Brad Hutchison, an alumnus of the digital communication arts program, outlines his path to influencer marketing from the School of Communication
Brad Hutchison
By Halle Sheppard, CLA Student Writer - February 2, 2026
With the rise of the Internet, the world is changing in more ways than it seems possible to keep up with. Social media has played an enormous role in reshaping society, particularly how companies view advertising. School of Communication alumnus Brad Hutchison, ‘16, is on the cutting edge of the new digital advertising world, stemming from a passion dating back to his youth.
Growing up in Burns, Oregon, Hutchison loved playing video games and watching YouTube. These interests aided in his decision to attend Oregon State. “I just loved anything digital media and I was always tinkering with a camera. OSU had so much to offer as far as majors go and they all seemed to really align with my interests at the time.”
Hutchison entered OSU as a computer science major, but the curriculum was far more STEM-forward than he originally wanted. “I appreciated the exposure CS gave me to technical computing,” he noted, “but I soon found myself wanting to get back in touch with my creative side.
This eventually led him to find his place in digital communication arts (DCA), which proved to be vital for his future career and helped him hone all of the skills necessary to compete in the changing job market.
This collaborative element of the major allowed Hutchison to use his skills to strategically think through problems and to be adaptable in any team format, and gave him “a strong foot in the door to being prepared for working in media.”
“DCA’s collaborative curriculum truly prepared me for my professional career,” Hutchison explained. “I felt that the robust projects that used real-world examples tied specially into my career. ”
Additionally, along with the hands-on, project based classes, the major provided unique courses that taught him vital skills, including media law, which equipped him with a strong understanding of the legal aspects of the digital workplace.
After graduating from OSU and equipped with an intense digital skillset, he was quick to find his first job as a project coordinator at Tek Syndicate, a YouTube show that covers computer hardware, audio gear, and software, based out of Portland. Hutchison directly utilized the knowledge learned through his Media Management and Entrepreneurship courses and described the atmosphere of the company as “almost like a startup environment” and loved the creative freedom and flexibility he was allowed.
Tek Syndicate led to other opportunities in digital sales, before transitioning into influencer marketing at numerous advertising agencies. Currently, Hutchison is a full-time Senior Influencer Marketing Manager at Shareability.
So what is influencer marketing exactly?
In Hutchison’s case, he serves as a bridge between large brands and online influencers. These large brands, such as Ford Motor Company, YouTube, and eBay, see the value of social media in marketing their goods and services. They partner with Hutchison’s agency to seek out relevant influencers to promote their products in a unique and engaging format. Hutchison has a hand in every step in the entire process from research and budgeting to contracting, content review, and finally approving release to the public.
“There's a lot of data that goes into it,” he stated, going on to explain how his time at the School of Communication allowed him to be successful. “The research elements of those big projects really help in navigating the influencer space of who's relevant, who would be a good fit for this audience, content strategy, etc.”
He works for pop culture icons and massive brands, having recently partnered with Sabrina Carpenter on her new song “Tears,” orchestrating a viral dance trend by sponsoring influencers to promote the new music. As for future projects, he teased he’ll be marketing possible new exciting ways content creators can generate content.
So while his job not only allows him to promote global brands, Hutchison also finds it extremely fulfilling.
“I think it's the most creative and fulfilling advertising space as far as the industry is concerned,” explained Hutchison. “I’m not working with huge production companies developing a 30-second television advertisement; I'm working with independent content creators who are their own boss. In a way, I get to help a ton of small businesses.”
Hutchison hopes to keep making a difference with his unique skills in the digital sphere, giving independent creators the opportunity to do what they love, and support their livelihood.