Jill Ursem, a junior at Oglethorpe University, has stepped into the fast‑paced world of professional soccer by interning with the U.S. Soccer Federation’s creative studio. The opportunity allows her to apply her academic training and campus‑based experience to a national platform that reaches millions of fans.
Designing the Game‑Day Experience
In this role she works alongside a team of designers to produce graphics and visual assets that accompany every match, event and marketing campaign. From bold match‑day posters to dynamic social‑media animations, her work helps shape the federation’s visual identity and enhances fan engagement.
Ursem’s day‑to‑day responsibilities include fielding creative briefs, translating them into polished designs, and ensuring that each piece meets the federation’s brand standards. Her contributions range from typography and layout to motion graphics, all aimed at delivering a cohesive visual story.
From Campus to the Professional Arena
The internship builds on two years of hands‑on experience with Oglethorpe Athletics, where she captured game‑action photos, authored recaps and managed social‑media promotion for university teams. Those roles taught her how to tell stories through images and words, skills she now applies on a national stage.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Ursem says the variety of tasks — and the chance to fuse her love of sport with her creative drive — has been invaluable. She sees the internship as a springboard toward a career in sports communication, equipped with real‑world insight and a portfolio that bridges campus and professional environments.