Name: Abby Stubenbort
Year: Senior
Major: Digital Media
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
If you’ve met this week’s campus celeb before, it most likely started with a high-pitched introduction of, “Hi, I’m Abby!” If you haven’t met her in person, you’ve definitely interacted with her online as @hercampuspitt, our reigning social media queen. She once tried to make Alfredo from scratch with three cups of flour instead of three tablespoons, hates corn and loves all things foxes or Disney. She’s the Leslie Knope to my Ann Perkins and we at HC Pitt love her lots!
Her Campus: What are you involved in on campus?
Abby Stubenbort: I am the social media editor for Her Campus Pitt and one of the marketing/social media heads for the brand new, Pitt Tonight — Pitt’s first late night talk show.
HC: What are your goals for HC and Pitt Tonight by the end of your term working on them?
AS: For Her Campus, just this semester in general, I really wanted to have a further reach on campus, and I definitely think we achieved that! We have a ton of brand new members, and our articles are having higher and higher view counts and it makes me so happy! I love everyone so much on the team, and my social media team does so well with engaging our readers. I love HC, and I’m happy I’m leaving it at such a good place. As for Pitt Tonight, my goal is to survive our first show! We’re literally starting this thing from nothing, so we’re trying hard to pull this together by December 14, which is our first show! We’re really working on building up our social media, so follow @PittTonight!
HC: What do you do outside of campus?
AS: I work for a local news station, WTAE’s online platform, 4 the 412! I’m one of the original creators, having started this June and we cover all things Pittsburgh!I love it so much because I’m creating stuff that I’m super interested in, all for the city I love. We make videos constantly, and update our social media @4the412. It really incorporates everything I love. I also take too many Snapchats of my black bear (dog), Bandit, obsess over Disney, and fill out Buzzed quizzes on the reg.
HC: What has been your favorite activity with 4 the 412 so far?
AS: I recently washed a circus elephant and that was SO COOL. She was so gentle and sweet and it was such a surreal experience. They’re huge and I’m so small! Another favorite thing of mine was attending the Pittsburgh premiere of “Me and Earl and The Dying Girl.” I interned at Mosser Casting summer 2014 and was lucky enough to cast the extras and even be an extra for a few days! Then, for 4 the 412 this summer, I interviewed the stars on the red carpet, aka I went full circle! I love my job so much and I get to experience so many awesome things.
HC: Your focus on 4 the 412 is highlighting and targeting the college community. As such, what is your favorite thing about Pitt and/or Oakland?
AS: Toooooo many things. I love Oakland and the atmosphere. It’s such a massive school, but Oakland makes it feel like a tiny city ruled by college kids. Which it is, I suppose… Anyways, I love Schezuan Express, the Culture Shop, Razzy Fresh, obviously… aside from that, sitting in Schenley Plaza at sunset is so magical. I’ll never tire of Cathy views. I think that’s a graduation requirement.
HC: How do you keep yourself sane while managing so many different brands’ social media at one time (including your own)?
AS: I don’t. *laughs* no, it’s fine. I run into problems sometimes from tweeting/RT’ing/Fav’ing things on the wrong accounts sometimes, but I’m pretty good at switching back and forth between voices! I’ll credit that to my childhood theatre background.
HC: You’re graduating in December, what do you want to do next? After that?
AS: Please don’t ask me this question. *laughs* I’ll be attending Chatham University starting in the Spring for an MFA in Film and Digital Technology*. Clearly, putting off #adulting as much as possible. Then, who knows! I’ll definitely still be making lots for 4 the 412 about Pittsburgh! I would love to work one day for Disney, though. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time! I love media and children’s media in particular, but also just the Internet in general, so I’ll just keep on keeping on down this path and I’ll see where I end up!
*Abby received this news in the interim between receiving these questions and responding to them so major CONGRATULATIONS!!
HC: Where can we find you on the internet?
AS: You can find me on all social media platforms as @abbystubenbort! I’m also @HerCampusPitt and @PittTonight so you can find me (and my team) there!
Photo Credits: All photos provided by the celeb.