In January 2015, Bud led the establishment of the Center for Digital Engagement at Eastern Michigan University. With the generous support of the College of Business, the CDE currently sponsors the Digital Marketing Workshop and monthly breakfast series.
In Summer 2015, the CDE entered into a multi-year collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Ann Arbor SPARK to launch a Digital Media Clinic targeted at high-tech startups. In its first year, the clinic housed 12 EMU interns working with 6 companies in SPARK’s high-tech incubator. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Digital Summer Clinic went fully online with 48 interns working in 24 companies. From its inception, applicants to the Digital Summer Clinic increased by a factor of 17 from 25 in 2015 to 426 in 2020.
Bud’s students have developed search marketing campaigns for over 80 non-profit organizations. These campaigns have measurably improved how these organizations attract and convert customers over the Internet.
Here’s Bud’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/budgibson/