre Dame provided a lot of opportunity to witness and contribute to the importance of maintaining a brand,”  she said. She now sees how her experience informs classroom discussions: “Being able to discuss the marketing impacts in the classroom takes the larger concepts and theories and makes them ‘real-world’ examples.” As a member of the inaugural Master of Science in Digital Marketing (MSDM) cohort, Vernon finds meaning in shaping the program’s foundation. “It feels really impactful to be a part of the inaugural class in a space that has such opportunity for growth in the future,”  she said. With classmates representing industries ranging from nonprofit and hospitality to construction, production, and animation, Vernon has found it valuable to see how digital marketing applies across fields.

The Notre Dame Experience

Classroom discussions frequently engage with timely topics, especially artificial intelligence. “Rather than the negative conversations around AI as a potential replacement, several of our classes discuss how to utilize AI as a means for good and efficient practices,”  Vernon said. Examples include building brand personas or better understanding the competitive landscape. Faculty expertise and professional experience also shape her learning. Courses cover strategies in social media, analytics, and omni-channel marketing while drawing on lessons from industry. “Hearing their testimonies from previous work experiences, whether it was research work or at Google, is fascinating to get a glimpse into decision-making rooms such as these,”  she said. Faith is another defining dimension of her experience. “Notre Dame is one of the best places to learn how to build brand values through good Catholic leadership,”  Vernon said.

Looking Ahead

Graduate study at Notre Dame has reshaped Vernon’s perspective on purpose and impact. “Being a member of a Notre Dame graduate program at large has encouraged me that the work I do and will do in the future goes far beyond the four walls of an office or cubicle,”  she said. “My time at Notre Dame has challenged me to think about how I too can ‘grow the good in business."' Looking ahead, Vernon plans to apply her learning to her family’s business while continuing to bring her passions together. “I can’t wait to integrate my passion for sports, love of faith, and opportunity to work with my family to ultimately ‘grow the good’ in our local communities while leveraging new relationships through the incredible work of University of Notre Dame alumni,”  she said.

Advice to Future Students

For prospective students, Vernon’s advice is clear. “Absolutely pursue it,”  she said. “It incorporates very modern material, but goes beyond the theoretical information to show real-world application. The faculty care deeply about developing you as a whole person and not merely your digital marketing knowledge.”

For prospective students, Vernon’s advice is clear. 

“Absolutely pursue it.”