Graduation Feature

Profs ‘saw something in me that I never saw in myself,’ Schererville student says

Stefanie Damjanovich said her father always told her, “You need to learn to stand on your own two feet, don’t expect anyone else to do anything for you.”

Damjanovich, a Schererville resident and Purdue University Calumet senior marketing major specializing in market research, is a candidate to receive her bachelor’s degree, Tuesday (12/16), during the university’s Fall Commencement Exercises at the Radisson Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.

After a semester at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, following her 2001 graduation from Lake Central High School, she transferred to Purdue Calumet to be closer to home.

In 2004, Damjanovich decided to take time off from school to work and help care for her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer.

After her mother died in 2005, she decided to return to her studies, Formerly a communication major, Damjanovich switched to marketing and found the opportunity to engage in market research an ideal fit.

Professors in Purdue Calumet’s School of Management helped accommodate her interest in the field. Professor Lori Feldman, head of Purdue Calumet’s Department of Marketing, Human Resources and Management, designed an independent study program for her to gain experience in market research.

“I felt motivated by my professors, because they saw something in me that I never saw in myself,” Damjanovich said. “You can’t help but want to succeed.”

And succeed she has. In addition to having earned regular Dean’s List status, she has assisted one of her professors, Associate Professor of Marketing Junyong Kim, on a market research study. The study, “Measuring Quality of Academic Advising Services,” has been an effort to develop a better survey instrument to assess the quality of academic advising services provided by Purdue Calumet’s School of Management and identify areas needing improvement.

Kim said Damjanovich’s involvement in all aspects of the study—from preparing a research plan and budget proposal, to conducting peer reviews and focus group studies—has helped provide insight into students’ expectations and perceptions of academic advising services.

“She has handled each task with great enthusiasm and competence,” Kim said, “and she has learned the nuts and bolts of conducting marketing research. As a result of her fine work, she won (Purdue Calumet’s Fall) Undergraduate Research Program Grant Award.”

Since 2007, Damjanovich has been employed at Purdue Calumet’s Center for Student Achievement, and she has served as president of the campus’ Purdue University Marketing Association (PUMA) student organization.

Feldman, Kim and other Department of Marketing, Human Resources and Management faculty members have described her as a hard working, outgoing individual who possesses the initiative to achieve her objectives.

Damjanovich said that despite all of her accomplishments, she always has felt that she could do more.  After graduation, she plans to start working in the field of market research.

“It’s been a really long road,” she said. “But now, I feel like I’m starting a new chapter.”

News Release Date: December 12, 2008