Intern - Marketing George Mason University

Overview

Explore your potential with Thompson Hospitality’s

College Internship Program.

Campus Marketing & Student Engagement Intern

Thompson Hospitality | George Mason University Partnership

Summary of Job

Thompson Hospitality is seeking a creative, organized, and results-driven Campus Marketing & Student Engagement Coordinator to support and grow our partnership with George Mason University (GMU). This role is responsible for increasing brand awareness, driving restaurant traffic, strengthening student and university relationships, and generating revenue across Thompson Hospitality’s restaurant portfolio.

Working closely with Thompson Hospitality’s Marketing, Restaurant Operations, and university partners, this individual will execute campus marketing initiatives, activate sponsorship benefits, develop student engagement programs, and identify new opportunities for catering, group dining, and restaurant promotions. A key priority is increasing participation in the GMU Meal Swipe Program while encouraging repeat visits and expanding awareness of Thompson Hospitality’s restaurant brands.

The ideal candidate is a proactive relationship-builder who understands college student culture, enjoys event coordination and community outreach, and can translate marketing initiatives into measurable business results.

Responsibilities

Campus Marketing & Brand Awareness

• Execute marketing initiatives to increase awareness of Thompson Hospitality’s restaurant brands and dining options among GMU students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
• Promote the GMU Meal Swipe Program through campus events, digital marketing, social media, signage, promotional materials, and approved university communication channels.
• Coordinate campus signage, including A-frame signs, table tents, flyers, QR codes, and other promotional materials.
• Collaborate with Mason Marketing to identify opportunities for website placements, digital advertising, print promotions, coupon programs, and student-focused offers.
• Support promotional events, restaurant activations, and campaigns designed to increase first-time visits and repeat business.

Student Engagement & University Partnerships

• Build relationships with student organizations, residence life, student affairs, athletics, academic departments, and other university stakeholders.
• Develop a pipeline of student organizations and campus groups to generate opportunities for group dining, catering, restaurant promotions, and special events.
• Coordinate student-focused activations, including pop-up events, spirit nights, and potential Meal Swipe Nights featuring music, discounts, and other incentives.
• Support residence hall and move-in initiatives that introduce students to participating Thompson Hospitality restaurants.
• Develop and coordinate a student ambassador program to increase brand awareness, encourage restaurant visits, and collect feedback.
• Identify opportunities to engage students through campus events, student organizations, social media, and peer-to-peer marketing.

Sponsorship & Athletics Activation

• Coordinate and execute marketing and promotional benefits associated with Thompson Hospitality’s GMU sponsorship.
• Support athletic event promotions, public address announcements, digital signage, website banners, social media collaborations, and email marketing campaigns.
• Coordinate restaurant brand features and promotional opportunities connected to GMU athletic events.
• Support catering and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnership opportunities in collaboration with university athletics and Thompson Hospitality leadership.
• Track sponsorship deliverables, deadlines, promotional placements, and engagement results.

Catering & Revenue Development

• Identify new business opportunities with university departments, faculty and staff, student organizations, athletic programs, and university-affiliated groups.
• Promote catering, group dining, team meals, departmental events, employee recognition events, and applicable restaurant services.
• Develop and distribute marketing materials highlighting catering options, group dining opportunities, restaurant promotions, and available university discounts.
• Conduct targeted outreach to university departments and campus organizations to generate qualified catering leads and event bookings.
• Partner with restaurant operations and catering teams to ensure leads receive appropriate follow-up and are converted into business opportunities.

Campus Outreach & Program Coordination

• Conduct regular campus visits to execute marketing initiatives, support events, distribute approved promotional materials, and identify new partnership opportunities.
• Maintain a consistent outreach schedule focused on student organizations, residence halls, academic departments, athletics, and university events.
• Monitor competitor activity, student dining preferences, campus trends, and emerging opportunities.
• Coordinate the activities of a part-time GMU student marketing intern, subject to university approval and business needs.
• Maintain contact lists, outreach records, event calendars, and partnership tracking tools.
• Provide weekly updates on completed activities, upcoming priorities, partnership progress, and opportunities for improvement.

Reporting & Performance Measurement

• Track Meal Swipe Program transactions, restaurant sales, promotional offer redemptions, QR code scans, and campaign engagement.
• Monitor student organization outreach, partnership activations, catering inquiries, booked events, and revenue generated.
• Track sponsorship deliverables and ensure commitments are completed.
• Prepare weekly activity reports and monthly performance summaries for Thompson Hospitality leadership.
• Use performance data and feedback to recommend improvements to marketing campaigns, sponsorship activations, and campus engagement strategies.

Qualifications

• Student at George Mason
• Experience in marketing, event coordination, hospitality, sales, brand activation, community outreach, or campus engagement.
• Experience working with college students, university organizations, or campus-based programs preferred.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
• Comfortable conducting in-person outreach, supporting events, and representing Thompson Hospitality professionally.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to track activities, measure results, and communicate performance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, and familiarity with social media and digital marketing platforms.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with marketing, restaurant operations, and university partners.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to support campus events and athletic activations.

Thompson Hospitality is of the largest restaurants, food service, and facilities management companies in the country. We are highly built upon our values, do the right thing, do the best you can, and treat others how you want to be treated, which are shaped by more than 33 years of relationships with our clients, guests, and communities. We offer competitive benefits, see our website for more. <https://www.thompsonhospitality.com/>

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.