One of Donato’s most memorable
assignments as an intern with the Delaware SPCA was preparing fall and
Christmas-themed photo shoots that highlighted the shelter’s cats and
dogs.
“I was also able to introduce the SPCA to TikTok,” said Donato, who
created — among dozens of others — a short TikTok highlighting the
adoption of the shelter’s longest resident, four-year-old Charlize. The
video, which showcased Charlize finding her forever home after spending
866 days at the Delaware SPCA, went viral, attracting over 15,000 likes and national attention from media outlets like People.com. Today, the Delaware SPCA’s TikTok account started by Donato during her internship has well over 3,000 followers.
Donato is no stranger to making a splash in the world of social media, however. At the age of 16, her Instagram fan account for The Hunger Games
attracted the attention of Lionsgate Films, the production company
behind the franchise’s successful movie series, which led to a stint as a
social media press partner with the company. Perks of the role included
sharing exclusive content on her Instagram account and even
representing Lionsgate at the private New York City premiere of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.
Despite her previous experience, Donato stressed the importance of
internships, particularly in the growing field of communication.
“This internship really helped me learn the ins and outs of video
editing and photography,” said Donato. “It was great to have
applications in my senior year that helped prepare me for the
professional world, but not everyone gets that opportunity.”
Donato encourages students studying communication and media — and
even students considering diving into the field — to seek out as many
professional experiences in the field as possible before graduation.
“The field is so competitive that getting experience in a wide variety of areas is really important,” Donato said.
She also recommends students utilize UD Career Services and the university’s internship and job database Handshake,
which is where she first learned about the internship opportunity with
the Delaware SPCA. Her advice to prospective and current communication
majors at UD?
“Put yourself out there,” Donato said. “Consider adding on a few
minors and exploring your academic interests. I love that the program
gives you the flexibility to focus on what you want — and the
University’s connection and proximity to so many things really helps.”
UD Department of Communication
The Department of Communication,
which is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, adopts a social and
behavioral science approach to the study of human communication. All
majors study communication in a wide variety of contexts (technology,
face-to-face, etc.), and can concentrate in the areas of interpersonal,
media and public relations. Faculty are committed to collaborative and
interdisciplinary research that pushes the boundaries of the
communication field, turning theory into effective skills for speaking,
critical thinking, writing, campaigns and media production so that
academic knowledge and experience extend beyond the classroom into
future opportunities for our students.
Article by Chris Kelley; photos courtesy of Regina Donato and Delaware SPCA
Published June 8, 2021