Her Story
About Sarah Jewel
Sarah Jewel Carrasco is a marketing and communications professional based in Long Beach, California, with experience spanning higher education, nonprofit organizations, alumni engagement, fundraising, digital marketing, and event management. She most recently served as Assistant Director of Alumni Communications and Center at California State University, Long Beach, where she led alumni communications across email, social media, digital, and print channels while overseeing operations and programming for the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center. Her career also includes marketing and development leadership with the Long Beach City College Foundation, donor development with March of Dimes, and marketing and communications consulting for local organizations.
Carrasco holds a Master of Arts in Sports Management and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science – Community Education, both from California State University, Long Beach. Her professional expertise includes marketing and communications strategy, social media management, email content, digital branding, nonprofit marketing, alumni engagement, fundraising, and event and venue operations. She also holds a Meeting and Event Planner credential from the CSULB College of Professional and Continuing Education. Her background as a four-year Division I softball athlete has strongly influenced her professional philosophy, particularly her emphasis on resilience, learning from feedback, adaptability, and remaining coachable.
Beyond her professional work, Carrasco has remained involved in community and nonprofit initiatives, including volunteering with the Long Beach Century Club and participating in its scholarship program. She is also a member of Long Beach Young Professionals. She approaches marketing and communications as an opportunity to create meaningful connections between organizations and the communities they serve. In an industry increasingly shaped by AI-generated content, she recognizes the importance of authentic, human-centered communication and believes that genuine relationships and personal connection remain essential to effective engagement.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah Jewel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the skills I developed through participating in women’s sports from a young age, particularly resilience, the ability to bounce back from setbacks, openness to feedback, and being coachable. These experiences taught me how to receive feedback from supervisors and colleagues without becoming defensive, learn from my mistakes, and continue moving forward with a clear mind. The lessons I learned as a Division I softball athlete have continued to influence how I approach challenges and professional growth.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the marketing and communications field is to stay true to yourself and trust what has gotten you to where you are. Setbacks are part of any career, so when they happen, get back up with a positive mindset and continue moving forward. Have faith in yourself and in the work you have already put in.
I would also encourage young professionals to overcome imposter syndrome by remembering that they have what it takes. Your experiences, skills, and accomplishments have value, so trust your abilities and continue learning from every opportunity.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in marketing and communications right now is content fatigue caused by the increasing volume of AI-generated material. Audiences are being exposed to large amounts of content that can feel repetitive, non-authentic, or copy-pasted, which can contribute to burnout and disengagement.
At the same time, this creates an important opportunity for communicators. Organizations can distinguish themselves by providing authentic, human-centered communication and creating genuine connections with their audiences. While technology can support the communications process, meaningful human connection remains an important part of building relationships and engaging people.
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