Recent Grady Graduate Panel 

by Riley Mason

A few PRSSA updates: 

• Members who complete the Inclusive Mindset LinkedIn Learning course by Dereca Blackmon and submit a screenshot of their certificate will earn 4 extra PRSSA membership points. 
• Project Safe is a local nonprofit dedicated to ending domestic violence. PRSSA will be supporting them through resources for their shelter. We will start accepting donations for Project Safe at our next meeting on November 19, through the end of the semester. 

Cooper, Maner, Baker & Kendrick from left to right

On October 29, PRSSA hosted four recent Grady graduates. Read below to hear about their experiences, journeys and advice. 

Emme Maner is a public relations specialist at Jackson Spalding. Maner graduated from Grady in 2022 with degrees in PR and religion, as well as a legal studies certificate. 

Ansley Baker graduated with a degree in public relations in 2023 and is now in the Integrated ADPR master’s program at Grady. Baker was also a corporate communications intern at Cox Enterprises last summer. 

Mimi Cooper is a senior account executive at Cookerly PR. She graduated from UGA in 2021 with a degree in public relations, minors in communications and Spanish, and a new media certificate. 

Abby Kendrick is a digital media specialist for UGA College of Pharmacy. Kendrick graduated from Grady in May 2024 with a degree in public relations. 

How did experiences at UGA shape your career path? 

Cooper: At UGA Cooper was involved in PRSSA, which helped her gain insight into agency versus in-house work. She was also involved in UGA Miracle, which was impactful in how she communicated about the miracle kids and their families. Now, every time she gets to give back in her career, it reminds her of her passions at UGA. 

Maner: Maner focused her time with a student-run nonprofit called Serving Soul, where she was the marketing manager as well as event coordinator. This was the first time she felt able to combine passion with a skill set. This experience allowed her to realize the type of work she wanted to be in, which led to agency work. 

Baker: Baker graduated a semester early from undergrad and is now enrolled in the Integrated ADPR Double Dawgs program, expecting to graduate with her master’s this December. As an undergraduate, Baker was involved in PRSSA, which shaped her interest in event planning and other niche jobs. She remains active in the Grady Ambassadors Program, which has helped her with internships, the job search and practicing communication with professionals. 

Kendrick: While at UGA, Kendrick was involved in PRSSA but wishes she had taken on more leadership roles. She was also on the media team at Wesley, where she was able to hone her photography and videography skills. 

What was the most interesting challenge in transitioning from college to post-grad?

Maner: Burnout is real and can be overwhelming. The skills Maner learned in college for balancing her social and work life have allowed her to set boundaries with herself and her co-workers. She feels fortunate to work at a place that supports her work-life balance. Also, Maner advises students to learn how to say no, which can be a new muscle to learn post-grad. 

Baker: Baker worried about being left behind when pursuing her master’s degree. However, she describes grad school as feeling like freshman year all over again and has formed new friendships. Baker appreciates the kindness and openness of her program and encourages others not to let the fear of staying too long discourage them from considering the Double Dawgs program. 

What was your experience with internships in college and how did they help you prepare for your role now?

Cooper: Cooper’s first internship involved door-to-door sales, which was not communicated to her beforehand. Her team walked to various businesses to sell services. While it wasn’t the ideal internship, it helped her develop her elevator pitch and improve her comfort in talking to strangers. She later secured an internship at Cookerly, where she worked on media relations. Cooper emphasizes that even if an internship isn’t perfect, you can still market yourself based on the skills you gained.

Kendrick: Kenrick’s first internship was at a small non-profit company helping individuals recover from addiction. It was a challenging internship, but taught her about a niche market. Her second internship was in communications at her home church, where she learned a lot, even though it isn’t directly related to her current role. She believes that all experiences contribute to building a valuable skill set.

What would be one piece of advice you would give to your college self? 

Cooper: Don’t panic. Everything that should happen will happen. You can go anywhere, especially in the PR, advertising and marketing fields. Your path can change. 

Maner: Don’t spread yourself too thin, especially early on. Find a deep community within a few clubs or organizations you choose. 

Baker: Don’t be intimidated by master’s classes. You can do it, just remind yourself of your skills.

Kendrick: It is okay to not know what’s next. It will all work out, and everything is going to be okay.