Williams Chosen as 32 Under 32 Honoree
Alexis Williams, a 2015 graduate of BVU, was honored with the Ad Federation of Minnesota's 32 Under 32 Award for her work at 3M as a Marketing Communications Specialist.
The Ad Federation of Minnesota honored Alexis Williams as one of its “32 Under 32” awardees in 2020.
Williams, a 2015 graduate of Buena Vista University, serves as a Marketing Communications Specialist, Segments for 3M in the Twin Cities. She’s been with 3M for just under two years.
“Oftentimes you get nominated for this award a few times before you win,” says Williams, who was at home on her couch as the names of awardees were read during a virtual awards program hosted by the AdFed MN, due to mitigation efforts surrounding COVID-19. “I wasn’t expecting to hear my name called. It was kind of surreal.”
Williams, a native of Mahtomedi, Minn., chose BVU because of its corporate communications program and the campus setting on picturesque Storm Lake.
“3M has been great in giving us support and allowing us to access anything we need. It’s a great place to work.”
Alexis Williams
“It felt like a classic campus the first time I visited,” she remembers. “Corporate communications was exactly what I wanted to do. The Minnesota Vikings GameDay Internship was also a program that appealed to me.”
Williams served as a Game Day Intern for the Vikings during her undergraduate stay. She also completed internships with Attero, in its marketing division, and with The Event Group.
Additionally, Williams served as an RA, Student Activities Board Presidents, and was a member of the BVU Student Senate. In 2015 Williams was also awarded BVU’s Student Leader of the Year Award for her contributions to campus life.
When it comes to faculty members, Jamii Claiborne ’96, Associate Professor of Digital Media, and the recently retired Dr. Beth Lamoureux ’83, Professor of Communications Studies, stood out.
“Jamii Claiborne encouraged me to be passionate, and really opened my eyes to what was possible. She is incredible,” Williams says. “Beth Lamoureux taught me how important it was to pay attention to people. The better you connect with others, understand them and make them feel seen, the better you’ll be able to reach them.”
Williams says she’s getting along fine in the Twin Cities during the pandemic but misses the daily interaction with coworkers and clients. “I’m an extrovert,” she says. “I miss being able to connect. That said, 3M has been great in giving us support and allowing us to access anything we need. It’s a great place to work.”