Meet the Vice President of Professional Development: Lila Dothage

Vice President of Professional Development: Lila Dothage

Hi! It’s Lila Dothage, AMA’s Vice President of Professional Development. I am currently a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Arts with a focus in Video Studies, along with a minor in Marketing. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, I grew up involved in all things sports and music, and those interests have continued into my college years. I play the drums, enjoy discovering new music, and play on Missouri State’s Women’s Club Lacrosse team. In addition to my executive role with AMA, I also serve as the Social and Recruitment Chair for the Lacrosse team. As a creative individual enthusiastic about impactful short-form media, I aspire to work in commercial production or at a marketing agency focused on not only promoting products or services but also supporting truly expressive communication that builds connections between all kinds of people.

I first learned about AMA from our very own VP of Website Development, Perla, through another organization we were both involved in. As a freshman, I was eager to get involved on campus, but AMA’s meetings didn’t fit my schedule at the time. When my schedule opened up sophomore year, I finally attended my first meeting and immediately felt welcomed by the energy and excited conversation bubbling throughout the room. It didn’t take long for me to get introduced to amazing individuals whom I am now so thankful I got the chance to meet. Through engaging workshops, bonding experiences, and impactful meetings, I kept coming back and quickly found a place within Missouri State’s AMA.

Wanting to give back to an organization I had quickly grown to love and help strengthen the community that brings it to life, I applied for an executive position. With various events ranging from professional workshops, such as our fall Resume Roast, or bonding experiences, such as our Friendsgiving with a table full of food and a night full of games, looking back on these memories makes me so happy to have become a part of AMA. As the Vice President of Professional Development, I support and organize events, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities to help members grow professionally while also building connections with local Springfield businesses to expand our organization’s network.

Joining Missouri State’s AMA has opened doors I didn’t even know existed just months ago. While this is my first year as part of the organization, I’ve already seen tremendous growth in my professionalism and network through workshops, speaker visits, industry tours, and service events. I’ve learned how to effectively collaborate with others, market myself, and even co-produced and edited our chapter’s very own recruitment video.

AMA provides opportunities like these that encourage creative and strategic thinking, build character and confidence, and bring out your strongest skills to prepare you for future career opportunities. I am especially eager to travel with AMA this Spring for the International College Conference in Chicago, where even more exciting opportunities await. You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not about what you know, but who you know,” and trust me, AMA can be both your “who” and your “what.” You’ll gain valuable skills and confidence that will benefit you both personally and professionally, and become part of the best f-AMA-ly out there!