URI senior improving student experience through social media

SABRINA ARAUJO is shown in her office in the Memorial Union at the University of Rhode Island. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND/NORA LEWIS
SABRINA ARAUJO is shown in her office in the Memorial Union at the University of Rhode Island. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND/NORA LEWIS

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – A senior from Jamestown is using the power of social media to improve the student experience at the University of Rhode Island.

Sabrina Araujo, who is studying communications and wants to work in digital marketing, is the founder of the Instagram blog “URI Events,” which has more than 4,300 followers, and promotes student involvement, resources, clubs, giveaways and events.

The blog was the reason why she became the digital marketing and communication specialist for the URI Memorial Union.

The blog’s popularity caught the attention of the Memorial Union’s Marketing and Events Coordinator Sheri Davis, who said she was fascinated with the content and the followers’ responses. Davis sought out the blog’s creator, and when she finally met Araujo, she offered her a position to oversee the Memorial Union’s social media accounts.

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“I knew that we needed this kind of content and following for the Union. She brings something new to the table and her opinion is everything to our staff,” Davis said in a statement.

According to information from URI, at the beginning of her junior year, Araujo’s goal was to become more involved.

“I always heard students say, ‘There isn’t much to do on campus,’ and I would think to myself, ‘Yes there is! We just aren’t informed about it,’ ” Araujo said in prepared remarks.
She began following social media accounts of student clubs and organizations to become more aware of campus events, but found that keeping up with all the accounts was difficult.

She decided to make one source for students to learn about URI events. That was how her Instagram blog “URI Events” got started. “URI Events” now is a club with a team of students who create new content and manage the account. Araujo said she hopes the blog continues on with new students after she graduates.

“I did not expect it to grow this much this fast. I guess it shows how much something like this was needed,” Araujo said.

“If I hadn’t created URI Events and worked for the Memorial Union, I wouldn’t have explored my creativity and potential. I’ve learned more about myself than ever before. As a student, as a professional, and even personally. I have the opportunity to have a creative imagination and use a platform where thousands of people can experience it with me,” Araujo added.

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