Public Affairs Communications Program
PAC Blog & News
Applications for the next PAC cohort are now open.
Please visit the PAC application and apply by March 17, 2023.
PAC Profile: Raleigh Rollins
Feb. 1 , 2023
Raleigh Rollins is a fourth-year student majoring in journalism with a minor in political science. He shares his experience interning with Boards and Appointments in the Office of Governor Brian Kemp in the summer of 2022.
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PAC Profile: Annalise Morning
Feb. 1 , 2023
Annalise Morning is a fourth-year student majoring in public relations with a PAC certificate. She is currently a communications intern in the Office of Governor Brian Kemp.
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PAC Profile: Katy Gates
Feb. 1 , 2023
Katy Gates is a second-year honors student majoring in public relations with a minor in political science. She talks about her experience as digital director for Students for Stacey, an outreach arm of Stacey Abrams’ Gubernatorial campaign in Fall 2022.
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PAC Profile: Chandler Rebel
Feb. 1 , 2023
Chandler Rebel is a fourth year journalism and Public Affairs Communications student who is currently a staff assistant in the Office of Representative Mike Collins. He talks about working on the Hershel Walker campaign in 2021-2022.
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Three students selected as Fall Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications
Oct. 13, 2022
The Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Public Affairs Communications announces the selection of three new Tieger Fellows for the Fall 2022 semester: Jenna Monnin, Olga Diaz-Nasser and Sarah Dorr.
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Amanda Maddox (ABJ ’10) brought Grady DC students an insider’s view of Washington as practitioner-in-residence for summer 2022
August 8, 2022
Grady alumna Amanda Maddox’s (ABJ ’10) selection to serve as the first Practitioner-in-Residence for the summer 2022 Grady DC Field Study program by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication brought students an insider’s view of Washington from one of its leading practitioners. Maddox taught 11 students participating in the program a course entitled Public Affairs Communications in a Federal Context.
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Rachael Mierzwa introduced AdPR students to practice in NYC as practitioner-in-residence for summer 2022
August 8, 2022
Rachael Mierzwa’s selection to serve as practitioner-in-residence by Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication for the first AdPR NYC summer program introduced students to real world advertising and public relations practice in our nation’s largest city. Mierzwa, senior director and North American digital strategy lead at APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs and strategic communication consultancy, instructed the course that accompanies AdPR NYC students’ full-time internships.
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Three students selected as Fall Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications
The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced the selection of three new Tieger Fellows for the fall 2021 semester: Caroline Kurzawa, Megan Mittelhammer and Jake Strickland. The new Tieger Fellows are excited to get started and use their training to serve the program that has helped prepare them for their future careers.
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PAC Student Spotlight: Summer 2021
August 12, 2021
This summer, 10 Public Affairs Communications students lived and worked in the nation’s capital. They participated in the GradyDC program, where University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication students live and take classes in Delta Hall for about 10 weeks.
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PAC Alumni in Action: Sloane & Company
August 9, 2021
For Public Affairs Communications (PAC) students, connections are one of the most important parts of the program. Whether staying after class to meet guest speakers or keeping in touch with classmates after graduation, these connections can set you apart in an interview and help you get the job.
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Two students selected as Summer Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications
July 1, 2021
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced the selection of two new Tieger Fellows for the summer of 2021: Megan Mittelhammer and Jake Strickland. The Tieger Fellowship gives current students pursuing a Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Public Affairs Communications (PAC) the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world public affairs work promoting the PAC program.
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PAC Alumni Spotlight: Meredith Stinson (AB ‘18)
April 26, 2021
Meredith Stinson (AB ‘18) first stepped onto the University of Georgia’s campus with plans to go to law school. However, her political science courses quickly taught her that it was the intricacies of government policy and not the law that interested her most.
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PAC Alumni Spotlight: Gabi Grey (AB ‘18)
March 5, 2021
For Gabi Grey (ABJ ’18), the 2016 presidential election lined up with her introduction to the Public Affairs Communications (PAC) certificate. Grey had always been interested in the relationship between strategic communications and politics, so discussing the election in real time through an academic lens gave her an avenue to explore that.
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PAC Alumni Spotlight: Jenni Sweat (AB ‘17)
Jan. 4, 2021
In January of 2017, Public Affairs Communications certificate alumna Jenni Sweat left her home in Georgia and packed her bags to spend a semester in D.C. interning on Capitol Hill. However, that semester-long press internship turned into a four-year stay on the Hill where she now serves as the press secretary for Senator David Perdue.
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Fall 2020 Tieger Fellows selected
Oct. 12, 2020
The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced the selection of three Tieger Fellows for the fall of 2020: Sarah Geary, Melissa Hevener and Hannah Payne.
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Student Spotlights Summer 2020
Aug. 10, 2020
The Public Affairs Communications (PAC) Program is proud to spotlight the following students for their hard work and determination this summer: Patrick Femia, Sarah Geary, Zach Green, Karlie Hanson, Hannah Payne, Simran Sethi and Grace Wilbanks.
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PAC Spotlight: Stephanie Dixon (AB ’18)
July 10, 2020
Stephanie Dixon, an inaugural cohort member of the Public Affairs Communications (PAC) program, experienced the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing last year in a very special manner through her job with Lockheed Martin.
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Sarah Geary selected as summer Tieger Fellow in Public Affairs Communications
May 22, 2020
This summer, Sarah Geary will manage internal and external communications for PAC, contacting and spotlighting PAC students and alumni, as well as producing digital content for the program’s social media accounts and blog.
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PAC alum inspired by Olivia Pope, employed by former guest speaker
Oct 31, 2019
In 2018, Sarah Cunningham graduated magna cum laude with a degree in public relations from Grady College and a Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Public Affairs Communications (PAC). Four years after changing her major, Cunningham is now an associate at Sloane & Company, a public affairs firm in New York City.
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Grady@DC Summer 2019 profile: Rachel Byers
July 23, 2019
Rachel Byers is a rising fourth year student from Monroe, Georgia majoring in political science and minoring in communications studies, with a Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Applied Politics. She is spending her summer with Southern Company in their government affairs division. Southern Company is one of America’s largest utility companies, serving millions of customers across the southeast by providing them power, natural gas and other services.
Byers’ studies are focused on preparing her for a career in politics and government advocacy. The classes she has taken in the certificate program, including the upper level courses for both political science and public relations, have contributed to this development by giving her practical skills she will use this summer.
“The certificate classes really improved my writing as well as showing me what kinds and styles of writing I’d need to succeed in communications,” Byers said. “The skills I learned will be invaluable in a government affairs career.”
This summer nine students from Grady College and the Public Affairs Professional certificate program are living in Washington, D.C. at UGA’s Delta Hall. Here they are spending their days in internships that provide them experience in the field of public affairs communications. They are also enrolled in a class specific to the program that introduces them to professionals around D.C. and practical skills for jobs in the industry.
Grady@DC Summer 2019 profile: Ethan Pender
July 21, 2019
Ethan Pender is a rising fourth year student from Rome, Ga., majoring in political science and Spanish with a Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Applied Politics. This summer in DC, Pender is interning at the Republican National Committee, the national organization responsible for the Republican Party’s platform, election strategy and fundraising. This role is a great fit for Pender given his involvement on campus and future career plans.
On campus, Pender serves as chairman of the UGA College Republicans an extension of the Republican Party at the University of Georgia. He is also involved in the Student Government Administration, where he serves as attorney general.
Beyond his involvement in extracurricular activities, Pender’s work in the classroom has prepared him to excel at the RNC this summer. The classes he has taken in Public Affairs Professional Certificate program have introduced him to important concepts and strengthened his communications abilities that he will use as an RNC communications intern.
“Because I’m not a Grady student, it was helpful for me to enroll in this program to learn skills that I might not have otherwise attained,” Pender said. “These classes showed me how to write in a more journalistic format, as well as illustrating the wider role of communicators in politics.”
This summer nine students from Grady College and the Public Affairs Professional Certificate program are living in Washington, DC at UGA’s Delta Hall. Here they are spending their days in internships that provide them with experience in the field of public affairs communications. They are also enrolled in a class related to the program that introduces them to professionals around DC and practical skills for jobs in the industry.
Grady@DC Summer 2019 profile: Haley Lacuesta
July 19, 2019
Haley Lacuesta is a rising fifth year student from Jasper, Georgia majoring in public relations and international affairs with a Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Public Affairs Communications. This summer in D.C. she is interning with the American Chemistry Council, an advocacy group representing companies in chemistry industries. Lacuesta specifically works with the plastics division of the organization.
At ACC, Lacuesta works with the Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP) to advocate for recycling plastic bags on behalf of the companies that produce them and other plastics. In this role, she is responsible for the social and digital media of the campaign, specifically Facebook and Instagram. Lacuesta’s experience in her PAC and PR classes has prepared her well for this job.
“My focus is on gaining traction for the campaign, and through the skills I’ve learned in Grady and PAC I can do so by identifying audiences and gearing specific messages towards them,” Lacuesta says.
This summer nine students from Grady College and the Public Affairs Professional Certificate program are living in Washington, DC at UGA’s Delta Hall. Here they are spending their days in internships that provide them with experience in the field of public affairs communications. They are also enrolled in a class related to the program that introduces them to professionals around DC and practical skills for jobs in the industry.
Three students selected as Summer Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications
July 17, 2019
Maggie Cavalenes, Carter Chapman and Austin Gibbons have been selected as Tiger Fellows for Summer 2019.
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Public Affairs Communications Program Celebrates 2019 Certificate Graduates
June 24, 2019
The third cohort of PAC certificate recipients were honored with a ceremony in April.
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Public Affairs Communication welcomes newly admitted students
March 27, 2019
With 25 Public Affairs Communications students and 25 Applied Politics students, both tracks in the certificate program are at full capacity and stand ready to prepare students for a variety of careers in public affairs.
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Two Grady students selected as new Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications
Feb. 15, 2019
“This fellowship would not be possible without the vision and funding of Carolyn Caudell Tieger. Through her support we are able to continue to build upon the early successes of the program by recognizing amazing students.”
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Opinion: When faculty put their politics first, students lose
Oct. 2, 2018
“I believe my role as a faculty member is to help students achieve their goals and become articulate advocates for them, not to mirror my own worldview.”
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Three Students Selected For Tieger Fellowship in Public Affairs Communications
Sept. 10, 2018
“Carolyn is a constant source of support and wisdom for me and our students. Today’s announcement builds on the solid foundation of what we have begun and recognizes these outstanding students.”
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Joe Watson appointed Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications
Feb. 16, 2017
“While students are more interested than ever in politics and public policy, there is no established curriculum, outside of Grady, that equips students with the ability to hit the ground running when entering jobs in these career fields.”
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New Grady@DC summer study program immerses students at epicenter of public affairs communications
June 29, 2015
“This important program extends Grady’s strong suit in experiential learning, a priority of the University, and the college’s tradition of preparing strong leaders in public affairs communications.”
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