Who We Are
BucHouse Student Agency is supported by the three departments that make up ETSU's School of Marketing and Media: Marketing, Digital Media, and Media and Communication.
Founded in 2025, BucHouse began with a simple idea: partner our talented, tech-ready
students with campus organizations that needed assistance growing their marketing
and social media presence. What evolved was a full-service, student-run agency offering
a broad range of services, such as marketing strategy, public relations, campaign
development, multimedia and video production, animation, video effects and visualization,
social media content creation and management, audience research and analytics, and
tactical execution of integrated marketing communications initiatives to clients across
the region.
What We Do
Each project inquiry received by BucHouse gets a thorough evaluation to ensure that the scope, timeline and budget is in alignment with our available student resources. We then assign a dedicated student, or team of students, to work under the supervision of an experienced faculty mentor to achieve the client's goals.
That faculty mentor will guide the student(s) through the process of client communication, goal assessment, and project deadlines to provide professional training experience in a true agency operational environment. Students are paid for their work, and clients are billed for production costs at a fraction of what it would cost at a high-end agency.
Marketing and Promotional Materials
- Market Reseach & Analytics
- Special Event Promotion and Management
- Annual Reports & Presentations
- Web Site Evaluation & Design
- Brochures/ Flyers / Stickers / Buttons
Social Media Projects
- Social Media Management & Template Creation
- Audience Analytics
- Logo Design
- Integrated Marketing & Messaging
- Content Strategy & Calendar
Video Projects
- On-Site Video Production
- Studio Interviews
- Short-Form Video Content for Social Media
- Long-Form Video Production & Editing
- Animation &Video Effects
Leadership
Dr. Melanie Richards
Dr. Melanie B. Richards is the Director of the School of Marketing & Media at East Tennessee State University, Interim Department Chair for both the Marketing and Media and Communication Departments, and Associate Professor of Marketing. In these roles, she brings more than two decades of combined industry and academic experience in marketing research, analytics, and strategic planning. Prior to joining ETSU, she held senior leadership roles in several large national and international organizations (e.g. Delta Air Lines, American Cancer Society, Teach For America), where she led teams focused on customer and market insights, analytics, and strategic brand planning.
She established BucHouse in 2025 as a way to empower her students for lifelong learning and future-ready skills.
Betsy Holleman
Betsy Holleman began her professional career in Corporate Wellness at Wellmont Health System. She moved into non-profit development at the American Heart Association and then Bristol Motor Speedway - Speedway Children's Charities.
She has 16 years of experience in the industry with skills including non-profit management and fundraising, donor development, public speaking, organizational communication, and professional etiquette. Betsy began teaching adjunct at ETSU in 2024. She is the director of BucHouse Student Agency, overseeing the day-to-day running of the agency and managing client relations.
Matt Rossetti
Matt Rossetti started his career as a Director of Photography for major television clients including ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC, ABC, MLB Network, and WWE.
Matt is currently the Operations Manager and a Faculty Mentor for BucHouse. He has worked with students on projects for ETSU ROTC, Roan Scholars Leadership Program, and the College of Business and Technology. His specialty is producing video and social media content, and he enjoys mentoring students through the entire video production process from pre-production, hands-on camera and lighting experience, and post-production workflows including editing, motion graphics, and color grading.
He has worked on several documentary short films as a Cinematographer, Editor, and Producer, and has won several awards for his work. His strong passion for teaching started early in his career when he worked in television. Matt hopes to bring practical skills and experience to his teaching to help students to prepare for their careers in whatever field they choose to pursue.