“This kind of collaboration is a win across the board,” said Mike Stefan, vice president for government and community relations. “We’re able to elevate our storytelling with professional-level content, while students build the real-world experience that prepares them for what’s next.”
Operating out of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, CommAgency students work in teams and are guided by faculty directors and industry mentors. Each semester, the agency seeks clients from communications offices, student organizations, research teams and other University entities.
Bill Zimmerman, assistant teaching professor, is the faculty supervisor for CommAgency’s social media division, and helped pull together and guide the team through their Capital Day project.
“CommAgency puts students to the test — they're not just producing creative work, they’re tackling the demanding task of strategizing, sometimes weeks or months ahead of publishing social content,” Zimmerman said. “With clients paying a fee and the students getting paychecks from the college, personal accountability is a must.”
During the spring 2026 semester, CommAgency included 89 students across six departments, who worked with 33 client, in projects ranging from live event coverage to graphic design to video production.
“CommAgency has given me real agency experience like working with clients, collaborating with department members, and creating content for all types of industries,” Welwood said. “This type of experience is unique to CommAgency, as it gives students the opportunity to do real-life agency work.”
The Capital Day project started with an initial meeting between the students and the client to learn about Advocate Penn State’s goals for the partnership. This was followed by additional meetings and collaborative sessions to establish what content the students needed to get while in Harrisburg.
“This experience reinforced my ability to think on my feet and capture meaningful, real-time moments that tell a compelling story aligned with the client’s vision,” Gaskell said. “I’ve learned to adapt to different client needs, communicate clearly, and incorporate feedback effectively to deliver work that aligns with their goals.”
Advocate Penn State initially partnered with CommAgency in 2023 during its first Capital Day on Campus events. That first project tasked the students with building a social media kit that could be shared and utilized by students and Penn State communicators to highlight the impact of the day.
The two units furthered their collaboration for last year’s Capital Day on Campus, where students created content to highlight the efforts of Lion Caucus, Penn State’s student advocacy organization, as they engaged their peers to speak up for state funding.
This year’s partnership provides an insider's look at Capital Day in Harrisburg, while also providing student testimonials and advocacy content for Advocate Penn State’s summer campaign as they advocate for funding during the state budget process.
Follow Advocate Penn State on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to see the finished products of CommAgency’s work as they roll out the content over the coming weeks and months.
CommAgency is currently taking applications for fall 2026 projects. Any Penn State communications offices, student organizations, research teams, and other University entities are encouraged to apply via this link.