From Scroll to Strategy

Meet the SHUfluencers.

From the spring 2026 issue of Sacred Heart University Magazine

Key Highlights

• SHUfluencers is one of Sacred Heart University's newest student organizations, giving students practical experience in influencer marketing, digital storytelling, and social media strategy
• The club was founded by Amanda Federico '27, who built the organization from the ground up with support from Sacred Heart's marketing & communications team
• Students develop career-ready skills by creating original content, building personal brands, analyzing engagement metrics, and managing social media campaigns

At Sacred Heart University, social media is no longer just a pastime. It’s a platform for professional growth.

The SHUfluencers Club, one of the University’s newest student organizations, brings together students interested in digital storytelling, content creation, and social media marketing. Its mission is clear: create a collaborative community where students can build real skills in strategy, branding, and content production while expanding Sacred Heart’s digital presence.

Leading the effort is junior Amanda Federico ’27, a sport management and marketing major with a minor in digital marketing and the club’s founding president.

The idea emerged through her work with Nicole McIsaac, assistant director of content at Sacred Heart, who encouraged Federico to build a student organization focused on influencer marketing and digital strategy.

“She asked if I would be willing to start it from scratch,” Federico says. “It was a challenge, but I knew it was something students could really benefit from.”

Starting from scratch meant building everything—recruitment, branding, and programming—from the ground up. After the first meeting drew about 10 interested students, Federico launched the club’s Instagram and TikTok accounts, designed promotional materials and began organizing an executive board. The organization now has structured leadership in place and biweekly meetings focused on collaboration and development.

But SHUfluencers is more than a content club. It operates with professional expectations.

“I really see this club as a space where students can grow creatively and professionally while also building a community,” says McIsaac. “Not every school has spaces for students who are interested in influencer marketing, growing their own brands, or just digital branding in general.”

Members collaborate on creative projects at least twice each semester, track analytics on engagement, and report performance metrics including views, likes, comments, and shares. They also create original content to share with the University’s marketing & communications office, contributing directly to Sacred Heart’s broader digital footprint.

The goal is twofold: strengthen students’ personal brands while helping the University tell authentic, student-driven stories. “Having social media is another way that people can learn more about the great things that we’re doing here at SHU and what a strong institution this is,” McIsaac says.

Members also gain networking opportunities through workshops and connections with alumni and industry professionals in marketing and communications.

“A lot of employers are looking for experience in content creation and digital engagement,” Federico says. “This gives students hands-on practice. It’s something tangible you can put on a résumé.”

Additionally, students can learn from alumni who are influencers. Leadership roles are earned through an application and interview process, reinforcing the club’s emphasis on accountability and commitment.

For Federico, the most exciting part is watching students realize that what they already do online can translate into career capital.

“This gives people a space to take it seriously,” she says. “You’re not just posting. You’re learning strategy, analytics, and branding.”

As SHUfluencers continues to grow, its impact may extend far beyond campus feeds. It represents a shift in how students think about influence, not as fleeting popularity, but as storytelling, data literacy, and professional skills.

At Sacred Heart, the scroll is becoming a strategy. And students are leading the way.