PAC Students Celebrate Graduation

Graduating Public Affairs Communications students gathered to celebrate their experiences in the PAC program with a catered dinner at the Georgia Center on May 3, 2023. Program director Professor Joseph Watson thanked the cohort for their work and highlighted the importance of staying connected as PAC alumni. “I encourage you guys to continue to give back to the program after you graduate,” Watson said—calling attention to the growing network of PAC alumni who have supported recent graduates by helping them with their next steps. 

ADPR department head Dr. Juan Meng and Grady College’s dean Dr. Charles Davis also attended the event and commended Watson’s dedication to his students. “You have such special training in PAC that has helped you build many foundational skill sets,” said Dr. Meng. Dean Davis echoed Professor Watson’s advice and told the attendees that utilizing the program’s alumni network “really is a virtuous cycle.”  

Public relations graduate Ansley McLendon said the event was “exciting but also bittersweet. It is so cool to see all our accomplishments come together, but it is also sad to leave this behind.” McLendon’s favorite PAC memories came from her classes as well as the Washington, D.C., agency tour, and, of course, she recommended that every student take a class from Professor Watson. After graduation, McLendon hopes to apply the skills she learned in the PAC program in her future career. “I am still looking for a job right now, but my hope is to move to Florida and have an internship with Disney,” said McLendon, who added that she is interested in the company’s public relations or business development opportunities.  

Public relations and international affairs graduate Gitzel Anguiano also said the event made her feel excited for the post-grad life. However, since she will soon attend graduate school for public administration at UGA, her next chapter “won’t be that much of a change,” said Anguiano. Like McLendon, Anguiano said Professor Watson’s classes were her favorite part of the PAC program. Specifically, “if it was a morning class, walking in and listening to whichever song Watson picked for us was a good way to start the day,” said Anguiano.  

Just over a week later, these PAC students became UGA alumni on May 12. No matter where these graduates find their footing as young professionals, the PAC program and its network will always be a place of community and mutual benefit for this cohort and the students who will follow them.