At Stukent®, we are proud to spotlight educators who bring passion, innovation, and real-world connections into their classrooms. This month, we are excited to recognize J. Claire Calhoun, a lecturer of marketing at Coastal Carolina University. With a career spanning public relations, nonprofit leadership, franchise development, and entrepreneurship, Calhoun’s mission-driven marketing experience translates into a hands-on, transformative classroom experience for her students.
A Career Defined by Purpose and Impact
Calhoun’s professional journey is a tapestry of leadership roles that blend creativity, strategy, and service. Early in her career, she served as the public relations lead for Trone Advertising’s first integrated marketing team representing Novartis Animal Health. Her initiatives included a national key opinion leader program among veterinarians and a consumer-focused PR campaign with educational events, media relations, giveaways, and grassroots outreach.
Later, she advanced through a variety of leadership roles at the YMCA, eventually becoming a senior program director. She led fundraising efforts, launched a $2 million capital campaign, grew program enrollment, and created innovative initiatives like Parent’s Morning Out and Active Older Adults programming. “It forced me to practice strategic marketing using all four Ps,” she said. “I learned the value of community engagement and organic marketing — and more importantly, that marketing can be used to help others.”
In 2011, Calhoun founded New Life Communications, a marketing consultancy supporting small businesses. Within a year, her work had saved several companies and generated more than $100,000 in revenue. That success led to a national executive role with Colors on Parade, where she became the company’s first female vice president and led the organization’s first integrated marketing plan, digital strategy, and international franchise expansion.
It was through her internship with Coastal Carolina University at Colors on Parade that Calhoun discovered her next chapter: teaching.
Encouraging Curiosity and Confidence in the Classroom
For Calhoun, the real reward of education is seeing her students come alive through critical thinking and meaningful connections.
“Really getting to know my students on a personal level is the best,” she said. “When students start to think for themselves, they can do anything.”
Rather than relying on traditional lectures, Calhoun builds her courses around discussion, community engagement, and real-world application. “I rarely lecture in class,” she said. “You’ll usually find me sitting on a desk, asking students ‘why’ and begging them to go deeper. I love when they realize there’s always more to the story.”
She creates an environment where students are challenged to think critically, take ownership of their learning, and explore how marketing can make a meaningful difference in the world.
Real-World Learning with Stukent Simternships
To ensure her students graduate with practical, job-ready experience, Calhoun incorporates several Stukent Simternships® into her curriculum. These simulations give students the chance to apply concepts in realistic marketing scenarios — with all the complexity, decision-making, and competitive spirit of the real world.
She uses:
- Marketing Principles Simternship
- Digital Marketing Simternship
- Social Media Marketing Simternship
- Consumer Behavior Simternship
Her top tip for educators? Turn the simulations into a challenge. “Use the Simternships as competitions — the students love this,” she said. “They get bored with the same thing every week, so I rotate assignments. Stukent gives you so many options, it’s easy to stay creative.”
Helping Students Help the World
Claire Calhoun exemplifies the kind of educator who inspires both inside and outside the classroom. With her deep industry experience, student-centered teaching style, and innovative use of Simternships, she helps students build confidence, skills, and a sense of purpose in their work.
Each month, Stukent highlights a standout higher education instructor. Those selected use Stukent products in the classroom and exemplify Stukent’s core values and mission to help educators help students help the world.
To learn more about Stukent Simternships and how they can support your students’ success, visit our website.
