From Data to Design: Amanda Sledge-Pearson’s Path to Merging Technology and Creativity
Amanda Sledge-Pearson ITI '26 chose to major in Information Technology and Informatics because it gave her the clearest path to achieve what she most wanted to do at Rutgers: to combine her technical background with her passion for the fashion, beauty, and creative industries.
When Pearson started researching the IT and Informatics major, she saw how it opened doors to careers like product management, project management, and data analytics in spaces that excited her. “That intersection was exactly what I was looking for,” Pearson said.
For her minor, Pearson chose Digital Communication, Information and Media (DCIM) because she wanted to complement her IT and Informatics foundation with something that spoke to her creative side. “It became a space where I could think critically about how technology shapes culture, media, and identity, skills that don't always show up in a traditional tech degree but have been just as valuable for the kind of work I want to do in brand, marketing, and innovation,” she said.
Director of Undergraduate Studies in Information Technology Informatics and Associate Teaching Professor Warren Allen, and his Intro to ITI course, opened Pearson's eyes to just how extensive and exciting the field of information technology really is. “His class was the reason I felt comfortable committing to ITI, and it set the tone for all that came after.”
JMS Lecturer Deborah Howlett's Gender, Race, and Class in the Media course had a long-lasting impact on Pearson as well. “It encouraged me to think critically about how media forms identity and culture, and I find myself using that lens all the time, whether I'm analyzing a marketing campaign or considering how technology is used in creative professions,” she said.
Pearson said two other courses were particularly helpful in preparing her to succeed as an intern at BMW Group U.S. last semester. The Information Visualization course introduced Pearson to Tableau and the power of turning raw data into a compelling story, and Strategic Presentation Methods in Digital Media sharpened her ability to communicate and present ideas to an audience.
Pearson’s career current aims are to make a shift into digital media and marketing. “I have expanded my thinking about where I want to land and have become really drawn to roles in brand partnerships, content strategy, and creative marketing, specifically within the beauty, fashion, and creative industries." Long term, she still aspires to reach a senior leadership role within a beauty or luxury brand.
Read our Q&A with Pearson to learn more about her internship and career focus.
SC&I: What made you realize that you wanted to combine technology with fashion/beauty?
AS-P: For me, it was something I always knew rather than something I realized. I have always existed in both worlds at once, someone who is analytical and technical but also genuinely passionate about fashion, beauty, and creativity. As I started mapping out my career, I knew I did not want to abandon my creative side in exchange for a strictly technical path. I wanted a career where both could coexist and my technical skills could help the creative environments I love. Seeing how much technology is transforming the beauty and fashion industries, from AI-powered personalization to data-driven brand strategy, made it clear that there was not only space for someone like me, but a genuine need for one.
The experiences at SC&I that best prepared me for my internship were the combination of coursework and campus events that pushed me to think critically, communicate effectively, and apply my skills in real and practical ways.
Amanda Sledge-Pearson
SC&I: What drove you to accept the internship at BMW Group US?
AS-P: I accepted the internship at BMW Group US because I saw it as an opportunity to build a strong professional foundation in a globally recognized and respected company. Going into the role I knew that the skills I would gain in data, operations, and relationship management would be transferable across any industry I wanted to move into, including the creative spaces I am most passionate about. More than anything it taught me that being open to opportunities outside of your immediate interests can be one of the most valuable decisions you make early in your career.
SC&I: What experiences at SC&I do you feel best prepared you for your internship?
AS-P: The experiences at SC&I that best prepared me for my internship were the combination of coursework and campus events that pushed me to think critically, communicate effectively, and apply my skills in real and practical ways. Between the technical and media focused courses I took and the networking events like the SC&I alumni mixer, I was able to build both the hard and soft skills needed to show up confidently in a professional setting.
SC&I: How did you establish relationships that facilitated you to take advantage of opportunities?
AS-P: I built relationships by consistently showing up, whether at networking events, campus organization meetings, or just being involved and present in my classes and internship. I made it a point to not just attend spaces but to actively participate, ask questions, and follow up with the people I met because I understood early on that opportunities rarely come from inaction. Those true connections with professors, alumni, mentors, and professionals have continued to open doors and direct me to opportunities I would not have discovered on my own.
Photo: Courtesy of Amanda Sledge-Pearson
