Mya Jones Builds Community and Practices Thoughtful Engagement Through TRIO Internship
By Marshall Fiorita
For Mya Jones, a communications and media studies major at Sonoma State University, her internship with TRIO Student Support Services has been more than just a resume builder, it’s also been a chance to give back to the campus community.
Jones has interned with TRIO for over a year, working closely with her supervisor, Rose Calzontzi, the Director of the program ,and helping launch the university’s First-Generation Initiatives Program. The initiative celebrates and supports students who are the first in their families to attend college, a group that makes up nearly half of Sonoma State’s student body.
“The First-Generation Initiatives program helps highlight and support a big part of our community,” Jones said. “Many students don’t realize what resources are available to them, so this is a way to help connect them.”
In her role, Jones manages TRIO’s social media presence, overseeing both the TRIO and First-Generation Initiatives Instagram accounts. She recently led a marketing campaign for First-Generation Celebration Week, creating more than nine pieces of digital content, including social media posts and graphics featured on campus screens.
“It’s been fun to see my work up on LoboVision and help get more students involved,” said Jones.
The experience has helped strengthen her skills in marketing, communication and design. She developed a social media content calendar, learned to schedule and analyze posts and experimented with what resonates most with students online.
“Even as a Gen Z student, there’s still so much to learn about algorithms and what catches people’s attention,” she said. “It’s been a great learning experience.”
Jones works remotely most weeks, balancing her full-time class schedule, job and internship. The flexibility, she said, has been key to her success.
She credits the supportive TRIO team for helping her grow professionally and personally and encourages other students to seek out similar opportunities.
“ It’s been amazing,” Jones said. “Everyone at TRIO is so willing to help. I’d tell other students to network and ask around–there are opportunities out there you might not even know exist.”